Explaining the Mediating Role of Social Capital in the Relationship between the Application of Virtual Social Network and Knowledge Sharing Practices in Cyberspace

The purpose of this study was to explain the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between the application of virtual social network and knowledge sharing practices in cyberspace.
The research in terms of the main strategy, was quantitative, in terms of the strategy, was field, and in terms of analytical, was descriptive-post-event technique. The statistical population consisted of postgraduate students users of telegrams social network at Mohaghegh Ardabili University in the academic year of 2016-2017. The sampling method was random. The sample size according to the Kregci-Morgan model and with error α = 0.05, was considered 210 persons. To collect data, virtual social networking questionnaire (with reliability α= 0.70), Social Capital Questionnaire of Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) (with reliability α= 0.93) and Knowledge Sharing Questionnaire of Bohlool (1392) (with reliability α= 0.93) was used. Validity of the tools was confirmed by the professors of education and psychology. Data were analyzed using two software’s SPSS v. 22 and Lisrel 8.50 and analyzed by structural equation modeling.
The results showed that the proposed model had suitable fit (x2/df=2.96, GFI=0.93, AGFI=0.92, CFI=0.91, NFI=0.93, RMSEA=0.81) and the component of virtual social networking has a direct and indirect effect through the component of social capital on knowledge sharing in cyberspace (P The social network of Telegram, based on its hyperactivity capacity in shaped relationships, has been developing the behavior of user knowledge sharing in the cyberspace. Therefore, educating and developing and continuously monitoring the space of these networks and planning for the future can be a major proposition for virtual domain managers.