Corresponding Author

Mohamed Nazir

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study investigates the three dimensions (cognitive, relational, and structural) of social capital within social, gaming, and mixed virtual world platforms. Utilising ANOVA in examining data collected from three different virtual worlds’ users (Second Life, Word of Warcraft, and Entropia Universe). Finding supports no significant differences between cognitive (shared values and language) and relational (trust) social capital between the different virtual world platform. However, there are significant differences in structural social capital (network ties) between the different types of virtual world platforms. The study findings help virtual world operators, developers, and business in understanding the social capital dimensions needed to build stronger social capital, and trust, between the virtual world community participants, developers, and business.

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