Understanding link sharing tools continuance behavior in social media

Customer Benefits and Sharing Behaviour in Video Streaming Services: The Mediation Effect of Value Creation

Online video streaming services have become popular. This study aims to examine subscribers’ sharing behaviour on online digital video platforms. In almost all online channels, sharing behaviour has gained importance. Platforms may more simply and successfully reach their target audiences or consumers through sharing. On the other hand, customers may attend to value creation due to the benefits they gain from using goods and services. Marketers must comprehend how value creation is affected by customer benefits. This study is among the first studies examining the relationships between customer benefits, value creation, and sharing behaviour. Questionnaire-based research was employed to examine the foundation and framework-related hypotheses. Data was collected through the online survey forms. The data was obtained from 363 online streaming service paid users. The Structural Equation Model was performed using SPSS Amos 20 to test hypotheses. The statistical significance of the model’s estimations was tested using a single-step mediator model with a bootstrapping procedure. According to the findings, there was a significant relationship between customer benefits and instrumental value. However, there were very weak relationships between functional and psychosocial benefits and instrumental value. Financial benefit and instrumental value had a stronger relationship. Significant relationships were found between the variables customer benefits and terminal value. There was no significant relationship between instrumental value and sharing behaviour. As a result, there was no instrumental value-mediated relationship between customer benefits and sharing behaviour. The relationship between customer benefits and sharing behaviour, on the other hand, has been found to be mediated by terminal values. Functional and financial benefits and sharing behaviour did not directly and significantly relate. But this relationship became significant through terminal values (indirect-only mediation). Psychosocial benefits and sharing behaviour were directly and significantly related. It has been noted, nonetheless, that this relationship was strengthened by terminal value. The findings were assessed in light of the prior studies in the discussion section. In this section, some potential directions were suggested for future research.

Use of Mobile Grocery Shopping Application: Motivation and Decision-Making Process among South Korean Consumers

With the revitalization of the online grocery trading market, many consumers are using mobile applications to purchase groceries. Although past studies were conducted on online grocery purchases, few measured mobile app users in a conceptual model that combines both motivational needs and behavioral components. Grounded in the uses and gratifications theory and the theory of planned behavior, this study investigated utilitarian motives, hedonic motives, experiential motives, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, purchase intention, and purchase behavior among mobile grocery app users in South Korea. As an additional analysis, a comparison between users and non-users of mobile grocery apps was implemented. The results showed that the utilitarian motives of grocery app users significantly influenced attitudes, attitudes and subjective norms influenced user intention, and user intention influenced grocery purchase behavior. Users showed statistically higher utilitarian motives, hedonic motives, and attitudes than non-users. The results suggest that South Korean consumers hold positive attitudes toward mobile grocery shopping and that the opinions of others may influence the decision to use the services. Mobile groceries in South Korea may have the potential for continued growth if individuals’ perceived control of the service improves. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

How do search-based and experience-based information matter in the evaluation of user satisfaction? The case of TripAdvisor

Purpose

In the context of multi-sided platforms (MSPs), the authors address the evaluation of search- and experience-based information and the effect on different components of user satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The instrument was developed by either modifying previous measures or developing new scales. The authors collected the sample of experienced 300 TripAdvisor users via online questionnaire survey of a customer panel. The structural equation modeling (SEM) package (AMOS) with the maximum likelihood estimation method was used to test the sample data.

Findings

Attitudes toward search-based information can foster user satisfaction with information interaction rather than user satisfaction with social interaction. Attitudes toward experience-based information can foster user satisfaction with information interaction and user satisfaction with social interaction. The motivation for information interaction is stronger than the motivation for social interaction to enhance user satisfaction with information quality.

Research limitations/implications

The distinction between search- and experience-based information provides different route messages to develop the attitude-driven framework of platform-enabled interactions.

Practical implications

The support for platform-enabled interactions to enhance the motivation for information and social interactions should be aligned with the evaluation of information quality.

Originality/value

The satisfaction-driven framework has been widely used to examine the post-adoption of information technologies (IT). In contrast, the attitude-driven framework was less examined in the literature. The authors develop a research model based on the attitude-driven framework to examine the platform-enabled interactions that can foster repeated intention.

Research on the drivers of undergraduates' intention to use university digital libraries: affinity theory as an additional construct of information system success model

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors influencing undergraduates' intention to use university digital libraries by integrating the information system success model and affinity theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the 265 valid responses gathered through a survey, the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was employed to test the research model and hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicated that system quality and digital libraries (DLs)' affinity significantly affect undergraduates' user satisfaction. However, information quality and service quality does not. User satisfaction has significant impact on undergraduates' intention to use university digital libraries.

Practical implications

Librarians and service providers should focus on enhancing the system quality of digital library and DLs' affinity, to improve the undergraduates' user satisfaction, further motivating undergraduates to use university digital libraries.

Originality/value

The information system success model is enriched by affinity as an additional construct.

Determinants of Facebook use among students and its impact on collaborative learning

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of Facebook use among university students in Jordanian universities, and its impact on collaborative learning. The study compares Facebook use between students of social sciences disciplines and students of sciences disciplines. The study used a quantitative research approach. The research instrument used is a questionnaire. The results of the study showed that the relationship between Facebook use and collaborative learning is above average, which means that the more time spent on Facebook, the better academic performance students achieve through collaborative learning. Additionally, the study revealed that Facebook use was posited to affect collaborative learning, though the level of effect varies between social sciences and science disciplines. The study proposes a model that describes the relation between collaborative learning and Facebook use, which bridges a gap in the Arabic context that lacks models showing this type of relationship.

Brand recall of skippable vs non-skippable ads in YouTube

Purpose

By integrating the evidence of various audience theories, a comparison is made of viewers’ information processing of new interactive video advertising formats (skippable video ads) with traditional, non-skippable formats. The purpose of this paper is to focus on how exposure to a brand name at different moments during online video advertisements influences viewers’ recall.

Design/methodology/approach

A neuroscientific pre-test supported the selection of an arousing video, and a subsequent pre-test confirmed the scenario validity. Using a broader sample, the main study applied a 3×2 experimental design of different ad designs and formats.

Findings

Distinctions should be made between formats and audiences that lead to different information processing methods. Users exposed to skippable ads (active audiences) exert a higher control over advertising and tend to process the information presented in the initial part of an ad. In turn, users viewing non-skippable ads (passive audiences) should be exposed to the high arousal stimulus before presentation of the key information that the advertiser wants them to remember.

Practical implications

Advertising managers and content creators can use these results to improve the design of their online videos, and to achieve greater effectiveness in terms of information recall.

Originality/value

Skippable online videos have become a commonly used advertising format, but research into their effects is scarce. This study offers the first comparison of viewers’ reactions towards skippable vs non-skippable formats, in terms of brand recall and economic performance. Further research might extend this underdeveloped field of study and enhance the knowledge of video format processing in social media.

How can WeChat contribute to psychosocial benefits? Unpacking mechanisms underlying network size, social capital and life satisfaction among sojourners

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically unpack whether and how WeChat network size is correlated with perceived social capital and life satisfaction among Chinese overseas students in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a web-based survey data collected from 218 sojourners, zero-order correlation analyses and structural equation modeling were separately implemented to tackle the complicated research questions.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that an individual’s WeChat network size significantly and directly influences bridging, bonding and maintained social capital. Importantly, a path model demonstrates that these distinct dimensions of social capital are all significant predictors of life satisfaction. Furthermore, the empirical evidence reveals that bridging, bonding and maintained social capital can mediate the association between network size and well-being outcome.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the paper is an initial attempt contributing to the previous studies on estimating the influence of WeChat friendships on social capital and life satisfaction. Practically, these findings will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of effect of personal network characteristics derived from the dominant media interaction on social connectedness and life quality.

Originality/value

Despite WeChat is immensely prevalent in Mainland China, only few studies have concentrated on the role of WeChat network size in fostering individuals’ social and psychological development. The work provides unique evidence that number of friends on the emerging technology could indirectly benefit sojourners’ satisfaction with life through processes involving diverse categories of social capital in a trans-cultural environment.

Application of entity linking to identify research fronts and trends

Studying research fronts enables researchers to understand how their academic fields emerged, how they are currently developing and their changes over time. While topic modelling tools help discover themes in documents, they employ a “bag-of-words” approach and require researchers to manually label categories, specify the number of topics a priori, and make assumptions about word distributions in documents. This paper proposes an alternative approach based on entity linking, which links word strings to entities from a knowledge base, to help solve issues associated with “bag-of-words” approaches by automatically identifying topics based on entity mentions. To study topic trends and popularity, we use four indicators—Mann–Kendall’s test, Sen’s slope analysis, z-score values and Kleinberg’s burst detection algorithm. The combination of these indicators helps us understand which topics are particularly active (“hot” topics), which are decreasing (“cold” topics or past “bursty” topics) and which are maturely developed. We apply the approach and indicators to the fields of Information Science and Accounting.

