The role of academic social networks in knowledge discovery and sharing: academics in Jordan universities

With the increasing global significance of social networking sites, Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNS) such as Google Scholar and ResearchGate have become vital tools for researchers. This study aims to examine the relationships between ASNS usage, academic engagement, and the facilitation of knowledge discovery and sharing, drawing on social capital theory as the underlying framework. A quantitative research design was employed using a structured electronic questionnaire distributed to academic faculty members at Jordanian universities. The collected data were statistically analyzed to explore correlations among ASNS utilization, engagement, knowledge discovery, and knowledge sharing. The findings indicate a positive relationship between ASNS use and the enhancement of knowledge discovery and sharing through engagement, consistent with the dimensions of social capital theory. Researchers primarily use ASNS for self-promotion, belonging to a professional community, acquiring knowledge, interacting with peers, and disseminating research outputs. This study underscores the critical role of ASNS in promoting academic engagement and fostering knowledge exchange within scholarly communities. However, the results are limited by the relatively small sample size and the focus on faculty members from a single country, which may restrict generalizability. Future research should expand the scope across countries and institutions and consider alternative theoretical perspectives to validate and extend these findings.