Applications and applicability of Social Cognitive Theory in information science research

Abstract

Social Cognitive Theory is a theory that derives from Psychology yet has been adopted in other interdisciplinary subject areas, including information science. The origins and key concepts of Social Cognitive Theory are presented, and the value of its contributions to information science research analysed, with particular reference to research into information-seeking behaviour and use and knowledge sharing. Prior applications of Social Cognitive Theory in information science research are related to a study of employee-led workplace learning and innovative work behaviour that has been designed to create new insight on: (1) workplace information literacy; (2) knowledge management; and (3) the relationship between information behaviours and innovation processes. It is anticipated that this research will also extend understandings of Social Cognitive Theory as a valuable tool for theory development across a range of domains that focus on learning processes.

Information Sharing on Social Media by Multicultural Individuals

“…(Lee, & Ma, 2012;Lin & Chang, 2018). SCT elaborates how individuals within a social system or network enact numerous human practices such as the adoption and usage of knowledge and information (Middleton et al, 2019). SCT proposes that the acquiring and disseminating of information and knowledge is based on certain expertise which totally rely on 'enactive prior experiences', i.e.…”

Understanding uncertainty dimensions and Internet stock trading service in China from a social cognitive perspective

“…SCT, introduced by Bandura (1986), defines individual behaviour as a triadic, dynamic, and reciprocal interaction of environmental factors, cognitive personal factors, and behaviour. Middleton et al (2019) argued that the interactions between environmental factors, cognitive personal factors, and behaviour as determinants of individuals' behaviour are distinctive characteristics of SCT. An individual's environment (physical or social environment) explains and predicts his/her behaviour (Boateng et al, 2016).…”

“…The main focus of SCT is on individuals learning through responding to stimuli in their environment. Middleton et al (2019) argued that people learn either through direct experience by involving in the task or by observing others in their social group. Bandura and walters (1977) identified four processes of observational learning: (1) attention, (2) retention, (3) reproduction and (4) motivation.…”

“…One of the fundamental elements of SCT is personal factors which determine individuals' behaviour (Bandura, 1986). Individuals' personal factors include age, size, gender, lifestyle (Lerner, 1982;Boateng et al, 2016), and trust; such factors originate in the early psychological development of individuals (Lee and Turban, 2001;Chiu et al, 2006;Middleton et al, 2019). It has been concluded that the related uncertainty in web-based businesses and chances of misusing one's personal information usually cause customers to hesitate when becoming involved in ebusiness (Constantinides, 2004).…”

Motivation and Cognitive Learning in Workplaces of Vietnamese Students in Learning Chinese: A Qualitative Study

“…In addition, there are three aspects of cognition in workplace learning. The three are workplace information literacy, knowledge management and the relationship between information behavior and innovation processes [4]. Accordingly, the first aspect is indicated as the basic language sufficiency, and the second aspect is highly related to the organization of language in particular tasks.…”