The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making an eye-tracking study

The aim of this study was to shed light on the consumers’ decision making processes in an online environment. The vast amount of information found online and the presence of online peer recommendations has shaped the purchase decision making environment – making it more simple in some situations,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jokinen, Joel
Other Authors: Kauppakorkeakoulu, School of Business and Economics, Taloustieteet, Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/52890
_version_ 1826225760250101760
author Jokinen, Joel
author2 Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_facet Jokinen, Joel Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto Jokinen, Joel Kauppakorkeakoulu School of Business and Economics Taloustieteet Business and Economics University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_sort Jokinen, Joel
datasource_str_mv jyx
description The aim of this study was to shed light on the consumers’ decision making processes in an online environment. The vast amount of information found online and the presence of online peer recommendations has shaped the purchase decision making environment – making it more simple in some situations, more complex in others. This study answers to the need for more research on consumers’ cognitive processes when making purchase decisions, the influence of website design factors towards consumer decision making as well as the social presence of others in online environments. Previously little research has been done on the effects of product ratings toward consumer attention through eye-tracking methodology. Eye-tracking methodology was chosen to overcome the limitations created by using solely self-report methods and projective techniques, such as surveys and interviews, in order to better understand the mental constructs and the behavior of a consumer. A 2 (decision complexity) X 2 (quality of product rating) between-subjects experiment design was employed for this study to assess whether consumers would try to ease cognitively demanding purchase decision making tasks through the use of social heuristics. The data (N=25) was collected through assessing the eye movements of multiple subjects. From the data eye-tracking parameters such as fixation duration, dwell time and the time to first fixation were analyzed through statistical tests. Supporting data was collected through asking the subjects for a brief verbalization of their thought process during the experiment. The results show a significant combined effect of task complexity and product ratings towards the decision making time. No significant combined effect of task complexity and product ratings was found for fixation duration, dwell time and the time to first fixation on the area of interest. A significant main effect was discovered between task complexity and dwell time percentage. Good product ratings were perceived faster than bad product ratings, which as a finding is in line with earlier research. Consumers also seem to be prone to using social heuristics, such as peer-made product ratings, to conform with others during the purchase decision making process, even if the purchase decision is seemingly simple.
first_indexed 2023-03-22T09:58:20Z
format Pro gradu
free_online_boolean 1
fullrecord [{"key": "dc.contributor.advisor", "value": "Lepp\u00e4niemi Matti", "language": "", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "advisor", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.advisor", "value": "Hautala Jarkko", "language": "", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "advisor", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.author", "value": "Jokinen, Joel", "language": null, "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "author", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.accessioned", "value": "2017-01-28T14:13:48Z", "language": "", "element": "date", "qualifier": "accessioned", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.available", "value": "2017-01-28T14:13:48Z", "language": "", "element": "date", "qualifier": "available", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.issued", "value": "2016", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "issued", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.other", "value": "oai:jykdok.linneanet.fi:1665658", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "other", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.uri", "value": "https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/52890", "language": "", "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "uri", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.abstract", "value": "The aim of this study was to shed light on the consumers\u2019 decision making\r\nprocesses in an online environment. The vast amount of information found online and\r\nthe presence of online peer recommendations has shaped the purchase decision making\r\nenvironment \u2013 making it more simple in some situations, more complex in others. This\r\nstudy answers to the need for more research on consumers\u2019 cognitive processes when\r\nmaking purchase decisions, the influence of website design factors towards consumer\r\ndecision making as well as the social presence of others in online environments.\r\nPreviously little research has been done on the effects of product ratings toward\r\nconsumer attention through eye-tracking methodology. Eye-tracking methodology was\r\nchosen to overcome the limitations created by using solely self-report methods and\r\nprojective techniques, such as surveys and interviews, in order to better understand the\r\nmental constructs and the behavior of a consumer. A 2 (decision complexity) X 2 (quality\r\nof product rating) between-subjects experiment design was employed for this study to\r\nassess whether consumers would try to ease cognitively demanding purchase decision\r\nmaking tasks through the use of social heuristics. The data (N=25) was collected through\r\nassessing the eye movements of multiple subjects. From the data eye-tracking\r\nparameters such as fixation duration, dwell time and the time to first fixation were\r\nanalyzed through statistical tests. Supporting data was collected through asking the\r\nsubjects for a brief verbalization of their thought process during the experiment. The\r\nresults show a significant combined effect of task complexity and product ratings\r\ntowards the decision making time. No significant combined effect of task complexity\r\nand product ratings was found for fixation duration, dwell time and the time to first\r\nfixation on the area of interest. A significant main effect was discovered between task\r\ncomplexity and dwell time percentage. Good product ratings were perceived faster than\r\nbad product ratings, which as a finding is in line with earlier research. Consumers also\r\nseem to be prone to using social heuristics, such as peer-made product ratings, to\r\nconform with others during the