The interpersonal relationship perspective on virtual community participation

Understanding VC participation is of importance to VC organizers as well as VC researchers. Although VC participation has been explored from diverse perspectives, few studies can offer a comprehensive theoretical framework to explain why people participate in VCs.
This paper contributes to virtual community research by proposing and empirically validating an exploratory theoretical framework from the interpersonal relationship perspective using two interpersonal relationship theories—the Triandis interpersonal behavior model from social psychological angel and FIRO (Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation) from communicational angel to explain two types of VC participation—BOI (Behavior to Obtain Information) and BGI (Behavior to Give Information). Data was collected in three representative VCs. Data analysis results showed that the two interpersonal relationship theories are effective in explaining VC participation. These results provide a new perspective to explain virtual community participation and have implications for both VC organizers and VC researchers. For researchers, the interpersonal relationship perspective of VC participation not only offers a comprehensive theoretical framework but also opens a new perspective for future research.