Clothing brand purchase intention through SNS

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the intention to purchase products through clothing brands’ social network sites (SNS) based on the theory of planned behavior and uses and gratifications theory (U&G), and the moderating effects of self-image congruity (SIC).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 1,003 followers of their favorite clothing brands’ SNS. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM analysis. The models were estimated from the matrices of variances and covariances by the maximum likelihood procedure using EQS 6.1.

Findings

The results highlight the positive impact of U&G on attitude, SNS intentions and SNS use, and U&G, SNS intentions and SNS use were seen to be the main antecedents predicting purchase intentions. Furthermore, SIC was found to have moderating effects between SNS attitude and SNS intentions and between SNS intentions and SNS use.

Practical implications

This research can help clothing brands understand the need to generate brand beliefs, and to develop contents or events to help accomplish the transition from use to purchase.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by providing a better understanding of intention to use and purchase intention through clothing brands’ SNS pages.

Bellostas AJB. Is online disclosure the key to corporate governance?

Purpose

The economic literature shows contradictory results when the relationship between corporate governance and financial position is assessed. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of the online disclosure of information, as an omitted variable, in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to test the role of the online disclosure of information, a set of the structural equation models is evaluated. In these models, the indirect effect of the online disclosure on the relationship between corporate governance and the financial position, defined by performance, funding and investment, is analyzed.

Findings

Using data from a sample of 252 Spanish public non-profits between 2012 and 2016, the authors found that the development of corporate governance practices is not, by itself, able to improve the financial position of these organizations. These improvements can only be achieved if the online disclosure is promoted.

Research limitations/implications

Organizations should not only follow corporate governance practices but also communicate to the stakeholders the degree of development of these practices in an exercise of accountability. Finally, Web 3.0 practices must be promoted because they can be a mechanism to reinforce corporate governance practices and achieve a solid financial position.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the debate about the role of the online disclosure, introducing this transparent practice as a variable omitted by previous research. Moreover, the authors have considered the evolution for a period of four years in relation to the information published by each organization on the internet.

Factors influencing internet users’ intention to sign e-petitions

Purpose

This study aims to identify factors behind the intention to sign e-petitions, focusing on three aspects, i.e. information (argument quality), the source of information (source credibility) and personal perspective (personal relevance and altruism).

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection is done by using a quantitative approach through an online questionnaire. This study involved 211 respondents who were internet users in Indonesia who had signed an e-petition. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling approach with IBM Amos version 22.0.

Findings

The findings revealed that there are three factors shaping internet users’ attitudes toward e-petitions, namely, altruism, AQ and personal relevance, of which altruism was the strongest factor. Those who have a positive attitude toward e-petitions seemed to have higher intention to sign e-petitions. Additionally, we discovered that internet users believe credible e-petition initiators deliver better arguments, which drive them to sign e-petitions.

Research limitations/implications

The finding related to elaboration likelihood model has revealed that not only the dual processing of central routes and peripheral routes but also the possibility of peripheral routes influencing the factors in the central route. Hence, future studies need to include the examination of this relation. Finally, altruism is identified as the major factor that influences people to sign e-petitions. Therefore, people should be aware of this factor while examining the environment that likely has voluntary aspects.

Practical implications

To improve the adoption of the e-petition system, it is important for the e-petition websites to maintain attitude factors to achieve the e-petition goals. It is also important that e-petition websites provide credibility information of the e-petition initiators and make it visible to everyone. The e-petition sites must be able to be personalized so that users can be categorized based on their profiles or interests. Finally, as altruism is the most influencing factor in shaping internet users’ attitude toward e-petitions, e-petition initiators need to write a persuasive and arousing information and images for their e-petition. Some templates, tips or even online training to persuasive public petitions also need to be provided.

Originality/value

This study attempts to fill the research gap by examining factors from three domains, i.e. information source (the e-petitioners), information/AQ and personal perspective (personal motivation) of the e-petition signers. The authors enrich the research model with altruism factors that influence attitude in signing petitions. This study illustrates the characteristic of Indonesian internet user’s and provides important implications for how the e-petitions site should improve the functionality of the sites.

