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Top1. Introduction
Collaboration in online contexts can substantially improve learning interest and attitude, as well as facilitate improvements in learning performance, cognitive capacity, learning efficiency, and learning satisfaction (Ounnas et al., 2009). For example, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) provide opportunities for learners to share resources to improve their learning productivity in a group-based learning system (Choi & Kim, 2004; Cole & Griffiths, 2007; Jang & Ryu, 2010).
Several studies have indicated that learning outcomes are improved when the learners can collaborate over the Internet (Kuo & Yu, 2009; Jang & Ryu, 2010). Online collaboration is crucial in shaping leadership behavior because virtual groups can facilitate improvements in group climate, teamwork, leadership self-efficacy (Ee & Cho, 2012), communication, and coordination to enhance leadership performance (Cole & Griffiths, 2007). In previous studies, the leadership behavior usually discussed is about real life, such as in an organization or in-class and extra-curricular activities for students (Foreman & Retallick, 2013; Hadley et al., 2011; Momeni, 2009; Anderson et al., 2008; Kelloway et al., 2000). MMORPGs have emerged as a popular leisure activity that everyone can enjoy. Players can engage in a variety of social interactions between guild leaders and members. Collaborative groups in MMORPGs have a hierarchical leadership structure that enables game players to complete missions in groups. Therefore, leaders can train their leadership skills easily in the context of MMORPGs.
However, in MMORPGs, communication content and direction are temporal, and their relationships in a virtual context are tenuous (Prax, 2008). Under these conditions, leaders can experience difficulty motivating other players, consolidating group goals, shaping climate perceptions, mentoring, and performing management functions, particularly when MMORPG players are online at various times, or if they use asynchronous communication media. Therefore, research on the determinants of leadership behavior in an MMORPG context is crucial to the designers of online-game systems and educators.
Leadership is an important skill that players can build in the context of MMORPGs (Jang and Ryu, 2010; Chen, Sun & Hsieh, 2008). A previous study defined game leadership as the multiple leadership roles that game players have while playing games, such as performing strategic group activities, giving value and motivation to group members, building members’ trust and respect, and providing a vision to other players (Jang and Ryu, 2010). Previous study has proposed that leadership involves a socialization process whereby leaders direct subordinates to achieve group goals (Cronshaw & Ellis, 1991). Previous research has indicated that people who are susceptible to environmental factors (e.g., group climate or game design) adjust their behavior and public appearance to fit certain social situations (Cronshaw & Ellis, 1991). These people typically emerge as group leaders because they carefully maintain an appropriate style of leadership behavior (Cronshaw & Ellis, 1991). However, another study has indicated that some leaders emerge because of particular charismatic traits that they possess (Day & Zaccaro, 2007). These people are typically uninterested in adapting their social behavior and attitude according to social climates because their approach to leadership is expressing their thoughts and beliefs.