Explaining mobile community user participation from a social capital perspective

This research analyses factors affecting mobile community user participation from a social capital perspective. The six factors of social capital are categorised into three dimensions: the structural dimension, the cognitive dimension, and the relational dimension. User participation intention includes two variables: the intention to view and the intention to post. We collected 370 valid questionnaires and performed data analysis using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed that trust had the strongest effect on the intention to view, whereas identification with the community had the strongest effect on the intention to post. Thus, mobile community providers need to focus on the relational dimension of social capital in order to promote user participation in their communities. Copyright © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.