Consumer's decision to shop online: The moderating role of positive informational social influence |
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Authors: | Matthew KO Lee Na Shi Christy MK Cheung Kai H Lim Choon Ling Sia[Author vitae] |
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Affiliation: | aUniversity of Science and Technology of China-City University of Hong Kong Joint Advanced Research Centre, Suzhou, PR China;bDepartment of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China;cDepartment of Finance and Decision Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, PR China |
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Abstract: | While much of the current literature tends to focus on the direct effect of social influence on consumer online shopping behavior, our study drew heavily on social influence theory and argued for an alternative theory focusing on the moderating role of social influence. In particular, we explored how positive messages in online discussion forums may affect consumers’ decisions to shop online. We used a laboratory experiment in which the treatment group was required to read positive messages about online shopping experience in an online discussion forum. Positive social influence was found to reinforce the relationship between beliefs about and attitude toward online shopping, as well as the relationship between attitude and intention to shop. We believe our alternative theory provides new insight into the complex processes through which social influence is brought to bear on consumers’ online shopping decisions. Implications of our work are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Online shopping Online discussion forum Informational social influence Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) Belief Attitude Behavioral intention Electronic commerce Web 2 0 |
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