The Pattern of Knowledge Sharing Behavior In Social Network

Social networking and partnership concepts are extremely common in the modern world, especially among academics. The significance of knowledge sharing is that; it results in learning. In this regard, the role of learning as the potential for sustainable development of human society in the era of digital technology is concerned. The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing students’ knowledge sharing behavior in the Social Network of a university. Therefore this is a descriptive-exploratory study, in order to identify variables that affect students’ knowledge sharing behavior in cyberspace. The study has been conducted via both web-based and email-based questionnaires. Electronic questionnaires distributed during a period of three months, and in two rounds. Furthermore, based on random sampling, data of 203 questionnaires obtained and subsequently KMO index was used to check the adequacy of the sample size. Using the LISREL software, at the social dimension, individual dimension and environmental dimension respectively have impact on student knowledge sharing in social network of Tehran University. Among these, communication factors from social dimension; attitude to share knowledge from individual dimension; and cultural (educational) factor from environmental dimension have shown the most significant impact on students’ knowledge sharing behavior in University Social Network respectively. Conclusions and directions for future research are also formulated.