Determinants and academic achievement effect of Facebook use in educational communication among university students

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that drive students to use Facebook for educational communication and explore the impact of Facebook use for educational communication on perceived academic achievement.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from student Facebook users at a large technology and engineering university in Malaysia. Partial least squares path modeling was used to test the hypotheses in the research model.

Findings

This empirical study showed that Facebook use in educational communication is determined by subjective norms and purposive value. Facebook use in educational communication positively affected perceived academic achievement.

Practical implications

The findings provide useful insight for higher institutions and educators regarding the potential academic effects of integrating Facebook into higher education learning. Moreover, this study provides insight into the factors that drive Facebook use in educational communication.

Originality/value

Prior studies have largely investigated the determinants and the effects of Facebook use among university students. However, little research has focused on educational communication phenomena. This study investigated determinants and academic achievement effect of Facebook use in educational communication among university students.

Innovating New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) for Better Patient Satisfaction in Rural China

With the broadening application of the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS), its role in patient satisfaction in rural China has shifted to be the focus of academic research. Based on a technology acceptance model, this study will investigate the factors and mechanisms influencing patient satisfaction on NCMSS in rural places in China. In this study, based on a technology acceptance model, we developed a model that is associated with the influencing factors, patients' continued participation and patient satisfaction, and conducted an empirical analysis based on data collected from rural areas of China's Anhui Province. A NCMS's reputed reliability, value, and convenience played a key role in positively influencing patient satisfaction. However, long-term patient participation was not significantly influenced by other social factors. In order to increase patient satisfaction, NCMS policy and implementation procedure needs further government modification and innovation with the goal of improving the reimbursement ratio, reducing the financial burden, and improving patient convenience.

Can microblogs motivate involvement in civic and political life? Examining uses, gratifications and social outcomes among Chinese youth

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the Chinese microblog users’ psychological motivations and the association between users’ motivations and their offline civic and political engagement. Specifically, this study examines what the psychological impetuses of Weibo use are and how they promote the young citizens’ civic and political involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through the web-based survey with a total sample of 426 people. Principal components factor analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regressions were sequentially carried out to address the research questions.

Findings

The findings reveal that there are four major motives for using Weibo: information, socializing, recognition seeking and entertainment. Interestingly, seeking social needs is positively and significantly related to increasing young people’s civic participation, but not political participation.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the research demonstrates that the uses and gratifications is a suitable approach for analysis of psychological antecedents of Weibo use and subsequent outcomes. Practically, it will help understand the dynamics of how the new media technology may engender democratic development and change.

Originality/value

Although the growing significance of social media has drawn considerable attention, little research has been conducted to assess the political consequences of Weibo. The current study fills the void by investigating whether Weibo functions as an effective tool to facilitate democratic engagement in contemporary China. The obtained results may provide insight into the relationship between the gratification structures and engagement in other social settings.

Consumer engagement with eWOM on social media: the role of social capital

Purpose

The nature of digital media channels are important factors in explaining consumers’ behavior over the Web, and specifically on social network sites (SNS). The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework explaining consumer engagement with electronic word of mouth (eWOM) communication via SNS, based on key attributes of this media channel.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the expectancy value theory (EVT), a conceptual framework is proposed to model the effect of eWOM channel attributes on eWOM engagement process. Consumer eWOM engagement is conceptualized as a second-order construct. A structural equation modeling procedure was employed to empirically test the model using data collected from two social media communication channels.

Findings

First, results suggest that engagement with eWOM can be conceptualized as a second-order construct based on user tendency to receive or share eWOM with other network members. Second, the path analysis model supports the employment of EVT and shows that two key attributes of eWOM channels, social capital and credibility, significantly affect consumer attitude toward eWOM via SNS. Attitude toward eWOM, in turn, affects eWOM engagement. Third, SNS channel type moderates the effect on attitude.

Practical implications

Marketing communication practitioners should note that the strength of social ties plays a key role in spreading eWOM on SNS effectively. This insight should be employed a part of social media marketing strategy.

Originality/value

This is first research that models the effect of social media attributes on eWOM engagement and demonstrates the moderating role of channel type. The model is highly valuable in light of the importance of the concept of engagement in internet research.