Is social capital associated with reliability of information in online communities?

• Main Authors: Cheong, Fiona Wei Zhi, Teo, John Cheng Siang, Zhang, Ronson Lihong
• Other Authors: Wong, Sze Sze
• Format: Final Year Project
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::General::Social aspects
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/10501
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The proliferation of online forums has expanded the potential of sharing of ideas, disseminating information and cultivation of social capital. While most scholars choose to focus and debate over the existence, creation of and plainly list the values that social capital creates, this research paper addresses the gap between the nature of social capital and the type of value it creates. We undertake an exploratory case study approach to investigate whether social capital leads to the creation of reliable information. In addition some of the concerns in the creation and circulation of information particularly in online forums are also discussed. To provide an industry-specific practical discussion, the researchers have chosen to focus on the watch industry.