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Wenn die Nutzer Erfahrungen mit Sozialen Netzwerken sammeln: i) tauschen sie Informationen mit einander aus; ii) verbinden sich mit einander und bilden Netzwerke; und iii) können auf soziales Kapital zugreifen, das durch die Pflege von diesen Kontakten entsteht. Die Struktur dieser Dissertation spiegelt diese drei Besonderheiten wider. In dem ersten Kapitel untersuchen wir den Einfluss von Informationseigenschaften – den Umfang, die Tiefe, den Kontext als auch dem Feedback – auf den Informationsnutzen. Im zweiten Kapitel untersuchen wir die Netzwerk-Gestaltungsstrategien und die Beziehung von den resultierenden Netzwerkeigenschaften – die Beziehungsstärke als auch Netzwerküberschneidung – mit dem Informationsnutzen. Im dritten Kapitel erforschen wir den Einfluß von den gewonnenen Informationen und der Struktur des Netzwerkes – auf das Soziale Kapital. Zusätzlich beziehen wir in jedes Kapitel die Erfahrung der Nutzer mit dem Medium ein. Aufgrund von fehlenden Forschungserkenntnissen, setzen wir Grounded Theory ein, um konzeptionelle Verhaltensmodelle zu entwickeln. Diese Modelle werden im Anschluß empirisch getestet. Obwohl die Forschung in dieser Dissertation meist verhaltenswissenschaftlich ist, kann man auch Ansätze aus der Design Science erkennen. Zum Beispiel, spezielle Facebook-Anwendungen sind implementiert um reale Nutzerdaten zeitnah zu sammeln. Diese Dissertation weisst drei Hauptergebnisse auf. Erstens, die Beziehungsstärke ist der wichtigster Faktor, der das Verhalten von den Nuztern bestimmt. Zweitens, obwohl die Nutzer die Informationen von Ihren engen Freunden bevorzugen, andere Netzwerkeigenschaften sollten in Betracht gezogen werden, denn zum Beispiel Netzwerküberschneidung einen negativen Einfluss auf Informationsnutzen hat. Drittens, Erfahrungsfaktoren beinflussen das Nutzerverhalten auf diesen Netzwerken. / As SNS users gain experience with using SNS they: i) exchange the information with each other; ii) connect with each other and form certain network structures as a result; iii) obtain the social capital benefits due to the maintenance of relationships with others. The dissertation structure clearly reflects these peculiarities of SNS. Thus, in the first part of the dissertation we explore the impact of information characteristics – depth, breadth, context, social information – on the value of information users derive from their networks. In the second part of the dissertation we explore how users construct their networks and how properties of network structure – tie strength and network overlap – relate to information value. In the third part, we explore the impact of network structure and shared information in the process of social capital formation. We additionally control for the user experience, as we believe that this factor might impact the perception of value. Due to the scarcity of research findings we use explorative methodologies, such as Grounded Theory to study these new phenomena and generate conceptual models. These models are then verified empirically. Although most of the research presented in this dissertation is behavioral, we can also recognize design science elements. For example, we design and implement Facebook applications that allow to collect user data in real time. The main results of the dissertation can be summarized around three major contributions. First and foremost, the underlying tie strength emerges as the most important factor that drivers user behavior on SNS. Second, although people prefer information from their stronger ties, researchers should differentiate between different forms of network structure in their impact on information value, as, for example, network overlap has a negative relationship with information value. Third, experience factors mediate many of the behaviors of users on SNS.

Granovetter proposed that weak ties connect different sections of social networks, thus function as the channel for individuals to gain access to useful information unavailable at existing social circles. The first motivation of this study is to explore to what extent strength of ties theory explains information exchange behaviour of Taiwanese Facebook users. According to past research, Chinese rely on those with close guanxi, such as family members and close friends to satisfy individual’s needs. This leads us to ask if guanxi would also play an important role in satisfying individual’s needs for information. Thus the second motive of this study is to explore the significance of guanxi for Chinese Facebook users in selecting the counterpart for information exchange. It is hoped that the results of this investigation will contribute to social networks, guanxi, information behaviour research and social network sites users’ study, especially in Taiwan. Based the data collected via online survey, this study found that respondents tend to rely on strong ties as their primary sources of information. If their strong ties were not able to provide the information, respondents would rely on the connections of these strong ties, rather than the weak ties in their network, to find the information they needed. Thus strong ties are the key to information exchange in a social network.

