thesis
An Exploration of Perceived Risk in Young Chinese Consumers'
Internet Banking Services Decision Making
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Abstract
This thesis explores how perceived risk, which has been primarily developed in Western
contexts, may help understand consumers' action in relation to the Chinese Internet banking
services market. This market is new and acknowledged as having great potential, but there is
insufficient information regarding potential consumers and their perceptions or decision-making.
The theory of perceived risk is a key construct influencing Western consumers'
decision making; whether it is applicable in the current context is unknown. A wider customer
perspective is therefore important to improve both our understanding of perceived risk theory
and its usefulness in the Chinese Internet banking services market.
The thesis reviews the major research perspectives on perceived risk within consumer
behaviour literature. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the concept itself, to
identify research gaps, and also develops a research model to evaluate consumers' risk
perception within the context of Chinese Internet banking services.
This research is conducted through the application of a critical realist approach, utilizing
mixed methods. This approach enables the research to address a main controversy in the
perceived risk field by evaluating the two common measurement models. It also develops an
understanding of Chinese consumers' risk perceptions and how consumers' perceptions are
formed and influenced by considering a range of contextual issues. This approach highlights
the importance of obtaining social and cultural meanings to understand the measurement of
risk perception- this is seldom addressed in the majority of perceived risk research.
Results are thoroughly analysed, compared and contrasted to relevant Western research.
Perceived risk, as a construct, is meaningful in helping to understand potential Chinese
Internet banking services users. The principle risk dimensions identified in this research are
consistent with those detailed in Western studies. However, the underlying relationships
between the risk variables are different. Such differences can be attributed to the specific The measurement of risk is best operationalised through the application of one of the
commonly used models - the multiplicative. This model produces results that are more
consistent with the qualitative patterns derived from the application of mixed methods
research. Whilst this research advocates the use of the multiplicative model, it also contends
that future researchers should evaluate both common models- as the impact of context needs
to be addressed sensitively,and this would also be consistent with the application of a critical
realist perspective.
Further, when considering perceived risk measurement, this research has found that the
application of multiple variables is useful to test validity and reliability. These two issues are
seldom considered or evaluated in previous perceived risk studies. This application also lends
itself to the development of greater depth in data analysis, and therefore provides a more
specific perspective to understand risk perceptions through detailed measurement.
Future research in perceived risk should also address risk evaluation by considering the
purchase stages, as consumers risk perceptions may be influenced and subject to change at
different stages. Without such an approach results generated may be misleading, and may not
provide an adequate basis for understanding consumers and developing appropriate marketing
strategies to meet these concerns