TY - JOUR
T1 - Why users keep answering questions in online question answering communities
T2 - A theoretical and empirical investigation
AU - Jin, Xiao-Ling
AU - Zhou, Zhongyun
AU - Lee, Matthew K.O.
AU - Cheung, Christy M.K.
PY - 2013/2
Y1 - 2013/2
N2 - This study theorized and validated a model of knowledge sharing continuance in a special type of online community, the online question answering (Q&A) community, in which knowledge exchange is reflected mainly by asking and answering specific questions. We created a model that integrated knowledge sharing factors and knowledge self-efficacy into the expectation confirmation theory. The hypotheses derived from this model were empirically validated using an online survey conducted among users of a famous online Q&A community in China, "Yahoo! Answers China". The results suggested that users' intention to continue sharing knowledge (i.e., answering questions) was directly influenced by users' ex-post feelings as consisting of two dimensions: satisfaction, and knowledge self-efficacy. Based on the obtained results, we also found that knowledge self-efficacy and confirmation mediated the relationship between benefits and satisfaction. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
AB - This study theorized and validated a model of knowledge sharing continuance in a special type of online community, the online question answering (Q&A) community, in which knowledge exchange is reflected mainly by asking and answering specific questions. We created a model that integrated knowledge sharing factors and knowledge self-efficacy into the expectation confirmation theory. The hypotheses derived from this model were empirically validated using an online survey conducted among users of a famous online Q&A community in China, "Yahoo! Answers China". The results suggested that users' intention to continue sharing knowledge (i.e., answering questions) was directly influenced by users' ex-post feelings as consisting of two dimensions: satisfaction, and knowledge self-efficacy. Based on the obtained results, we also found that knowledge self-efficacy and confirmation mediated the relationship between benefits and satisfaction. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
KW - Benefits of answering questions
KW - Confirmation
KW - Continuance intention to answer questions
KW - Knowledge self-efficacy
KW - Online question answering communities
KW - Satisfaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870472344&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84870472344&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2012.07.007
DO - 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2012.07.007
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 0268-4012
VL - 33
SP - 93
EP - 104
JO - International Journal of Information Management
JF - International Journal of Information Management
IS - 1
ER -