User-generated content (UGC) in tourism: Benefits and concerns of online consumers

This study reports an attempt to enhance our understanding of the reasons behind virtual world usage. By providing a mixture of utilitarian and hedonic value, virtual worlds represent an emerging class of multipurpose information systems (MPIS). Previous research seems to fall short in explaining MPIS adoption, especially since key extrinsic and intrinsic motivators are not considered. Drawing upon IT adoption research, motivation theory and the consumer behavior literature, this research extends available works and provides insight into the influence and roles of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Hypotheses are postulated and tested using a sample of 1627 users of the virtual world Second Life. The results confirm the majority of the hypotheses and support the comprehensive model. The findings indicate instantaneous effects of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and highlight reinforcing effects of intrinsic motivation. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Perceived Risk and Trust Associated with Purchasing at

Abstract Understanding consumer behaviour is of vital importance to consumeroriented e-business models today. In this paper, we study the relationships between consumer perceptions of risk and trust and the attitude towards purchasing at a consumer-to-consumer electronic marketplace (EM). Typical for EM settings is that consumer behaviour is subject to perceptions of the selling party as well as of the institutional structures of the intermediary that is operating the EM. Building upon the well-established literature of trust, we consider the concepts of intermediary trust and seller trust. We extend this categorisation by introducing the concepts of intermediary risk and seller risk. We developed measurement instruments for intermediary risk and seller risk. All measurement scales have acceptable alphas and are unidimensional. An empirical study is conducted to explore the relationships between the risk and trust types and consumer purchase attitude. The results reveal significant, direct effects of seller trust and seller risk. Second-order effects of intermediary trust and intermediary risk are investigated and reported. The paper concludes with general observations and recommendations for research and practice

Reducing consumer risk in electronic marketplaces: the signaling role of product and seller information

Existing studies offer very limited insight into how sellers may reduce consumers' perceived risk in order to make consumer-to-consumer electronic marketplaces more successful. Contrary to these studies, the empirical investigation reported in this article acknowledges the role of sellers in enabling these computer-mediated transaction platforms. The study focuses on how information provided by sellers about themselves (i.e., seller information) and about their products (i.e., product information) can function as risk reduction signals and how these affect a buyer's inclination to purchase. Combining signaling theory with perceived risk theory, the authors present a research model that they test using structural equation modeling with data collected in two different electronic marketplaces, including eBay.nl. The results indicate that while product and seller information are indeed important risk reduction signals, and as such can play an important role in stimulating purchasing, the risk reduction potential of these forms of information differs across the studied risk types. This article discusses these findings and explains how they contribute to signaling theory and perceived risk theory. Based on the findings, several practical implications for sellers active in electronic marketplaces and for the intermediaries operating these transaction systems are described

A Framework for Developing Semantic Differentials in IS research: Assessing the Meaning of Electronic Marketplace Quality (EMQ)

Adequate usage of measurement instruments is key for solid research. In this study we focus on the semantic differential as general technique of measurement. Despite calls for methodological rigor in information systems (IS) research, many of the applications of the semantic differential in IS studies are characterized by flaws and weaknesses. Consequently, the findings of these studies demand cautious usage since validity problems are likely to exist. The aim of this study is to shed light on the semantic differential. Principles of semantic differentiation are discussed, and used as foundation to introduce a framework for developing and applying semantic differentials. The framework delineates the crucial role of linguistics and concept-scale interaction, and extends available guidelines for measurement validation with procedures to test wording credibility, linguistic contrast, psychological bipolarity, and contextual contamination. The framework is exemplified using a demonstration exercise, which centers on the assessment of the meaning of the concept electronic marketplace quality (EMQ). Using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, the demonstration exercise clarifies the prerequisites for semantic differentiation and provides guidelines for researchers. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for researchers, reviewers and practice.Semantic differential; Measurement validation; Research methodology; Linguistics; Contextual contamination; Electronic marketplace quality

Persuasive location-based messaging to attract consumers to a physical store: a construal level theory approach

Although it appears increasingly important yet potentially challenging to attract consumers to physical stores, location‐based messaging has been said to enable such attraction. Still, existing studies offer very limited insight into which particular location‐based persuasion approach retailers should use. This study aimed to establish and compare the potential of two discrepant persuasion strategies to influence consumers’ experiences and thereby stimulate them to visit the retailer's physical store. Drawing on persuasion theory and construal level theory, and using a vignette‐based online survey method, we determined that scarcity is a more effective persuasion strategy in the studied context than social proof; scarcity‐focused messages are experienced as more informative, more entertaining and less irritating, are therefore valued more, and are thus more likely to induce store visits. We discuss these findings and their implications for theory as well as for practice

Perceived risk and trust associated with purchasing at Electronic Marketplaces

Understanding consumer behaviour is of vital importance to consumer oriented e-business models today. In this paper we study the relationships between consumer perceptions of risk and trust and the attitude towards purchasing at a consumer-to-consumer electronic marketplace. Typical for electronic marketplace settings is that consumer behaviour is subject to perceptions of the selling party as well as the institutional structures of the intermediary that is operating the electronic marketplace. Building upon the well-established literature of trust we consider the concepts of institutional trust and party trust. We extend this categorization by introducing the concepts of institutional risk and party risk. We developed measurement instruments for institutional risk and party risk. All measurement scales have acceptable alphas and are unidimensional. An empirical study is conducted to explore the relationships between the risk and trust types and consumer purchase attitude. The results reveal significant, direct effects of party trust and party risk. Second order effects of institutional trust and institutional risk are investigated and reported. The paper concludes with general observations and recommendations for research and practice.Consumer behaviour; e-Commerce