A Influência Interpessoal em Redes Sociais Virtuais e as Decisões de Consumo

This study aimed to analyze the attitude of college students regarding to interpersonal influence in virtual social networks related to consume decisions. It was conducted a survey with 200 college students from an Institution of Higher Education located in Santa Maria/RS. The sample was obtained through voluntary adhesion and the data collection instrument was applied in a virtual environment. Scales were adapted to measure and evaluate the propensity of students to influence and be influenced by their virtual contacts. The results suggest that the scales adapted are satisfactory to measure what they intend to do. The study also found that men are more able to influence the opinions of their virtual social contacts. On the other hand, the time dedicated to access the Internet positively and significantly influences the propensity of users to be influenced by their virtual social contacts. The correlation between the ability to influence the propensity to be influenced is significant and positive.Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a postura de estudantes universitários com relação à influência interpessoal em redes sociais virtuais no processo decisório de consumo de estudantes universitários. Para isso, foi conduzido um survey com 200 estudantes universitários de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) localizada em Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. A amostra foi obtida por adesão, e o instrumento de coleta de dados foi aplicado em ambiente virtual. Foram adaptadas escalas para mensurar e avaliar a propensão dos estudantes universitários para influenciar e serem influenciados pelos seus contatos de redes sociais virtuais. Os resultados sugerem que as escalas adaptadas são satisfatórias para mensurar aquilo a que elas se propõem. Também foi constatado que homens apresentam maior capacidade de influenciar as opiniões de seus contatos sociais virtuais. Já o tempo de acesso à internet influencia positivamente e significativamente a propensão dos usuários para serem influenciados por seus contatos sociais virtuais. A correlação existente entre a capacidade de influenciar e a propensão de ser influenciado é significativa e positiva

Interpersonal Influence in Virtual Social Networks and Consumer Decisions

This study aimed to analyze the attitude of college students regarding to interpersonal influence in virtual social networks related to consume decisions. It was conducted a survey with 200 college students from an Institution of Higher Education located in Santa Maria/RS. The sample was obtained through voluntary adhesion and the data collection instrument was applied in a virtual environment. Scales were adapted to measure and evaluate the propensity of students to influence and be influenced by their virtual contacts. The results suggest that the scales adapted are satisfactory to measure what they intend to do. The study also found that men are more able to influence the opinions of their virtual social contacts. On the other hand, the time dedicated to access the Internet positively and significantly influences the propensity of users to be influenced by their virtual social contacts. The correlation between the ability to influence the propensity to be influenced is significant and positive