Determining the Value of a Virtual Community to Its Participants

We seek to understand the perceived value of virtual communities based on three site assets: community members, knowledge (content), and technology. Extending Preece's two-dimensional model of community (sociability) and technology (usability) and considering perceived site value instead of community success, we formulate a three-dimensional model, which we empirically test for its impact on perceived value and site use. The empirical analysis draws on survey data from 144 users of the Slash dot site. We find all of our hypotheses confirmed, indicating in general that increased site technology asset quality, content quality and community asset quality increase perceived site value.

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