Examining Effects of Badge Repeatability and Level on Users' Knowledge Sharing in Online Q&A Communities

Bo Wen, Paul Jen Hwa Hu, Anqi Xu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This study investigates the differential effects of badge repeatability and level on users' knowledge sharing behaviors in an online Q&A (Question & Answer) community. Drawing on reinforcement theory and attribution theory of motivation, we conjecture that nonrepeatable badges reinforce individuals' behaviors primarily by promoting internal attributions that strengthen their self-determination motivation, while repeatable badges reinforce people's behaviors mainly via external attributions that undermine their self-determination motivation. By using fixed-effects models to analyze a panel data, we observe that nonrepeatable badges can better motivate users to share their knowledge than repeatable badges. In addition, the results show that attaining a higher level of nonrepeatable badges is associated with an increased effect for knowledge sharing, and that attaining a higher level of repeated badges leads to a decreased effect. These findings can contribute to extant literature by offering a probable explanation regarding why some gamified awards can motivate people better than others.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 56th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2023
EditorsTung X. Bui
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages290-299
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780998133164
StatePublished - 2023
Event56th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2023 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Jan 3 2023Jan 6 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Volume2023-January
ISSN (Print)1530-1605

Conference

Conference56th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period1/3/231/6/23

Keywords

  • Attribution Theory of Motivation
  • Badge Level
  • Badge Repeatability
  • Knowledge Sharing
  • Online Q&A Communities
  • Reinforcement Theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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