Driving individuals’ citizenship behaviors in virtual communities through attachment

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 870-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Min Chiu ◽  
Hsin-Yi Huang ◽  
Hsiang-Lan Cheng ◽  
Jack Shih-Chieh Hsu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the complex relationships between common bond attachment, common identity attachment, self-esteem and virtual community citizenship behavior (VCCB). This study identifies two broad categories of VCCB: citizenship behaviors directed toward benefitting other individuals (VCCBI) and citizenship behaviors directed toward benefitting the virtual community (VCCBC). Design/methodology/approach The authors apply partial least squares structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses, using a sample of 388 valid responses. Findings The results indicate that common bond attachment and common identity attachment have a significant effect on self-esteem, which, in turn, has a significant effect on VCCBI and VCCBC. The results also indicate that common bond attachment has a significant effect on VCCBI, and that common identity attachment has a significant effect on VCCBC. Originality/value This study contributes to a better understanding of VCCBs through common identity and common-bond theory, social identity theory and the stimulus-organism-response framework.

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian-Chao Guo ◽  
Zhi-Chao Cheng

Purpose – Although novel posting is a universal phenomenon in virtual communities (VCs), few studies have addressed the benefits of novel posting for group members. The purpose of this paper is to identify the social and psychological outcomes of novel posting, particularly whether and how sense of belonging can be produced by it. Sense of belonging implies an individual’s integration or assimilation into virtual groups. Design/methodology/approach – To assess the theoretical model, a survey was administered in an internet discussion community (Baidu Post Bar in China), and structural equation modeling was then used to test the model. Findings – Novel posting can produce social and psychological outcomes, such as social interaction ties, group-based self-esteem and sense of belonging. Novel posting is an individualized behavior, which some studies consider to conflict with sense of belonging; however, via the mediating effects of social interaction ties and group-based self-esteem, sense of belonging can also arise based on novel posting. Practical implications – VC operators should focus on differentiating between irrational posts and novel posts and encourage the latter. Additionally, to satisfy members’ needs, VC operators should strengthen the degree of social interaction ties and members’ self-esteem by providing attractive topics and virtual rankings. Originality/value – This study contributes to a theoretical understanding of the social and psychological outcomes of novel posting and, more importantly, whether and how sense of belonging arises on the basis of individualized behavior.


2015 ◽  
Vol 115 (9) ◽  
pp. 1752-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Chun Hsu ◽  
Wen-Hai Chih ◽  
Dah-Kwei Liou

Purpose – Social media platforms established social relationship between the consumer and the brand community. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to understand how dual-identification impact on the community citizenship behavior (CCB). Specifically, the authors propose perceived community-brand similarity (PCBS) influence CCB via dual-identification and brand passion (BP). Design/methodology/approach – The research sample consists of 323 members who have used Apple product and used Apple fan page for more than one year, and structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses. Findings – The results indicated that PCBS directly influenced brand identification (BI) and community identification (CI), respectively. BI directly influenced CI. CI directly influenced BP, but BI not directly influenced BP. In the mediation effects, both the dual-identification factors and BP play important mediating roles. Practical implications – From a managerial standpoint, this research provides implications for social network sites management. Originality/value – This research fills a void in the BI and CI are coexisting but distinct aspects of virtual communities. In addition, the mediating role of dual-identification factors and BP in the online community consumer-brand relationship has not been fully investigated.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Hsuan-Yu Hsu ◽  
Hsiuju Rebecca Yen

Purpose – Motivated by situational strength theory and multi-level theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose a cross-level model to examines whether virtual community citizenship behaviors (VCCBs) are affected by consumers’ individual differences on reciprocity, other consumers’ collective citizenship behaviors at community-level (members citizenship behaviors, MCBs), and their interaction effects. Design/methodology/approach – The research model is tested with a sample of 340 consumers collected from the 34 virtual communities of consumptions (VCCs). Because consumers are embedded in communities, the authors employ the hierarchical linear modeling for data analyses. Findings – The findings reveal positive effects of individual’s prosocial values and community-level MCBs, and a negative effect of exchange ideology, on VCCBs. There is a significant cross-level moderation effect of MCBs such that MCBs reduce the negative influence of exchange ideology on VCCBs. Research limitations/implications – This research suggests that participation in VCCs could be simultaneously driven by the dispositions to help and to get fair reciprocity, while such effects are constrained by others’ citizenship behaviors within the VCC. Future research should identify other contextual factors that could confine or amplify the personality-behavior links in the context of VCCs. Practical implications – Managers who intend to build a VCC of high co-creation should establish mechanisms that could facilitate norm of VCCBs. Also, it is crucial to take into account the participants’ dispositions on reciprocity in recruiting community members and developing member portfolio. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to offer insights regarding the role of community-level citizenship behavior as a strong situation to mitigating the influences of individuals’ reciprocity-based dispositions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-169
Author(s):  
Inje Cho ◽  
Minseong Kim ◽  
Kiki Kaplanidou

