Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Social Capital in Electronic Networks of Practice: An Analysis of University Blogging Communities

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Social Media Tools and Platforms in Learning Environments

  • 2453 Accesses

Abstract

Weblogs are a popular social communication technology enabling individuals to collaborate and share knowledge. This paper investigates how universities use blogging to facilitate student information exchange that is not directly moderated within a classroom environment. Social capital has been identified as a powerful indicator facilitating the transfer of knowledge (Nahapiet and Ghoshal 1998) and is used as the theoretical underpinnings for investigating why students participate in un-moderated university blogging communities. It is postulated that students with higher levels of social capital are more likely to participate within university blogging communities. Results suggest that the following aspects of social capital: trust; personal reputation and the enjoyment derived from helping others; significantly influence student participation in un-moderated blogging communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, P.S., Kwon, S.W.: Social capital: prospects for a new concept. Acad. Manage. Rev. 27(1), 17–40 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chavis, D.M., Hogge, J.H., McMillion, D.W., Wandersman, A.: Sense of Community Through Brunswik’s Lens: A First Look’, Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), pp 24–40 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C., Wu, J., Yang, S.: Accelerating the use of weblogs as an alternative method to deliver case-based learning. Int. J. E Learn. 7(2), 331–349 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, C.M., Hsu, M.H., Wang, E.T.G.: Understanding knowledge sharing in virtual communities: an integration of social capital and social cognitive theories. Decis. Support Syst. 42, 1872–1888 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chow, W.S., Chan, L.S.: Social network, social trust and shared goals in organizational knowledge sharing. Inf. Manage. 45, 458–465 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constant, D., Kiesler, S., Sproull, L.: What’s mine is ours, or is it? A study of attitudes about information sharing. Inf. Syst. Res. 5(4), 400–421 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constant, D., Sproull, L., Kiesler, S.: The kindness of strangers: the usefulness of electronic weak ties for technical advice. Organ. Sci. 7(2), 119–135 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronin, J.J.: Upgrading to web 2.0: an experiential project to build a marketing wiki. J. Mark. Educ. 31(1), 66–75 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davenport, T.H., Prusak, L.: Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Long, D.W., Fahey, L.: Diagnosing cultural barriers to knowledge management. Acad. Manag. Exec. 14(4), 113–127 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du, H.S., Wagner, C.: Learning with weblogs: an empirical investigation, in system sciences. In: HICSS ’05, 38th Annual Hawaii International Conference, pp. 7b–7b (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Efimova, L., Moor, A.D.: Beyond personal webpublishing: an exploratory study of conventional blogging practices. In: 38th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, IEEE, pp. 107a–107a (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, D.P., Chan, Y.E.: Knowledge sharing in a multi-cultural setting: a case study. Knowl. Manag. Res. Pract. 1(1), 11–27 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J.J.F., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., Anderson, R.E., Tatham, R.L.: Multivariate Data Analysis, 6th edn. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, C.L., Lin, J.C.: Acceptance of blog usage: the roles of technology acceptance social influences and knowledge sharing motivation. Inf. Manage. 45, 65–74 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, S.L., Yang, C.W.: Designing a semantic Bliki system to support different types of knowledge and adaptive learning. Comput. Educ. 53, 701–712 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huffaker, D.: The educated blogger: using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom. Assoc. Adv. Comput. Educ. J. 13(2), 91–98 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huysman, M., Wulf, V.: Social Capital and Information Technology. The MIT Press, Cambridge (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvenpaa, S.L., Staples, D.S.: The use of collaborative electronic media for information sharing: an exploratory study of determinants. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 9(2–3), 129–154 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kankanhalli, A., Tan, B.C.Y., Kwok-Kee, W.: Contributing knowledge to electronic knowledge repositories: an empirical investigation. MIS Q. 29(1), 113–143 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S.: The phenomenon of blogs and theoretical model of blog use in educational contexts. Comput. Educ. 51, 1342–1352 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., Lee, H.: The impact of organizational context and information technology on employee knowledge-sharing capabilities. Public Adm. Rev. 66(3), 370–385 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leana, C.R., Van Buren, H.J.I.I.I.: Organizational social capital and employment practices. Acad. Manage. Rev. 24(3), 538–555 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J.K., Kang, J., Park, J.H., Park, K.: Excellence of knowledge management comes only when combined with corporate culture: LG CNS. In: Lee, J.K., Siew, B.G.K., Sethi, V. (eds.) Premier e-Business Cases from Asia: Problem-Solution-Challenge-Impact Approach, pp. 189–219. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesser, E., Prusak, L.: Communities of Practice, Social Capital and Organizational knowledge in Knowledge and Communities, (eds.) Leasser E.L., Fontaine M., Slusher A.J., Butterworth-Heinemann A., Boston, pp 123–132 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lochner, K., Kawachi, I., Kennedy, B.P.: Social capital: a guide to its measurement. Health Place 5(4), 259–270 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, H.-P, Hsiao, K.-L.: Understanding intention to continuously share information on weblogs. Internet Research 17(4), 345–361 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, D.J.: Affect- and cognition-based trust as foundations for interpersonal cooperation in organizations. Acad. Manage. J. 38(1), 24–59 (1995)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • McGill, T.J., Klobas, J.E.: A task-technology fit view of learning management system impact. Comput. Educ. 52, 496–508 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLure Wasko, M., Faraj, S.: It is what one does: why people participate and help others in electronic communities of practice. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 9(2–3), 155–173 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLure Wasko, M., Faraj, S.: Why should I share? Examining social capital and knowledge contribution in electronic networks of practice. MIS Q. 29(1), 35–57 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody, E.J.: Internet use and its relationship to loneliness. Cyberpsychol. Behav. 4(3), 393–401 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nahapiet, J., Ghoshal, S.: Social capital, intellectual capital, and the organizational advantage academy of management. Acad. Manage. Rev. 23(2), 242–266 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonaka, I., Takeuchi, H.: The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford University Press, New York (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks, M.R., Floyd, K.: Making friends in cyberspace. J. Commun. 46(1), 80–97 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phang, C.W., Kankanhalli, A., Sabherwal, R.: Usability and sociability in online communities: a comparative study of knowledge seeking and contribution. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 10(10), 721–747 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridings, C.M., Gefen, D., Arinze, B.: Some antecedents and effects of trust in virtual communities. J. Strateg. Inf. Syst. 11(3–4), 271–295 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szulanski, G.: The process of knowledge transfer: a diachronic analysis of stickiness. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 82(1), 9–27 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, E., Murthy, U.S.: Knowledge sharing among accounting academics in an electronic network of practice. Acc. Horiz. 23(2), 151–179 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, W., Ghoshal, S.: Social capital and value creation: the role of intrafirm networks. Acad. Manage. J. 41(4), 464–476 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsham, G.: Knowledge management: the benefits and limitations of computer systems. Eur. Manage. J. 19(6), 599–608 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Fesenmaier, D.R.: Assessing motivation of contribution in online communities: an empirical investigation of an online travel community. Electron. Mark. 13(1), 33–45 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, S., Faust, K.: Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellman, B., Haase, A.Q., Witte, J., Hampton, K.: Does the internet increase, decrease, or supplement social capital? Social networks, participation, and community commitment. Am. Behav. Sci. 45(3), 436–455 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, 6009, Australia

    Sharon Purchase & Nick Letch

Authors
  1. Sharon Purchase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nick Letch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sharon Purchase .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Scientific Computing and Computing Services, 20450, MailStop 97, Stanford, CA, 94309, USA

    Bebo White

  2. Dept. Computer Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR

    Irwin King

  3. AT&T Labs Research, 201 Mission St. Ste 200, San Francisco, CA, 94105-1831, USA

    Irwin King

  4. Caritas Institute of Higher Education Center of Excellence, Chui Ling Road 18, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong SAR

    Philip Tsang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Purchase, S., Letch, N. (2011). Social Capital in Electronic Networks of Practice: An Analysis of University Blogging Communities. In: White, B., King, I., Tsang, P. (eds) Social Media Tools and Platforms in Learning Environments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20392-3_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20392-3_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20391-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20392-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics