Understanding online knowledge community user continuance : A social cognitive theory perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on the social cognitive theory to identify the determinants of online knowledge community user continuance, which reflects a user’s continued use. Design/methodology/approach Based on the 271 valid responses collected from a survey, structural equation modelling was employed to examine the research model. Findings The results indicated that the cognitive factors of outcome expectation and the environmental factors of system quality and knowledge quality significantly affect a user’s continuance intention, which, in turn, affects continuance usage. Research limitations/implications The results imply that service providers need to enhance community platforms and improve knowledge quality in order to retain users and facilitate their continuance. Originality/value Although previous research has examined online knowledge community user behaviour from multiple perspectives such as the social exchange theory and the motivational theory, it has seldom explored the relative effects of personal cognitions and environmental factors on user behaviour. This research fills the gap.