Influencing factors of knowledge dissemination in rural areas in China
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the situation of knowledge dissemination in Chinese rural areas and explore factors that affect the efficiency of knowledge dissemination, to provide some suggestions for further improvements.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted to collect data in 17 provinces of China, with 267 questionnaires returned out of 300. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis with LISEREL 8.8.
Findings
The results show that factors of knowledge such as government participation, dissemination capability, learning motivation and trust have a positive effect on knowledge transfer. By contrast, factors of knowledge such as complexity and richness of knowledge carriers do not have a significant correlation with the knowledge sharing level.
Research limitations/implications
This paper conducts a cross-sectional analysis while ignoring the longitudinal effects of some factors on knowledge dissemination, such as the reform and opening policy in China. An analysis on a more concrete problem could be conducted for future study.
Practical implications
This paper proposes some suggestions to enhance the efficiency of knowledge dissemination in rural areas from the knowledge dissemination mode, knowledge products and the role of government playing.
Originality/value
This paper is among the first attempts to conduct comprehensive and systematic research on the influential factors of knowledge dissemination. It contributes to literature by offering a systematical empirical study with the consideration of the role of government in knowledge dissemination.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous referees and the editor Professor for their insightful comments and suggestions, which enhanced the quality of the paper. The authors acknowledge the support of “The Major Program of the National Social Science Fund of China” (grant no. 13&ZD147), and “the MOE Project of Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Universities” (12JJD630004).
Citation
Li, Y., Shi, D., Li, X. and Wang, W. (2015), "Influencing factors of knowledge dissemination in rural areas in China", Nankai Business Review International, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 128-155. https://doi.org/10.1108/NBRI-05-2014-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited