Antecedents of Engagement within Online Sharing Economy Communities

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors state that "Community engagement can be separated into three dimensions (the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement dimensions)" (p. 2), however, they treat these dimensions as independent constructs in the statistical treatment. It would be recommended that community engagement be treated as a second-order construct, which would require necessary changes in the statistical treatment. Consequently, the results and conclusions could be different.

If the contents of Appendix A (multiple mediator models) are important to the authors, then they should have been discussed in the results chapter. There is only one reference to this appendix in the implications section.

The bibliography is somewhat outdated, as only 11 of the 83 references are less than 5 years old (post 2018).

Author Response

1. Thanks for your kind comments.
2. We have tried to revise the manuscript based on your comments.
3. Here are responses.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors state that "Community engagement can be separated into three dimensions (the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement dimensions)" (p. 2), however, they treat these dimensions as independent constructs in the statistical treatment. It would be recommended that community engagement be treated as a second-order construct, which would require necessary changes in the statistical treatment. Consequently, the results and conclusions could be different.

Response: We modeled the engagement as a second-order construct. We also re-estimate the model, and report the results according to the output.

If the contents of Appendix A (multiple mediator models) are important to the authors, then they should have been discussed in the results chapter. There is only one reference to this appendix in the implications section.

Response: We decided not to include the mediation analysis results. Therefore, we removed the Appendix 1 and reference related to that.

The bibliography is somewhat outdated, as only 11 of the 83 references are less than 5 years old (post 2018).

Response: We have tried to include references as recent as possible. We worked on the references in Endnote. Therefore, the changes we made may not be visible in the references.

 

Thanks again!

 

The authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Most of the cited sources are extremely old and thus how can they reflect the current situation? Try and provide more references to support your ideas that are typically substantiated by only one source - and as recent & relevant as possible.  ‘Consumers need to know who uses them rather than who owns them.’ – this is a new paragraph. ‘Them’ what? ‘with several companies focused on sharing’ – several? There are at least 100. Replace it/they with the proper words to avoid confusion. E.g., ‘It also helps provide insight into user needs’. ‘Several scholars believe that online communities can influence customer cognition, emotions, and provide a vehicle for companies to advertise[8].’ – ‘several’, but you provide only one source. ‘I In contrast’ – I? ‘academics increasingly view the sharing economy as a substitute for permanent ownership.’ – ‘academics’, but only one source is provided. ‘The sharing economy has had a significant impact on traditional views of marketing [20].’ – zero information. There are several such instances throughout the manuscript. ‘Through use of web tools to combines online and offline activities.’ – poorly constructed. ‘According to the findings of previous studies, economic, ideological, social, or environmental factors are the primary factors that impact the consumers' decisions to take part in a sharing economy[22].’ – ‘findings of previous studies’, again only one source. ‘outcomes that other than behavior’ – that other? "a multidimensional concept comprising cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral dimensions, and involves specific interactive experiences between consumers and the brand, and/or other members of the community." – page(s) must be added for quotes. Check for other similar situations. ‘Recently, some scholars believe community engagement’ – Recently? This a 10 years old research. Research questions and hypotheses must be constructed based on more specific supporting sources, preferably as recent as possible. ‘There is clear conceptual overlap can be found between’ – poorly constructed. The manuscript is full of such instances. ‘Recent social psychology theories and research concerning the connection between community identity and cooperation have suggested as much[12].’ – as much? Also, recent? This is a 2001 source. Define CNY in USD. ‘Most academic researchers concur that community engagement consists of several components, including the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects.’ – some sources? The reference list is poorly edited. The word sustainable/sustainability is never mentioned.
The relationship between collective trust and information sharing behavior as regards consumer brand engagement in social media has not been covered, and thus such sources can be cited:
Dabija, D.-C.; Csorba, L.M.; Isac, F.-L.; Rusu, S. Managing Sustainable Sharing Economy Platforms: A Stimulus–Organism–Response Based Structural Equation Modelling on an Emerging Market. Sustainability 2023, 15, 5583.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065583
Andronie, M., Lăzăroiu, G., Ștefănescu, R., Ionescu, L., and Cocoșatu, M. (2021). “Neuromanagement Decision-Making and Cognitive Algorithmic Processes in the Technological Adoption of Mobile Commerce Apps,” Oeconomia Copernicana 12(4): 863–888. doi: 10.24136/oc.2021.028.
Dabija, D.-C., Csorba, L. M., Isac, F-L., and Rusu, S. (2022). “Building Trust toward Sharing Economy Platforms beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Electronics 11(18): 2916. doi: 10.3390/electronics11182916.

Author Response

Reviewer 2

 

1. Thanks for your kind comments.
2. We have tried to revise the manuscript dramatically and totally different from first one to new based on your comments.
3. Here are responses.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Most of the cited sources are extremely old and thus how can they reflect the current situation? Try and provide more references to support your ideas that are typically substantiated by only one source - and as recent & relevant as possible. 

Response: We have tried to include references as recent as possible. We worked on the references in EndNote. Therefore, the changes we made may not be visible in the references.

‘Consumers need to know who uses them rather than who owns them.’ – this is a new paragraph. ‘Them’ what?

Response: We changed the sentence into following: In the current business landscape, consumers are more concerned about who uses goods rather than who owns them.

‘With several companies focused on sharing’ – several? There are at least 100.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: This has led to the emergence of the sharing economy, where consumers have access to goods for their use without necessarily owning them. The popularity of this business model has led to the growth of various sharing-focused companies such as most representative Airbnb, DIDI, Mobike, Erento, and OFO in China.

Replace it/they with the proper words to avoid confusion. E.g., ‘It also helps provide insight into user needs.’

