Are the quality and quantity of knowledge contributions increasing simultaneously? An empirical study from an online health community

Purpose High-quality and high-quantity knowledge contributions from users are critical to the development of online health communities (OHCs). While prior research has extensively explored mechanisms driving user contribution behavior, the specific mechanisms through which users actively engage in such contributions remain underexamined. This study aims to investigate how social exchange resources influence the quantitative and qualitative manifestations of contribution behavior. Design/methodology/approach Building on social exchange theory, the authors develop a theoretical model and test it using the data from a diabetes-focused OHC, employing zero-inflated negative binomial regression and truncated regression. Findings Information resource exchange positively influences the quantity of knowledge contributions but negatively impacts their quality. Furthermore, proactive contributors exhibit higher quantitative output and lower qualitative output when provided with information resources than reactive contributors. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of knowledge contribution behaviors by distinguishing between their quantitative and qualitative manifestations in OHCs, highlighting their distinctions and interrelations. The findings offer actionable insights for community operators to optimize user engagement strategies.