A Structural Model of Intention of Knowledge Contribution in Online Forums in Vietnam

Abstract

This study aims to build and validate a structural model among the constructs of uses and gratifications, social capital, sense of virtual community and attitude to online forum and intention of knowledge contribution as well. A SEM analysis with the sample of 174 members who belong to popular online forums in Vietnam indicated that 16 out of all of 17 hypotheses are empirically supported. The findings showed as expectedly that of uses and gratifications (information need and entertainment need) and social capital (cognitive capital and relational capital) positively related to attitude and that sense of virtual community (influence and immersion) positively related to intention of knowledge contribution. In addition, the paper provides a new understanding of the internal structures of theoretically complex concepts of of uses and gratifications, social capital and sense of virtual community.

Keywords

Structural model, uses and gratifications, social capital, sense of virtual community

References

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