Online　question-and-answer　communities　are　seriously　threatened　by　low　user　participation.　There　is　currently　a　rare　comprehensive　study　on　the　knowledge　contribution　pattern　of　consistently　active　participants　and　the　moderating　role　of　peer　recognition,　which　can　help　improve　low　participation　and　reengage　inactive　users,　despite　researchers　having　examined　the　various　facets　of　knowledge　contribution　and　made　helpful　suggestions.　As　per　the　self-determination　and　social　cognitive　theory,　the　communal　environment　impacts　peers　and　imitates　role　models　or　reliable　sources　in　their　involvement　patterns.　We　have　examined　StackOverflow＇s　most　reliable　active　users　from　2010　to　2020　using　the　social　cognition　and　self-determination　theories　to　use　the　findings　to　reactivate　dormant　users.　We　have　used　a　two-step　dynamic　system　GMM　model　to　get　robust　and　reliable　findings.　The　research　discovered　that　peer　repudiation,　reputation,　and　online　social　interactions　favorably　affect　the　contributed　knowledge.　However,　knowledge-seeking　and　earning　virtual　badges　such　as　gold　and　bronze　usually　negatively　impact　it.　Furthermore,　it　was　revealed　that　the　effect　of　virtual　badges　on　contributed　knowledge　was　positively　moderated　by　peer　recognition.　However,　peer　recognition　reduces　the　benefits　of　social　interaction　and　reputation　on　the　contributed　knowledge.　The　study＇s　findings　advance　the　body　of　knowledge　and　provide　thorough　management　implications　for　raising　low　participation,　reengaging　inactive　users,　and　cultivating　a　culture　of　innovative　sharing　of　knowledge.