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between sport team authenticity, fan identity and citizenship behaviors, and how the link between sport team authenticity and fan identity is moderated by sponsor philanthropy. Design/methodology/approach A web survey was distributed to baseball fans in an online community in South Korea. A total of 383 valid answered questionnaires were collected and tested with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings The findings suggested interrelationships between sport teams’ brand authenticity and fan identity and between fan identity and citizenship behavior. This work also confirms the moderating effect of a title sponsor’s philanthropic activities on the relationship between sport team authenticity and fan identity. Practical implications A sport team’s effort to maintain authenticity would intensify fan identity levels. Action plans that relate to team’s authenticity among fans are necessary. For example, the team could create a plan for the players to give back to the community by volunteering in community projects with the support of the sponsor. Building a team’s authentic culture with well-integrated philanthropy programs of a title sponsor would benefit the team in sustaining competitive advantages in a market. Originality/value The findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating the role of title sponsor’s philanthropic behavior on the sport industry. The relative importance of the team’s authenticity (congruency and fan orientation) for fan identity was increased when the perception of the sponsor’s philanthropy was high.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien Hsiang Liao

Purpose This study aims to not only develop measurements of preferential attachment and homophily mechanisms based on their definitions and network theory but also examine the associations among these network mechanisms, community commitment, knowledge sharing and community citizenship behavior. Design/methodology/approach In total, 250 valid questionnaires are collected to examine the hypothesized associations. These hypotheses are examined by using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The findings reveal both mechanisms are beneficial to develop new entrants’ emotional attachment to a virtual community, thereby motivating knowledge sharing and community altruistic behavior. The results contribute some practical and theoretical implications that are very helpful for the conceptualization of network mechanisms, community development, relationship management and incentives for extra-role behavior. Originality/value The literature on the link between network selection mechanisms and knowledge sharing remains unknown. This study is the pioneer to disclose this unknown association and examine the impacts of preferential attachment and homophily network mechanisms.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjie Zhou ◽  
Meiyun Zuo ◽  
Yan Yu ◽  
Wen Chai

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the environment of a virtual community (users’ interactions inside and outside of a community which are defined as the fundamental and supplemental interaction (FI and SI), respectively) on its users’ knowledge sharing (KS) and the underlying cognitive mechanism. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted among the users who had experience of participating in a domain knowledge specific online community. A total of 479 valid observations were collected. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research model and hypotheses. Findings – The empirical results show that the fundamental interaction (FI) not only directly affects users’ knowledge acquisition (KA) and contribution, but also indirectly affects users’ KA and contribution partially through the users’ self-efficacy and outcome expectation. While the supplemental interaction (SI) negatively affects users’ KA, it positively affects the users’ knowledge contribution and this effect is also partially mediated by the users’ self-efficacy and outcome expectation. The mediators of self-efficacy and outcome expectation play distinct role on users’ KA and contribution in virtual communities (VCs). Originality/value – This research conceptualizes the users’ interaction inside and outside of a particular virtual community as FI and SI, respectively, and reveals the mechanism how they affect users’ KA and contribution. The results shed light on the literature of KS in VCs and extend social cognitive theory's application into a complex environment with blended interactions in a virtual world. The research also provides insights for virtual community designers, administrators and users.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy J. Sierra ◽  
Michael R. Hyman ◽  
Byung-Kwan Lee ◽  
Taewon Suh

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs. Design/methodology/approach – From survey data drawn from 206 South Korean and 218 US respondents, structural equation modeling is used to test the posited hypotheses. Findings – To extrinsic superstitious beliefs, both the South Korean and US models support the subjective happiness through self-esteem path and the anthropomorphism path; from these beliefs, both models support the horoscope importance path and the behavioral superstitious beliefs path. Only the US model supports the path from self-esteem to extrinsic superstitious beliefs, and only the South Korean model supports the path from intrinsic religiosity to extrinsic superstitious beliefs. Research limitations/implications – South Korean and US student data may limit generalizability. As effect sizes in this context are established, researchers have a benchmark for future quantitative superstition research. Practical implications – By further understanding antecedents and consequences of superstitious beliefs, marketers are in a better position to appeal to targeted customers. Anthropomorphism and intrinsic religiosity, not fully studied by marketing scholars, show promise as segmentation variables related to consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. Social implications – To avoid unethical practice, marketers must limit themselves to innocuous superstition cues. Originality/value – Leaning on experiential consumption theory and the “magical thinking” literature, this study augments the superstition literature by exploring carefully selected yet under-researched determinants and consequences of superstitious beliefs across eastern and western consumer groups.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1355-1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meera Shanker

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in Indian setting and to further examine the role of OCB that impacts employees’ intention to stay, with a view to draw on the deeper influences it carries on the quality work of the organization. Design/methodology/approach Experimental research design was used to find out the causal relationship between these constructs, i.e., dimensions of OCB and intention to stay. Probability sampling method was used to obtain the sample. In total, 475 respondents were approached for data collection. Data were collected using questionnaire method. Findings Factor analysis result revealed five factors of OCB, namely: sportsmanship, altruism, courtesy, civic virtue and conscientiousness, having the reliability of 0.93, 0.89, 0.81, 0.82 and 0.69, respectively, single factor of intention to stay having the reliability 0.87. The findings of Pearson’s correlation, regression and structural equation modeling revealed unequivocal influence of OCB over employees’ intention to stay, suggesting a maneuvering capability of OCB with its influence over employees’ intention to stay in their present organizations. Research limitations/implications Since this study was conducted in India, to establish the external validity has to be judged carefully. The organizations approached for the study were of the MNC level. Practical implications This study is important to understand the citizenship behavior of employees in relation with intention to stay in Indians setting in particular and the world in general. When individual does work, without any expectation, stay with the organization for longer time inculcating, imbibing working culture of the organization which enriches his experiences, utilized in increasing productivity and prosperity of the organizations. Social implications Overall, organizations are facing increased competition day by day; employees are expected to stretch themselves to be in the competition. After certain point of time, employees stop extending themselves, resulting in deteriorating the quality, performance and product. Retaining employees along with maintaining the quality becomes an important concern and issue for organizations. Importance of OCB is considered extensively in Industries in this regard. Originality/value This is an original research in Indian Setting, much researches are not available finding the relationship between OCB and intention to stay in turn which improves the quality of organizations. This research is valuable for business world, are facing problems of retaining the employees which affects their efficiency, productivity and profitability.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
My-Trinh Bui ◽  
Don Jyh-Fu Jeng

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate coproduction behavior in networking alumni communities via the progress from platform belongingness, knowledge sharing and citizenship behavior. Alumni networking communities have emerged as valuable assets for conserving institutional resources, supporting members and contributing new resources for alumni-institutional professional development. However, the previous literature has not yet captured the explicit processes by which these contributions are made. Design/methodology/approach Data from 711 respondents selected from an alumni collaboration network were subjected to structural equation modeling analysis. Findings The study explored resource conservation (belongingness) as the primary relational mechanism for alumni to share their instrumental resources (knowledge sharing), supporting resources (citizenship behavior) and competent resources (coproduction behavior). Knowledge sharing and citizenship behavior act as intermediate agents to trigger coproduction behavior. The authors show how subjective norm, group norm and trust is regarded as a tool to reduce bonding intrusiveness (i.e. the intrusive side-effects of a bond) and moderate the indirect effect of belongingness on coproduction and the direct effect of citizenship on coproduction. Research limitations/implications By applying attachment theory, conservation of resources theory and digital platform networking perspectives, this study describes major implications for designing inspiring and compatible community platforms. Practical implications Guidance is provided for improving sustainable alumni communities through citizenship-sharing and coproduction behavior. Social implications Online alumni communities are regarded as resource conservators, which can result in valuable coproduction, via the sharing of knowledge, expertise and skillsets to create profit for a range of institutions and industries. Originality/value Alumni networking platforms encourage alumni cohesiveness, stimulate knowledge exchange and improve professionalism.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Talat Islam ◽  
Arooba Chaudhary ◽  
Muhammad Faisal Aziz

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of knowledge hiding (KH) on organizational citizenship behavior toward individuals (OCBI) through the mediation of self-conscious emotions (SCE), namely, shame and guilt. This paper further considers the supervisor’s Islamic work ethics (IWE) as a conditional variable. Design/methodology/approach In this quantity-based research, this paper collected data from 473 employees working in various service and manufacturing organizations through Google form at two-lags. Findings The study applied structural equation modeling and identified that employees experience SCE due to KH. More specifically, rationalized hiding was found to have a negative effect, whereas playing dumb and evasive hiding was found to have a positive effect on shame and guilt. The results also revealed SCE (shame and guilt) as mediators between KH and OCBI. Further, the supervisor’s IWE was found to be a conditional variable to strengthen the association between KH and SCE. Research limitations/implications The study collected data from a single source. However, the issue of common method variance was tackled through time-lags. Practical implications The study suggests that supervisors must communicate with employees about the negative outcomes of KH. They must create such an environment that discourages the engagement of employees in KH and encourages the employees to engage themselves in helping behaviors to maintain a productive and creative work environment. Originality/value This study adds to the limited literature on the emotional consequences of KH from knowledge hiders’ perspective and unfolds the behavior-emotion-behavior sequence through the emotional pathway. More specifically, this study examined the negative emotional effect of hiding the knowledge that leads to compensatory strategy (organizational citizenship behavior) through SCE (shame and guilt). Finally, zooming into SCE, this study elucidates the supervisor’s IWE as a conditional variable.


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