The Mutual Knowledge Problem and Its Consequences for Dispersed Collaboration
Organization Science
Information Systems Research
Power relations in virtual communities: An ethnographic study
Electronic Commerce Research
Exploring knowledge contribution from an OCB perspective
Information and Management
The Economic Leverage of the Virtual Community
International Journal of Electronic Commerce
The Future of Social Networks on the Internet: The Need for Semantics
IEEE Internet Computing
Structural reproduction of social networks in computer-mediated communication forums
Behaviour & Information Technology
Exploration of Social Capital and Knowledge Sharing: An Empirical Study on Student Virtual Teams
International Journal of Distance Education Technologies
International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems
Case studies in research: Is social capital effective for online learning?
Information and Management
Social Capital in Management Information Systems Literature
Journal of Information Technology Research
An examination of negative e-WOM adoption: Brand commitment as a moderator
Decision Support Systems
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The Internet is a communication channel that allows individuals to share information and knowledge. However, it is not obvious why individuals share knowledge with strangers for no apparent benefit. What are the critical factors influencing such behavior? To attempt to understand this paradox, we combined the theories of social capital and individual motivation to investigate the factors influencing knowledge sharing behavior in a virtual community, applying a participant involvement concept to analyze the moderating effects of individual motivation on knowledge sharing behavior. By analyzing the results of a survey using a questionnaire, we found that altruism, identification, reciprocity, and shared language had a significant and positive effect on knowledge sharing. Reputation, social interaction, and trust had positive effects on the quality, but not the quantity, of shared knowledge. Participant involvement had a moderating effect on the relationship of altruism and the quantity of shared knowledge. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.