Antecedents and consequences of social networking site knowledge sharing by seniors: A social capital perspective

Purpose Understanding elders’ experience and knowledge-sharing behaviors online have become significant issues in this aging society. In this study, the purpose of this paper is to summarize and validate the factors that influence the intention of elders to share knowledge online, and assess whether seniors’ knowledge-sharing behaviors affect their sense of meaning in life. Design/methodology/approach In total, 49 senior students were invited as participants to join the social networking site (SNS) and share knowledge on the platform. After a month of knowledge-sharing activities, questionnaires were distributed to all the participants. All the 49 participants returned completed questionnaires. To verify the results obtained via the above quantitative data analysis, follow-up interviews were conducted with one popular computer instructor and four seniors (who are experienced users of the SNS). Open-ended questions were employed to understand the motivations for sharing knowledge in a virtual community and the benefits obtained from sharing. Findings The results indicate that sharing vision, community identification, and social interaction ties are the main factors that influence the sharing of knowledge by seniors on SNSs. In addition, sharing knowledge on SNSs has a positive influence on seniors’ meaning in life. Follow-up interviews conducted also validate the results obtained. Originality/value Understanding elders’ experience and knowledge-sharing behaviors online have become significant issues in this aging society. It can not only benefit younger generations but also enable them to age gracefully. Rare SNSs similar to the one used in the study were found on the Facebook during our research.

[1]  S. Ghoshal,et al.  Social Capital and Value Creation: The Role of Intrafirm Networks , 1998 .

[2]  Teresa M. Amabile,et al.  The Work Preference Inventory: Assessing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Orientations , 1994 .

[3]  Liam Fahey,et al.  The Eleven Deadliest Sins of Knowledge Management , 1998 .

[4]  C. Fornell,et al.  Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. , 1981 .

[5]  Shigehiro Oishi,et al.  The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the Presence of and Search for Meaning in Life , 2006 .

[6]  Atreyi Kankanhalli,et al.  Are norms enough? The role of collaborative norms in promoting organizational knowledge seeking , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[7]  Mark S. Granovetter.  The Strength of Weak Ties , 1973, American Journal of Sociology.

[8]  Maeve Henchion,et al.  Social capital and knowledge sharing performance of learning networks , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[9]  Dixie Lee Charbonneau-Lyons,et al.  OPINIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AND INDEPENDENT-LIVING ADULTS REGARDING SUCCESSFUL AGING , 2002 .

[10]  Sunwoo Lee,et al.  Internet Use and Well-Being in Older Adults , 2015, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[11]  Sastry G. Pantula,et al.  Robust methods for testing the pattern of a single covariance matrix , 1991 .

[12]  S. Ghoshal,et al.  Social Capital, Intellectual Capital, and the Organizational Advantage , 1998 .

[13]  Dorothy E. Leidner,et al.  Review: Knowledge Management and Knowledge Management Systems: Conceptual Foundations and Research Issues , 2001, MIS Q..

[14]  Chin-Lung Hsu,et al.  Acceptance of blog usage: The roles of technology acceptance, social influence and knowledge sharing motivation , 2008, Inf. Manag..

[15]  Gert-Jan de Vreede,et al.  Understanding trust influencing factors in social media communication: A qualitative study , 2017, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[16]  R. Lewicki,et al.  Developing and Maintaining Trust in Work Relationships , 1996 .

[17]  Jae-Nam Lee,et al.  The impact of knowledge sharing, organizational capability and partnership quality on IS outsourcing success , 2001, Inf. Manag..

[18]  Chi-Cheng Wu,et al.  What makes users share content on facebook? Compatibility among psychological incentive, social capital focus, and content type , 2017, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[19]  Eric T. G. Wang,et al.  Understanding knowledge sharing in virtual communities: An integration of social capital and social cognitive theories , 2006, Decis. Support Syst..

[20]  Minhyung Kang,et al.  Extending lead user theory to users' innovation-related knowledge sharing in the online user community: The mediating roles of social capital and perceived behavioral control , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[21]  I. Nonaka.  A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation , 1994 .

[22]  William J. Chopik,et al.  The Benefits of Social Technology Use Among Older Adults Are Mediated by Reduced Loneliness , 2016, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[23]  David Gefen,et al.  Structural Equation Modeling Techniques and Regression: Guidelines for Research Practice , 2000 .

[24]  R. Putnam.  Tuning In, Tuning Out: The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America , 1995, PS: Political Science & Politics.

[25]  Joost van Hoof,et al.  Factors influencing acceptance of technology for aging in place: A systematic review , 2014, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[26]  Shigehiro Oishi,et al.  Meaning in life across the life span: Levels and correlates of meaning in life from emerging adulthood to older adulthood , 2009 .

[27]  Detmar W. Straub,et al.  Structural Equation Modeling and Regression: Guidelines for Research Practice , 2000, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[28]  Jeni Warburton,et al.  Variations in older people's social and productive ageing activities across different social welfare regimes , 2011 .

[29]  Hsin Hsin Chang,et al.  Social capital and individual motivations on knowledge sharing: Participant involvement as a moderator , 2011, Inf. Manag..

[30]  J. Hair.  Multivariate data analysis , 1972 .

[31]  Edward L. Deci,et al.  Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior , 1975, Perspectives in Social Psychology.

[32]  Jing-Jy Wang,et al.  Effects of gerotranscendence support group on gerotranscendence perspective, depression, and life satisfaction of institutionalized elders , 2011, Aging & mental health.

[33]  Jorge Arenas-Gaitán,et al.  From Digital Divide to Psycho-digital Divide: Elders and Online Social Networks , 2015 .

[34]  Charles Safran,et al.  Acceptance and use of health information technology by community-dwelling elders , 2014, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[35]  Han Zhang,et al.  Knowledge sharing in online health communities: A social exchange theory perspective , 2016, Inf. Manag..

[36]  Hee-Woong Kim,et al.  Exploring associations between young adults' facebook use and psychological well-being: A goal hierarchy approach , 2017, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[37]  William P. Alston,et al.  Knowledge and the Flow of Information , 1985 .

[38]  T. A. Stewart.  Intellectual Capital: The New Wealth of Organizations , 1997 .

[39]  Paul H. J. Hendriks,et al.  Why share knowledge? The influence of ICT on the motivation for knowledge sharing , 1999 .

[40]  Samer Faraj,et al.  Why Should I Share? Examining Social Capital and Knowledge Contribution in Electronic Networks of Practice , 2005, MIS Q..

[41]  Alexander Hars,et al.  Web Based Knowledge Infrastructures for the Sciences: An Adaptive Document , 2000, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[42]  Choong-Ki Lee,et al.  Seniors' loyalty to social network sites: Effects of social capital and attachment , 2016, Int. J. Inf. Manag..