This thesis investigates the relationship between different types of motivation (extrinsic regulation of motivation, integrated regulation of motivation, and intrinsic motivation) and their effects on the individuals' expected outcomes of knowledge sharing in online communities. Conceptually, the thesis draws on self-determination theory (SDT), which provides a theoretical framework for understanding the motivational factors that influence individuals' behaviour. Moreover, SDT is used to define the concept of individual's expected outcomes of knowledge sharing and to explain three hypotheses related to the influence of the three types of motivation from different parts of the autonomy continuum on individual's expected outcomes of knowledge sharing in online communities. In the empirical part, the three hypotheses are verified on a convenience sample of 910 Reddit users who participated in a web survey. The results of multiple linear regression provided support for all three hypotheses, suggesting that the individual's integrated regulation of motivation is of greatest importance, as it has almost twice as much influence on the dependent variable compared to that of extrinsic regulation of motivation and integrated motivation. This is consistent with the theoretical propositions that individuals who internalize extrinsic goals have more positive expectations about the consequences of their knowledge sharing in online communities. The findings of this thesis also support previous studies on knowledge sharing in online communities which argue that managers need to develop a motivational setting within online communities that fosters positive participation and positive expectations of their members.
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