Can online buddies and bandwagon cues enhance user participation in online health communities?

作者：

Highlights：

• We explore psychological mechanisms of user contribution in an online community.

• We test effects of online buddy invitation and bandwagon cues on user contribution.

• The online buddy invitation may not work positively in online communities.

• Bandwagon cues will attenuate negative reactions to online buddy’s exclusivity.

• Community feedback needs to be precise to optimize effects of social facilitation.

摘要

•We explore psychological mechanisms of user contribution in an online community.•We test effects of online buddy invitation and bandwagon cues on user contribution.•The online buddy invitation may not work positively in online communities.•Bandwagon cues will attenuate negative reactions to online buddy’s exclusivity.•Community feedback needs to be precise to optimize effects of social facilitation.

论文关键词：Online communities,User participation,Online buddy,Bandwagon cues,Social facilitation,Sense of community

论文评审过程：Available online 18 June 2014.

论文官网地址：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.04.039