The Impact of Social Capital on Information Exchange and Well-Being in Virtual Communities

Xiaofei Tang, Mingfeng Tang, Zhigang Weng, Xubin Cao and Yong Lu

Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 2012, vol. 15, issue 3, 5-29

Abstract: Virtual communities play a significant role in improving communication and well-being during disasters. A theoretical model is developed to investigate the mechanism by which social capital contributes to individual and collective well-being through information exchange. Research hypotheses are tested using data from surveys and computer archives in the context of a major natural disaster. We find that information quality is more critical to individuals and the community than information quantity after a disaster. Results also suggest four elements of social capital are important to improve information quality: trust, reciprocity, shared language and shared vision. Theoretical and practical implications for functionalities and communication structures on virtual communities across cultures and countries are provided.

Date: 2012
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/1097198X.2012.10845616 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:ugitxx:v:15:y:2012:i:3:p:5-29

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/ugit20

DOI: 10.1080/1097198X.2012.10845616

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Global Information Technology Management is currently edited by Prashant Palvia

More articles in Journal of Global Information Technology Management from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().