Standing Between Purchase Intention And Action: Product Value And Its Uncertainty

This study examines the decision-making process of customers focusing on how purchase intention is transformed into actual purchase. Specifically, we investigate 1) how purchase intention is formed, 2) how purchase intention drives action, and 3) what factors stand between purchase intention and action. After reviewing literature on purchase intention and action, and the product evaluation mechanisms employed by the customer, we propose the following hypotheses. First, product value has a positive impact on purchase intention (H1). Second, purchase intention increases the probability of purchase (H2) and third, the relationship between purchase intention and purchase will be moderated by uncertainty levels in product valuation (H3). To validate, we conduct a survey regarding four types of products and collect data from 300 respondents. Regression and Probit analyses methods are used for validation. H1 and H2 are supported while H3 is partially supported. This study challenges the conventional notion that customers with high purchase intentions will necessarily move to the purchase stage. To this end, we examine the relationship between purchase intention and purchase, and find that uncertainty in valuation moderates the relationship

QUALITY VS. PREFERENCE: THE IMPACT OF ONLINE PRODUCT INFORMATION ON CUSTOMERS\u27 PURCHASE INTENTION

This paper examines the manner by which online product information is able to change customers\u27 purchase intentions using theoretical and methodological specifications. For theorizing, we adopted the subjectivity/objectivity dichotomy at the epistemological level to propose quality and preferences as product evaluation criteria which determine the customers\u27 purchase intention. In validation, we conducted a marginal analysis to eliminate confounding effects from non-target variables by focusing mainly on the product information level in estimating the purchase intentions. The proposed hypotheses specify the different impacts of product information on the purchase intention in terms of the types of product and information that quality information effectively impacts on quality goods while preference information does not effectively impact on preference goods. A survey of 57 students at a major university in Korea was conducted and the results show that the hypotheses are partially supported through the PLS path comparison method. This study contributes to information systems research, not only by proposing a simple and effective framework for product information perception processing, but also by segregating the information impact from other confounding factors. For managerial implications, we suggest \u27right information for the right product\u27 to utilize the high information manipulability and low space constraint on the Web for the firm\u27s effective online product information strategy

THE EWOM IMPACT ON SALES DISTRIBUTIONS IN MARKETS WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCT EVALUATION STANDARDS

This study investigates the impact of electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) on sales distributions in various markets. The product information in eWOM helps customers to reveal their demands more clearly, thereby leading to the change of sales distributions in online markets. For the research, we categorize the markets based on the similarity level of product evaluation standards. If products in a market have similar evaluation standards, the product information given through eWOM will be applicable to most customers. If products in the market have different evaluation standards, then the information will not be applicable to other customers. Therefore, when product information is delivered through eWOM, in a market having similar product evaluation standards, it will enhance the sales concentration of high-ranking products by reinforcing the objective rankings among the products. In contrast, in a market with different evaluation standards, product information will loosen the sales concentration of the high-ranking products because it helps customers to purchase the product corresponding to their inherently different tastes for the products. These predictions are formulated into three hypotheses and validated with the data collected from Amazon.com. We plotted the cumulative distribution functions of eWOM, which represents the total popularity, and statistically compared them using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test to show the different eWOM ratio possessed by the high-ranking products. All the test results showed the adequate level of significance; thus the three hypotheses are supported

Dynamic characteristics of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the linear and nonlinear strain ranges

A series of resonant column and torsional shear (RCTS) and large scale resonant column (LSRC) tests were performed to investigate the dynamic properties (shear modulus and material damping ratio) of municipal solid waste (MSW). the MSW materials were recovered from the Tri-Cities landfill adjacent to the San Francisco Bay in California. A total of 30 specimens 2.8-in. (71.1-mm) and 6.0-in. (152.4-mm) of old, fresh, and mixed MSW were reconstituted in accordance with established sample preparation procedures. Ten of specimens were small-diameter (2.8-in. (71.1-mm)) RCTS specimen and 20 specimens were larger (6.0-in. (152.4-mm)) LSRC specimens. Dynamic laboratory measurements were performed in the linear and nonlinear strain ranges. Test parameters affecting the dynamic properties in the linear range included: (1) duration of confinement, (2) isotropic total confining pressure, [sigma]o, (3) excitation frequency, f, and (4) specimen size. Other test parameters affecting dynamic properties in the nonlinear strain range were: (1) shearing strain amplitude, [gamma], (2) isotropic total confining pressure, (3) overconsolidation ratio, (4) number of loading cycles, and (5) excitation frequency. In addition, the effects on dynamic properties of MSW specimens of material parameters such as (1) waste composition, (2) water content, (3) unit weight of waste, and (4) particle size were evaluated. The total unit weights of old, fresh, and mixed MSW specimens were estimated during testing in the RCTS and LSRC devices. These estimated total unit weights in the laboratory were compared with those measured at other MSW landfills and were found to generally be less than the field measurements. At a given [sigma]o, Gmax decreases with decreasing weight percentage of soil-size (passing the 3/4-in. (19.1-mm) sieve) material. However, Dmin increases slightly with decreasing weight percentage of soil-size material. Another relationship was developed between estimated total unit weight, [gamma]t, and confining pressure, including weigh percentage of soil-size material. The Vs profiles of old, fresh, and mixed MSW specimens obtained in the laboratory tests were compared with those measured at other MSW landfills in situ. The 62 to 76% soil-size material groups are in good agreement with in-situ Vs profiles. The variation in normalized shear modulus and material damping ratio curves were patterned after the Darendeli model (2001) for different weight percentages of soilsize material. An empirical relationship between normalized shear modulus (G/Gmax) and modified material damping ratio (D-Dmin) was developed in the nonlinear strain range. As part of collaborative research project, nonlinear shear modulus reduction and material damping curves generated by The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and The University of California at Berkeley (UCB) were compared according to different weight percentages of soil-size material. Furthermore, nonlinear shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio curves generated by UT were also compared with ones previously proposed by other researchers.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin