Recent advances in information technologies provide a unique opportunity for sharing knowledge free from constraints of time and place. One application area is Internet-based learning where members of virtual groups are separated by location, and are challenged by a collaborative project. In this research we investigate the developmental patterns of such groups, and address how trust may shape and be shaped by the virtual groups¡¦ development. Twenty-five groups in a cyber-university participate in our study. Our findings suggested the development of virtual groups was characterized by three stages: dependency and flight, fight and pair, and work. In addition, virtual group members initially imported trust rather than developed trust. Calculus-based trust, knowledge-based trust and identification-based trust coexisted and co-evolved over time. Finally, there appeared to be a reciprocal relationship between trust and group development.

No description available.