Measuring the Effect of Effective Factors on the Formation of Knowledge Sharing Behavior from Student's Perspective (Case Study: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

The purpose of this paper is to identify the most important factors that can determine forming knowledge sharing behavior among students in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad along with evaluating the elements that can affect the students’ knowledge sharing behavior.
A descriptive survey study was conducted to test some of the factors affecting the knowledge sharing behavior among undergraduate students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. For this purpose, an exploratory study was developed to identify the most important factors affecting knowledge sharing behavior. Then, 18 experts selected the main factors using Friedman test based on which a conceptual model was developed. Determining the validity and reliability of the scale, 390 questionnaires were distributed based on the stratified random sampling technique, 371 of which were returned. To analyze the data, path analysis method and Lisrel softwares were used.
FINDINGS:To conclude, it can be claimed that trust, motivation, attitude, and the intention of knowledge sharing are the most important factors affecting the students’ knowledge sharing behavior. Hence, universities must pay attention to these factors if they want to develop the knowledge sharing process and gain higher rate of academic participation within the university. In fact, the student's knowledge sharing behavior at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was influenced by all the factors of the study, however, trust, motivation to share knowledge, attitude, and the intention to share knowledge were the most importance factors.
Depending on the final model of this research, special attention should not only be paid to trust, motivation, positive attitude, and the intention of knowledge sharing but also to the development of the perceived value of knowledge sharing, the requirements and the infrastructure requirements, and the sharing of production knowledge as they also can facilitate this process.