Navigating Digital Participation: How Social Dynamics, Cognitive Factors, and Age Shape User Engagement?

Abstract

As digital technologies become deeply integrated into daily life, understanding what drives meaningful engagement has become a central concern in information systems research. This dissertation addresses this issue through two essays on digital participation. The first essay investigates user engagement in online communities by synthesizing findings from 220 empirical studies using random-effects meta-analysis and meta-analytic structural equation modeling. The results show that relational and structural forms of social capital, such as trust, social ties, and community identity, are stronger predictors of sustained participation than usability-related factors. Intrinsic motivations, including enjoyment and altruism, are generally more influential than extrinsic rewards. The effect of these factors varies across community types, suggesting context-specific mechanisms. The second essay introduces the Dual-Pathway Model of Aging and IT Use, which explains how cognitive and psychological processes jointly shape technology use in later life. Using behavioral data, panel data, and experimental evidence, the study shows that processing speed mediates the impact of working memory and aging beliefs on technology use. The analysis reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between age and IT use, and highlights that moderately positive self-perceptions of aging are associated with higher cognitive performance. Together, the two essays show that digital engagement is shaped not only by system design or demographics but also by social relationships, mental capabilities, and beliefs. The dissertation contributes new theoretical insights and methodological approaches, and offers practical guidance for designing inclusive digital platforms and promoting digital inclusion across age groups