Exploring the Factors Influencing Online Civic Engagement in a Smart City

Our research examines the effect of smart city service quality on online civic behavior. Online questionnaire responses from 548 citizens living in China are examined using a structural equation modeling technique for data analysis, and a theoretical model is proposed based on social learning theory. The results reveal that high-quality responsiveness and the information content of digital training services have a significant positive effect on commitment to community and on information and communications technology (ICT) self-efficacy. We also find that commitment to community and ICT self-efficacy has a significant positive effect on online civic engagement. Commitment to community mediates the effect of information content, responsiveness and environmental quality on online civic engagement. Our research suggests that smart city implementation practitioners, in their efforts to improve online civic engagement, can enhance citizens’ individual commitment to community and foster ICT self-efficacy via high-quality ICT devices and digital learning services.

本研究探讨智慧城市服务质量对在线公民行为的影响。本研究针对548名中国居民的在线问卷数据，采用结构方程模型（structural equation modeling）方法开展数据分析，并基于社会学习理论（social learning theory）构建了理论模型。研究结果显示，高质量的响应性服务与数字培训服务的信息含量，对社区承诺（commitment to community）以及信息与通信技术（ICT）自我效能感均具有显著正向影响。本研究还发现，社区承诺与ICT自我效能感对在线公民参与具有显著正向影响。社区承诺在信息含量、响应性服务与环境质量对在线公民参与的影响路径中发挥中介作用。本研究表明，智慧城市建设从业者若要提升在线公民参与水平，可通过部署高质量ICT设备与提供数字化学习服务，增强居民个体的社区承诺并培育其ICT自我效能感。