Why Discussions In LinkedIn Group Get Read?

Author(s)

Johannes K. Chiang , Hung-Yue Suen ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 17-22 | Views: 475 | Downloads: 105 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3408070

Volume 2 - June 2013 (06)

Abstract

This study examines the motivations for why LinkedIn group users read discussion posts and attempts to discover which factors predict motivations for using the discussion board within the LinkedIn group. Information seeking appeared as the strongest motivation for using the discussions, followed by efficiency, and entertainment. Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that perceived credibility of LinkedIn group will predict the motivation for reading the discussions. Based on the findings, this study presents implications and suggestions for future research

Keywords

LinkedIn Group; Discussions; Uses and Gratifications (U&G); Blogging; Online Community

References

                            i.            Adams, S. (2013). New Survey: LinkedIn More Dominant Than Ever Among Job Seekers And Recruiters, But Facebook Poised To Gain. Forbes, Feb 5, 28-28.

       ii.            Barnes, N.G. and Lescault, A.M. (2012). The 2012 Inc. 500 Social Media Update: Blogging Declines As Newer Tools Rule at www.umassd.edu/cmr/studiesandresearch/2012inc500socialmediaupdate/ (accessed 31 Jan 2013)

      iii.            Chiang, J.K., Suen, H.Y., and Hsiao, H.E. (2013). Group Identification on LinkedIn: A Professional Group Study. International Business and Management, 6(1), 32-37

     iv.            Chu, S.C. and Kim, Y. (2011). Determinants of consumer engagement in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in social networking sites. International Journal of Advertising, 30(1), 47-75.

       v.            Gerard, J.G. (2011). Linking in With LinkedIn: Three Exercises That Enhance Professional Social Networking and Career Building. Journal of Management Education, 36(6), 866-897.

     vi.            Grensing, J. (2011). Maximizing the Value of LinkedIn Groups at www.stratcommunications.com (accessed 31 Dec 2011)

    vii.            Johnson, T. J., Kaye, B. K., Bichard, S. L., & Wong, w. J. (2007). Every blog has its day: Politically-interested Internet users' perceptions of blog credibility. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 6 at http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/johnson.html (accessed 31 Dec 2012)

  viii.            Johnson, T. J., & Kaye, B. K. (2004). Wag the Blog: How Reliance on Traditional Media and the Internet Influence Credibility Perceptions of Weblogs Among Blog Users. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 81(3), 622-642.

     ix.            Katz, E. (1959). Mass communication research and the study of popular culture: An editorial note on a possible future for this journal. Studies in Public Communication, 2(1), 1-6.

       x.            Kaye, B.K. and Johnson, T.J. (2011). Hot Diggity Blog: A Cluster Analysis Examining Motivations and Other Factors for Why People Judge Different Types of Blogs as Credible. Mass Communication and Society, 14(2), 236-263,

     xi.            Kaye, B.K. (2010). Going to the Blogs: Toward the Development of a Uses and Gratifications Measurement Scale for Blogs. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 18(4), 194-210.

    xii.            Kesavan, R., Bernacchi, M.D., and Mascarenhas, O.A. (2013). Word of Mouse: CSR Communication and the Social Media. International Management Review, 9(1), 58-66.

  xiii.            Kim, D. and Johnson, T.J. (2012). Political blog readers: Predictors of motivations for accessing political blogs. Telematics and Informatics, 29(1), 99-109.

  xiv.            Ku, Y.C., Chu, T.H., and Tseng, C.H. (2013). Gratifications for using CMC technologies: A comparison among SNS, IM, and e-mail. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 226-234.

   xv.            Kube, L. (2012). LinkedIn Groups: 4 Reasons Why You Should Join. SliceWork at http://www.sliceworks.com/sliceblog/2012/02/22/linkedin-groups-4-reasons-why-you-should-join/ (accessed 22 Feb 2012)

  xvi.            Ma, W.W., Clark, T.H.K., and Li, Pu. (2006). Cognitive Style and Acceptance of Online Community Weblog Systems. International Journal of Communications Law & Policy, Special Issue, Virtual Communities, Autumn, 1-12.

xvii.            Malhotra, N.K., Kim, S.S. and Patil, A. (2006), Common method variance in IS research: a comparison of alternative approaches and a re-analysis of past research. Management Science, 52(12), 1865-1883.

xviii.            McGeown, S.P., Norgate, R., and Warhurst, A. (2012). Exploring intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation among very good and very poor readers. Educational Research, 54(3), 309-322.

  xix.            Metzger, M.J. (2007). Making sense of credibility on the Web: Models for Evaluating Online information and recommendations for future research. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58(13), 2078-2091.

   xx.            Newhagen, J. E. and Nass, C. (1989). Differential criteria for evaluating credibility of newspapers and TV news. Journalism Quarterly, 66(2), 277-284.

  xxi.            Pai, P and Arnott, D.C. (2013). User adoption of social networking sites: Eliciting uses and gratifications through a means–end approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 1039-1053.

xxii.            Park, B., Ahn, S., & Kim, H.J. (2010). Blogging: Mediating impacts of flow on the motivational behavior. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 4(1), 6-29.

xxiii.            Park, N., Kee, K. F., and Valenzuela, S. (2009). Being immersed in social networking environment: Facebook groups, uses and gratifications, and social outcomes. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 12(6), 729-733.

xxiv.            Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Lee, J.Y. and Podsakoff, N.P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879-903.

xxv.            Ren, Y., Harper, F.M., Drenner, S., Terveen, L.G., Kiesler, S.B., Riedl, J., and Kraut, R.E. (2012). Building Member Attachment in Online Communities: Applying Theories of. Group Identity and Interpersonal Bonds. MIS Quarterly, 36(3), 841-864.

xxvi.            Sanderson, J. (2008). The Blog is Serving Its Purpose: Self-Presentation Strategies on 38pitches.com. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(4), 912-936.

xxvii.            Savolainen, R. (2011). Requesting and providing information in blogs and internet discussion forums. Journal of Documentation, 67(5), 863-886.

xxviii.            Skotidas, T. (2012). The power of LinkedIn groups for lead generation. Marketing Magazine Blogs at www.marketingmag.com.au/blogs/ (accessed 27 April 2012).

xxix.            Sweeter, K.D., Porter, L.V., Chung, D.S., and Kim, E. (2008). Credibility and the use of blogs among professionals in the communication industry. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 85(1), 169-185.

Cite this Article: