Understanding the Role of Social Media in Political Participation: Integrating Political Knowledge and Bridging Social Capital From the Social Cognitive Approach

Authors

  • Hyuksoo Kim Kyungpook National University
  • Yeojin Kim Central Connecticut State University
  • Doohwang Lee Kyung Hee University

Keywords:

social media, political participation, social cognitive theory, social capital, political knowledge

Abstract

Recently, the relationship between use of social media and political participation has received increased scholarly scrutiny. Two main elements that reflect theoretical approaches to the relationship have been developed: political knowledge and bridging social capital. The current study integrates political knowledge and bridging social capital, using Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT) on data collected from surveys conducted in the U.S. The results suggest that self-efficacy and outcome expectancy mediate the effects of political knowledge and bridging social capital on political participation. The proposed model represents the interactions among bridging social capital, political knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancy, providing an overall mechanism to assess the effects of social media on political participation using SCT.

Author Biographies

Hyuksoo Kim, Kyungpook National University

Assistant ProfessorSchool of Business AdministrationCollege of Economics and Business AdministrationKyungpook National university

Yeojin Kim, Central Connecticut State University

Assistant ProfessorDepartment of CommunicationCentral Connecticut State University

Doohwang Lee, Kyung Hee University

ProfessorDepartment of Journalism and CommunicationCollege of Politics and EconomicsKyung Hee University

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Published

2020-09-13

Issue

Vol. 14 (2020)

Section

Articles

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