Zach W. Y. Lee

Understanding the continuance intention of knowledge sharing in online communities of practice through the post-knowledge-sharing evaluation processes

Web 2.0 creates a new world of collaboration. Many online communities of practice have provided a virtual Internet platform for members to create, collaborate, and contribute their expertise and knowledge. To date, we still do not fully understand how members evaluate their knowledge‐sharing experiences, and how these evaluations affect their decisions to continue sharing knowledge in online communities of practice. In this study, we examined why members continue to share knowledge in online communities of practice, through theorizing and empirically validating the factors and emergent mechanisms (post‐knowledge‐sharing evaluation processes) that drive continuance. Specifically, we theorized that members make judgments about their knowledge‐sharing behaviors by comparing their normative expectations of reciprocity and capability of helping other members with their actual experiences. We empirically tested our research model using an online survey of members of an online community of practice. Our results showed that when members found that they receive the reciprocity they expected, they will feel satisfied. Likewise, when they found that they can help other members as they expected, they will feel satisfied and their knowledge self‐efficacy will also be enhanced. Both satisfaction and knowledge self‐efficacy further affect their intention to continue sharing knowledge in an online community of practice. We expect this study will generate interest among researchers in this important area of research, and that the model proposed in this article will serve as a starting point for furthering our limited understanding of continuance behaviors in online communities of practice.

Self-disclosure in social networking sites: The role of perceived cost, perceived benefits and social influence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative impacts of perceived cost, perceived benefits, and social influence on self-disclosure behaviors in social networking sites under an integrated theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach – Building upon social exchange theory and privacy calculus theory, an integrated model was developed. The model was tested empirically using a sample of 405 social networking site’s users. Users were required to complete a survey regarding self-disclosure behaviors in Facebook. Findings – The results indicate that social influence is the factor which exhibits the strongest effect on self-disclosure in social networking sites, followed by perceived benefits. Surprisingly, perceived privacy risk does not have any significant impact on self-disclosure. Research limitations/implications – The results inform researchers about the importance to incorporate social influence factors and cultural factors into future online self-disclosure study. Practical impl...

The state of online impulse-buying research

Online impulse buying has drawn increasing scholarly attention across disciplines. However, little effort has been made to evaluate the status of research and consolidate the findings in the literature. To address this research gap, we conducted a systematic review of studies of online impulse buying, and used the StimulusOrganismResponse (SOR) framework to identify and classify the factors that affect online impulse buying. We then built a conceptual framework to explain the interrelationships between the three key elements of online impulse buying. Finally, we discussed the future research directions and implications for research.

Massively multiplayer online game addiction

The primary objective of this paper is to develop and validate an instrument for massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) addiction. Three stages of instrument development were undertaken to achieve this objective: item generation, scale development, and instrument testing. The results of a confirmation factor analysis confirmed the existence of seven dimensions of MMOG addiction, namely Salience, Mood Modification, Tolerance, Withdrawal, Conflicts, Relapse, and Loss of Control. The final instrument exhibits adequate levels of reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity. The instrument is expected to assist future empirical research on MMOG addiction. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Why Do I Keep Checking My Facebook? The Role of Urge in the Excessive Use of Social Networking Sites

With the advance of information technologies and widespread deployment of data services, users can access social networking sites (SNSs) almost anytime and anywhere, resulting in an incessant urge to check SNSs. Till now, little is known about the precursors of urge and its role in the development of SNS excessive use. Therefore, we proposed and tested a research model that examines the role of urge in checking SNSs. Empirical evidence from a survey of 205 respondents showed that instant gratification and withdrawal are important factors of the urge to check SNSs, the urge to check SNSs was found to have a significant impact on the excessive use. We concluded with implications to research and practice.

Explaining the Development of the Excessive Use of Massively Multiplayer Online Games: A Positive-Negative Reinforcement Perspective

Despite a rising concern over this emerging global issue, theoretical understanding of the excessive use of massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) is lacking in the mainstream IS literature. In this study, we proposed a research model to theoretically explain the development of the excessive use of MMOGs with the positive-negative reinforcement perspective. We tested our research model with 513 active users of MMOGs. Our results suggested that both positive reinforcement (i.e., perceived enjoyment and the associated positive affect) and negative reinforcement (i.e., withdrawal and the associated negative affect) have strong influence over the development of the excessive use of MMOGs. This study provided a theoretical explanation of the excessive use of MMOGs and implications to researchers and practitioners.

Why people participate in the sharing economy: an empirical investigation of Uber

Purpose This study aimed at examining the effects of inhibiting, motivating, and technological factors on users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy. Design/methodology/approach A self-reported online survey was conducted among Uber users in Hong Kong. A total of 295 valid responses were collected. The research model was empirically tested using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Findings The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users’ intention to participate in Uber. Research limitations/implications This study bridged the research gaps in the sharing economy literature by examining the effects of perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust in the platform on users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy. Moreover, this study enriched the extended valence framework by incorporating perceived platform qualities into the research model, responding to the call...