Reciprocity and commitment in online travel communities
Industrial Management & Data Systems
ISSN: 0263-5577
Article publication date: 21 September 2018
Issue publication date: 21 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
With social exchange theory as a basis, the purpose of this paper is to seek a better understanding of advice processes in online travel communities, which offer crucial advice for travelers’ decisions. It also predicts that relational capital variables (commitment, reciprocity perceptions) moderate the main relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a web survey of 456 users of online travel communities affirm the scale’s validity and provide the input for structural equation modeling and multisample analyses of the hypotheses.
Findings
Higher levels of commitment reinforce the effect of following past advice on passive and active participation intentions. Users’ perceptions of reciprocity in the community strengthen the influence of following past advice on active participation. However, a high level of reciprocity causes users following past advice to reduce their intentions to continue following that advice.
Practical implications
Management tactics should specify active and passive participation in online travel communities. Specifically, to encourage the creation of high-quality new content, community managers should create interactive environments marked by high levels of reciprocity and commitment.
Originality/value
This research elucidates the role of relational capital variables in advice processes and advances understanding of online travel communities.
Keywords
Citation
Belanche, D., Casaló, L.V., Flavián, C. and Guinalíu, M. (2019), "Reciprocity and commitment in online travel communities", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 119 No. 2, pp. 397-411. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-03-2018-0098
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited