Title: The role of web-forum in knowledge sharing and its impacts on consumer's purchase intention in e-marketplaces

Authors: Kamolbhan Olapiriyakul; Sirikanya Kangsirikul

Addresses: College of Innovation, Thammasat University, 2 Prachan Rd., Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. ' College of Innovation, Thammasat University, 2 Prachan Rd., Pranakorn, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Abstract: Forums and discussion boards are generally used for communication and knowledge sharing. Forums are virtual places where people can get involved in the topics of their interests. In any particular e-marketplace sites, forums are used to facilitate members' interaction and communication about product and service experiences, as well as to create trusting environment. Based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and trust theory, this study investigated the relationships between self-efficacy of forum users and trust, as well as between trust and their behavioural intentions. The results reveal many significant relationships between variables in the conceptual model.

Keywords: web-forums; e-commerce; electronic commerce; internet; world wide web; electronic marketplaces; e-marketplaces; self-efficacy; social cognitive theory; trust; knowledge sharing; consumer intentions; purchase intentions; discussion boards; communication; virtual places; member interaction; product experiences; service experiences; trusting environments; forum users; behavioural intentions; significant relationships; variables; conceptual models; Thailand; innovation; learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2012.048810

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2012 Vol.12 No.3, pp.283 - 293

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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