The Exploratory Study of Business and STEM Students’ Perceptions of LinkedIn

Xia Zhang; Lin Chen; Yujian Fu

doi:10.31966/jabminternational.v32i1.1019

Xia Zhang Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, USA
Lin Chen Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Yujian Fu Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31966/jabminternational.v32i1.1019

Abstract

Our study examines whether there are differences mainly between business students and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students’ perceptions of LinkedIn when they use LinkedIn to construct their professional and social identity, as a social capital, as a platform for building relationship with trust, as a platform of professional or business opportunities, and as an interactive learning resource. Our study employs a survey among college students at two different settings of public and private universities in the U.S. The findings reveal that there are no significant differences in business students or STEM students’ perceptions of LinkedIn as a social capital, or as a platform of building relationship with trust, or as a platform of professional career development. However, our findings reveal that business and STEM students have different perceptions and usage of LinkedIn as a resource for interactive learning. Our study benefits college students to utilize LinkedIn effectively in their learning and career. Our study fills the gap to examine the differences between young business students and STEM students’ perceptions of LinkedIn at two higher educational institutions.

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Author Biographies

Xia Zhang, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, USA

Dr. Xia Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Accounting in the Department of Accounting and Finance of the College of Business and Public Affairs at Alabama A&M University, USA. She earned her Ph.D. from Jackson State University. Her research concentrates on fraud, auditing standards and audit quality, corporate governance, as well as business education.

Lin Chen, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, USA

Dr. Lin Chen is an Assistant Professor of Accounting in the College of Business at Valparaiso University, USA. She received her Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington, USA. Her research interests include investor sentiment and earnings management, analyst forecast and earnings quality, and institutional investors.

Yujian Fu, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL, USA

Dr. Yujian Fu is a Professor of Computer Science at Alabama A&M University. She received her Ph. D. in computer science from Florida International University. Dr. Fu’s research interests include the formal modeling analysis, and verification of cyber physical systems, the reliability and motion planning of wheeled and bipedal robotics as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.

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