Word of mouth (WOM) communication has been a form of additional information for consumers wishing to make a purchase decision where there was uncertainty, lack of knowledge or just a general desire for more information. The increased access and use of social media as well as anonymous opportunities for consumers to provide their reviews on products or services is changing how WOM is used and sought. There is little research on the impact and use of WOM with respect to consumer decision making in a recreation and leisure context. Much research has been focussed on retail experiences and more tangible outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the process consumers undertake to seek out, listen and engage in WOM communication when making service purchase decisions. This study took place in a municipality in York Region that offered swimming lessons to the public. Participants were chosen using convenience sampling methodology. 500 surveys were distributed with 301 returned surveys completed to some degree. Study participants were recruited from observers watching a swim class offered by a municipal recreation provider. The survey instrument asked participants to describe themselves in terms of their experience level with municipal recreation programs. It also included three scales relating to susceptibility to influence, self confidence and need for cognition. Participants were exposed to one of five scenarios – one control message contained no treatment information and four scenarios with treatment messages relating to self-confidence and perceived risk. Treatment group members received information suggesting either high and low levels of perceived risk with purchase and high and low levels of self-confidence with knowledge (regarding the purchase decision). Respondents in this study possessed a very high level of self confidence in their program selections; they knew where to find the information and also how to explore program options. Overall this seemed a very well informed and confident group. Results suggest that susceptibility to influence (t = 5.889, p = .000) and self confidence (t = -2.174, p = .037) influenced their search for WOM communication. Need for cognition did not influence the likelihood they would seek WOM communication (t = -1.098, p = .280). Together all three variables explained 50% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .505) in the dependent variable (likelihood they would seek out WOM to make the purchase). These results indicate that participants were more likely to seek WOM when they were susceptible to influence and when their self confidence levels were low. Results also suggest that consumers were open to on line sources of word of mouth communication. More than that, study participants were generally willing to trust online reviews from people who were not necessarily known to them. As a result, online reviews could greatly influence the program registration numbers. A key question for future research could focus on the role shared experience plays in the evolution of trust between strangers. Many of these respondents would trust the advice of others simply because they reported having shared experience. How far does this trust go? How much risk must be present before they hesitate to take advice from unknown individuals? What are the characteristics or traits that consumers look for when assessing the validity of the reviews. Word of mouth seems a very pervasive and resilient concept. This may be particularly important in situations characterized by risk. Additional research could further explore the concept of word of finger and its influence on the traditional concept of WOM communication.

Introduction: Social networks have shown promise in curbing drug dependency and infectious diseases among marginalized populations. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how relationship strength in social networks is associated with risk behaviours for infectious diseases. Methods: Two reviews were conducted: 1) a systematic review exploring the association between risk behaviours and relationship strength 2) a review on the utilization of respondent driven sampling (RDS). We also analyzed network data to determine the association between recent injection drug use and recent crack use. Results: Our reviews revealed that few studies link relationship strength and risk behaviours; moreover, RDS is effective method of sampling from marginalized populations. Finally, our analysis demonstrated that close relationships are associated with drug use. Conclusion: “Close” relationships are important in arbitrating injection drug use and crack smoking. More research addressing the issues of using data from dynamic social processes and hard-to-reach populations is needed.

Word of mouth (WOM) communication has been a form of additional information for consumers wishing to make a purchase decision where there was uncertainty, lack of knowledge or just a general desire for more information. The increased access and use of social media as well as anonymous opportunities for consumers to provide their reviews on products or services is changing how WOM is used and sought. There is little research on the impact and use of WOM with respect to consumer decision making in a recreation and leisure context. Much research has been focussed on retail experiences and more tangible outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the process consumers undertake to seek out, listen and engage in WOM communication when making service purchase decisions. This study took place in a municipality in York Region that offered swimming lessons to the public. Participants were chosen using convenience sampling methodology. 500 surveys were distributed with 301 returned surveys completed to some degree. Study participants were recruited from observers watching a swim class offered by a municipal recreation provider. The survey instrument asked participants to describe themselves in terms of their experience level with municipal recreation programs. It also included three scales relating to susceptibility to influence, self confidence and need for cognition. Participants were exposed to one of five scenarios – one control message contained no treatment information and four scenarios with treatment messages relating to self-confidence and perceived risk. Treatment group members received information suggesting either high and low levels of perceived risk with purchase and high and low levels of self-confidence with knowledge (regarding the purchase decision). Respondents in this study possessed a very high level of self confidence in their program selections; they knew where to find the information and also how to explore program options. Overall this seemed a very well informed and confident group. Results suggest that susceptibility to influence (t = 5.889, p = .000) and self confidence (t = -2.174, p = .037) influenced their search for WOM communication. Need for cognition did not influence the likelihood they would seek WOM communication (t = -1.098, p = .280). Together all three variables explained 50% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .505) in the dependent variable (likelihood they would seek out WOM to make the purchase). These results indicate that participants were more likely to seek WOM when they were susceptible to influence and when their self confidence levels were low. Results also suggest that consumers were open to on line sources of word of mouth communication. More than that, study participants were generally willing to trust online reviews from people who were not necessarily known to them. As a result, online reviews could greatly influence the program registration numbers. A key question for future research could focus on the role shared experience plays in the evolution of trust between strangers. Many of these respondents would trust the advice of others simply because they reported having shared experience. How far does this trust go? How much risk must be present before they hesitate to take advice from unknown individuals? What are the characteristics or traits that consumers look for when assessing the validity of the reviews. Word of mouth seems a very pervasive and resilient concept. This may be particularly important in situations characterized by risk. Additional research could further explore the concept of word of finger and its influence on the traditional concept of WOM communication.

Introduction: Social networks have shown promise in curbing drug dependency and infectious diseases among marginalized populations. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how relationship strength in social networks is associated with risk behaviours for infectious diseases. Methods: Two reviews were conducted: 1) a systematic review exploring the association between risk behaviours and relationship strength 2) a review on the utilization of respondent driven sampling (RDS). We also analyzed network data to determine the association between recent injection drug use and recent crack use. Results: Our reviews revealed that few studies link relationship strength and risk behaviours; moreover, RDS is effective method of sampling from marginalized populations. Finally, our analysis demonstrated that close relationships are associated with drug use. Conclusion: “Close” relationships are important in arbitrating injection drug use and crack smoking. More research addressing the issues of using data from dynamic social processes and hard-to-reach populations is needed.

Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship. Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships. Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior. A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.

The social web has emerged concurrent with a decline in Americans' community involvement and number of close friendships. Hundreds of millions of people connect online, but they appear to have fewer confidants and trust each other less. However, contrasting research finds that web users have better social integration and stronger relationships than their offline counterparts. This thesis resolves these contradictory views through a detailed examination of social network site (SNS) use and changes in relationships and individual well-being. The research is conducted at multiple levels looking at how different types of SNS use—direct interaction with others and more “passive consumption” of social news—influence the number and quality of individuals’ social ties and their aggregate social capital and well-being, including perceived social support, happiness, and physical health. The studies combine objective measures of SNS use (communication activity from the server logs of a popular social networking site) with self-reports of tie strength and well-being to accurately differentiate types of use with different partners. Longitudinal methods reveal how well-being changes over time with SNS use and are moderated by personal characteristics such as social communication skill and recent job loss.

Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship. Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships. Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior. A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.