Response: We changed the sentence into following: In addition, online communities centered around the sharing economy have also emerged. Unlike other businesses, the sharing economy is highly focused on improving the community's service level and gaining insight into user needs to enhance user engagement.

‘Several scholars believe that online communities can influence customer cognition, emotions, and provide a vehicle for companies to advertise [8].’ – ‘several’, but you provide only one source.

‘I In contrast’ – I?

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Online communities are social media platforms that facilitate the formation of online connections among a company's customers, leading to the development of strong relationships. Scholars suggest that these communities can impact customer cognition, emotions, and provide a platform for companies to advertise their products and services.

 ‘Academics increasingly view the sharing economy as a substitute for permanent ownership.’ – ‘academics’, but only one source is provided.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Today, academics view the sharing economy as a viable alternative to permanent ownership, where people engage in collaborative consumption by exchanging, sharing, or renting resources without owning them. These resources can be tangible or intangible.

‘The sharing economy has had a significant impact on traditional views of marketing [20].’ – zero information. There are several such instances throughout the manuscript.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: The conventional understanding of marketing has been profoundly influenced by the emergence of the sharing economy. The sharing economy has disrupted conventional marketing by changing how consumers engage with products and services. In the sharing economy, consumers are not only consumers but also producers, and they play an active role in shaping the market. This has resulted in a shift from a traditional one-way marketing model to a more participatory and collaborative approach. Additionally, the sharing economy has made it easier for consumers to access and evaluate products and services through online platforms, reviews, and ratings, which has increased the importance of reputation and trust in marketing. Overall, the sharing economy has challenged traditional marketing practices and has forced businesses to adapt to new consumer expectations and preferences.

 ‘Through use of web tools to combines online and offline activities.’ – poorly constructed. ‘According to the findings of previous studies, economic, ideological, social, or environmental factors are the primary factors that impact the consumers' decisions to take part in a sharing economy [22].’ – ‘findings of previous studies’, again only one source.

‘Outcomes that other than behavior’ – that other?

Response: We changed the sentence into following: As a result, the sharing of experiences and resources has become more widespread than it would have been without these online spaces.

 

‘Recently, some scholars believe community engagement’ – Recently? This a 10 years old research.

"a multidimensional concept comprising cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral dimensions, and involves specific interactive experiences between consumers and the brand, and/or other members of the community." – page(s) must be added for quotes.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Scholars have described community engagement as a multidimensional concept that includes cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, involving interactions between consumers and the brand or other community members.

Research questions and hypotheses must be constructed based on more specific supporting sources, preferably as recent as possible.

Response: We changed the sentence into following.

‘There is clear conceptual overlap can be found between’ – poorly constructed.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: There is some overlap between the concepts of identification and commitment [81]. Identification refers to how integrated a group is in one's self-concept, while commitment is usually seen as a relationship with the community and its members

‘Recent social psychology theories and research concerning the connection between community identity and cooperation have suggested as much[12].’ – as much? Also, recent? This is a 2001 source.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Studies have also suggested that an individual's willingness to engage in trusting behavior is influenced by their identification with a community and its members, based on research in social psychology on the link between community identity and cooperation.

Define CNY in USD.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Although the size of the sharing economy has not been precisely calculated, industry experts predict that it could reach 5.44 trillion yuan (CNY) by 2025 in China.

‘Most academic researchers concur that community engagement consists of several components, including the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects.’ – some sources? The reference list is poorly edited. The word sustainable/sustainability is never mentioned.

Response: We changed the sentence into following: Although most academic researchers agree that community engagement is made up of multiple components, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects, few scholars have measured these dimensions individually.

We added the reference on this paragraph. We have modeled the engagement as a second-order construct. And we also re-estimate the model, and report the results according to the output.

The relationship between collective trust and information sharing behavior as regards consumer brand engagement in social media has not been covered, and thus such sources can be cited:

Response: We added the reference：For exzample:

19. Dabija, D.-C., et al., Managing Sustainable Sharing Economy Platforms: A Stimulus–Organism–Response Based Structural Equation Modelling on an Emerging Market. Sustainability, 2023. 15(6): p. 5583.
20. Dabija, D.-C., et al., Building Trust toward Sharing Economy Platforms beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic. Electronics, 2022. 11(18): p. 2916.

 

Thanks very much again!

 

The authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

1. please explain the data collection procedure in much detail.

for example, how to approach survey repondents, response rate, the way of designing survey questionnaire (including pre/pilot test)

2. theoretical implications should be much strengthened.

Author Response

Reviewer 3

 

1. Thanks for your kind comments.
2. We have tried to revise the manuscript dramatically and totally different from first one to new based on your comments.
3. Here are responses.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

1.please explain the data collection procedure in much detail. for example, how to approach survey respondents, response rate, the way of designing survey questionnaire (including pre/pilot test)

Response: We have revised the paragraph into following: The study aimed to survey Chinese customers who participated in an online sharing economy community. To gather data, English questionnaires were created based on previous scales, and then translated into Chinese through a back translation process. The questionnaires were distributed to users via the online research platform "Questionnaire Star." To ensure the authenticity of the responses, participants were required to spend at least five minutes filling out each form. A total of 432 valid responses were collected, and the demographic characteristics of the sample are presented in Table 1.

2. theoretical implications should be much strengthened.

Response: We have added the following sentences: Third, in the context of online community engagement in sharing economy, trust is an essential factor that facilitates the exchange of goods and services between users. The level of trust within a sharing platform can impact the willingness of users to engage in sharing activities.

Thanks very much again!

 

The authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors made an effort to revise the manuscript according to all my suggestions. The current version answers the vast majority of my concerns. As such, I consider that the manuscript is ready to be published.

Reviewer 2 Report

This revised version can be published.