EFFECTS OF VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES ON PURCHASING DECISION-MAKING: THE MODERATING ROLE OF INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

Marketing professionals gradually utilize virtual communities as a new media for affecting sales by spreading information about brand, quality, price, experience, effectiveness, etc. Studies related to this subject usually focus on influence of electronic word of mouth and posters’ opinions on product choice. Lack of considering passive participants and natures of virtual community induces our interest. For comprehensively understanding every participant’s attitude toward information in virtual communities, we classified members based on their activities of posting, viewing and accepting information. According to the classification, we further explore comparative importance of antecedents regarding to members’ intention to adopt information for purchasing decision-making in variant groups. Data was collected by questionnaires and actual number of posting behaviors. Results show that the importance of economic, relational and social factors varies from different groups. Information shoppers, who browse most information and rarely post messages, view relational and social factors as main contributors toward intention to adopting information as a decision aid. Advice seekers, who expect to get effective recommendations and rarely post messages, think relational factors is a major determinant. Advice providers, who are primary posters and seldom accepting others’ opinions, think economic and social factors are important to intention of adopting information

An examination of Canadian information professionals' involvement in the provision of business information synthesis and analysis services.

The present study investigated the processes information professionals, working in a business environment, follow to meet business clients information needs and particularly their involvement in information synthesis and analysis practices. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data was collected via a survey of 98 information professionals across North America and follow-up interviews with eight Canadian information professionals. It was found that there is an increasing need for value-added services, which incorporate synthesis and analysis but the level of information professionals involvement differs depending on a range of factors such as clients needs and attitudes, information professionals knowledge of the subject area and their length of time working in a particular organization. Information synthesis and analysis in a business context is mostly a collaborative process and principles of analysis are required throughout the entire cycle of information seeking. For the effective transition of information professionals to information synthesists and analysts more effective support may be required to develop a set of essential skills and knowledge

A Study of Tax Authority Information Assistance in Malaysia: Determinants of Its Usage and Impacts on Tax Compliance

This study examines the use of tax authority information assistance among Malaysian self-lodgers. Specifically, it examines the elements associated with its usage and its significance for tax compliance. Data was collected using a mixed-methods approach. The survey data was analysed using SPSS while interviews were manually analysed. The results suggested and threat coping appraisals as significant in motivating the use of information assistance. Additionally, the use of information assistance is associated with administrative compliance

Developing an understanding of information seeking during the impact phase of a natural disaster

This thesis investigated if existing information models could describe information-seeking in disaster, what type of information-seeking patterns exist, and whether a disaster information-seeking model might guide communication practice. Literature on human behaviour and information-seeking in disaster was reviewed. A model that attempted to explain influences on risk communication (Mileti & Sorensen 1990) was found. Also, a model of problem-specific every day life information-seeking (Savolainen 2008) could possibly be adapted to disaster. These models became a foundation for a new model for disaster information-seeking. The model was improved using three methods: semi-structured interviews (n=51) online and mailed surveys (n=345), and a focus group of six communicators/researchers. Each method contributed to development of the model. Findings from the interviews were specific to disaster type. Sample information-seeking pathways were established, with dominant pathways for each disaster: flash flood was hearing about it from others then confirming using television; in slow flood, the alertor was environmental cues, and confirmation was other people; in bushfire, other people were the alert and confirmation sources; in a cyclone, alert sources were Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website and commercial radio, and weather websites confirmation sources, including BOM. In flash flood, people needed was to make sense of what had happened and how it affected their community; in slow flood, flood peak was key and how it would affect their property; in bushfire, location and path of the bushfire and the welfare of family and friends were needed; in cyclone, the path of the cyclone before and the level of damage after, and how friends and family had fared were main needs. The survey confirmed the disaster-specific nature of information-seeking. In flash flood, other people and environmental cues were key alert sources, confirmed by news/weather websites. In slow flood, television and radio were alertors, confirmed by news/ weather websites. People learned of cyclone from a news/ weather website and confirmed using another website; in bushfire the alertor was environmental cues confirmed by an agency website; in storm, other people then television or radio; in earthquake environmental cues then other people, radio or emergency agency staff; in tornado television or news/weather website confirmed by other people or environmental cues; in tsunami, other people directly then news/weather website; and mudslide other people directly then news/weather website. There were differences relating to age, gender, household size, education, proximity to the disaster, and type of community. The industry focus group confirmed the validity of the model, with ‘filters’ adopted in place of ‘effect of situational factors’, a personalisation trigger was added and the point at which people exit the information-seeking process was also added, with an option to re-enter any time. A model of disaster information-seeking was established. It describes information-seeking, influences on source and form choice, and plots triggers for action or further information-seeking. It also accounts for importance of information sources and tendency for people to return to trusted sources throughout the information-seeking process. The model provides a foundation for practice, and is ready for testing in further research