purchase decision making process, even if the purchase\r\ndecision is seemingly simple.", "language": "", "element": "description", "qualifier": "abstract", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Submitted using Plone Publishing form by Joel Jokinen (joeljoki) on 2017-01-28 14:13:47.746437. Form: Pro gradu -lomake (https://kirjasto.jyu.fi/julkaisut/julkaisulomakkeet/pro-gradu-lomake). JyX data: [jyx_publishing-allowed (fi) =True]", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Submitted by jyx lomake-julkaisija (jyx-julkaisija.group@korppi.jyu.fi) on 2017-01-28T14:13:48Z\r\nNo. of bitstreams: 2\r\nURN:NBN:fi:jyu-201701281300.pdf: 1223291 bytes, checksum: e9fa75117f4cff681b26cac4b46cfc96 (MD5)\r\nlicense.html: 4859 bytes, checksum: 2a7b952b7f843853c8d374bdc66e6527 (MD5)", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-28T14:13:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2\r\nURN:NBN:fi:jyu-201701281300.pdf: 1223291 bytes, checksum: e9fa75117f4cff681b26cac4b46cfc96 (MD5)\r\nlicense.html: 4859 bytes, checksum: 2a7b952b7f843853c8d374bdc66e6527 (MD5)\r\n Previous issue date: 2016", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.extent", "value": "1 verkkoaineisto (70 sivua)", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "extent", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.mimetype", "value": "application/pdf", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "mimetype", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.language.iso", "value": "eng", "language": null, "element": "language", "qualifier": "iso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights", "value": "In Copyright", "language": "en", "element": "rights", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.title", "value": "The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study", "language": null, "element": "title", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type", "value": "master thesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.urn", "value": "URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201701281300", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "urn", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.ontasot", "value": "Pro gradu -tutkielma", "language": "fi", "element": "type", "qualifier": "ontasot", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.ontasot", "value": "Master\u2019s thesis", "language": "en", "element": "type", "qualifier": "ontasot", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 University School of Business and Economics", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.department", "value": "Taloustieteet", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "department", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.department", "value": "Business and Economics", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "department", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Markkinointi", "language": "fi", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Marketing", "language": "en", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.updated", "value": "2017-01-28T14:13:49Z", "language": "", "element": "date", "qualifier": "updated", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "yvv.contractresearch.collaborator", "value": "business", "language": "", "element": "contractresearch", "qualifier": "collaborator", "schema": "yvv"}, {"key": "yvv.contractresearch.funding", "value": "0", "language": "", "element": "contractresearch", "qualifier": "funding", "schema": "yvv"}, {"key": "yvv.contractresearch.initiative", "value": "order", "language": "", "element": "contractresearch", "qualifier": "initiative", "schema": "yvv"}, {"key": "dc.type.coar", "value": "http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdcc", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "coar", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accesslevel", "value": "openAccess", "language": "fi", "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accesslevel", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.publication", "value": "masterThesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "publication", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.oppiainekoodi", "value": "20423", "language": null, "element": "subject", "qualifier": "oppiainekoodi", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.yso", "value": "kuluttajak\u00e4ytt\u00e4ytyminen", "language": null, "element": "subject", "qualifier": "yso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.yso", "value": "verkkokauppa", "language": null, "element": "subject", "qualifier": "yso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.yso", "value": "heuristiikka", "language": null, "element": "subject", "qualifier": "yso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.yso", "value": "viraalimarkkinointi", "language": null, "element": "subject", "qualifier": "yso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.content", "value": "fulltext", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "content", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.url", "value": "https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "url", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.okm", "value": "G2", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "okm", "schema": "dc"}]
id jyx.123456789_52890
language eng
last_indexed 2025-02-18T10:54:55Z
main_date 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
main_date_str 2016
online_boolean 1
online_urls_str_mv {"url":"https:\/\/jyx.jyu.fi\/bitstreams\/37301b18-1da9-4acc-816f-57309c18d242\/download","text":"URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201701281300.pdf","source":"jyx","mediaType":"application\/pdf"}
publishDate 2016
record_format qdc
source_str_mv jyx
spellingShingle Jokinen, Joel The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study Markkinointi Marketing 20423 kuluttajakäyttäytyminen verkkokauppa heuristiikka viraalimarkkinointi
title The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study
title_full The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study
title_fullStr The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study
title_full_unstemmed The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study
title_short The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making
title_sort role of electronic word of mouth in consumers online purchase decision making an eye tracking study
title_sub an eye-tracking study
title_txtP The role of electronic word-of-mouth in consumers' online purchase decision making : an eye-tracking study
topic Markkinointi Marketing 20423 kuluttajakäyttäytyminen verkkokauppa heuristiikka viraalimarkkinointi
topic_facet 20423 Marketing Markkinointi heuristiikka kuluttajakäyttäytyminen verkkokauppa viraalimarkkinointi
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/52890 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201701281300
work_keys_str_mv AT jokinenjoel roleofelectronicwordofmouthinconsumersonlinepurchasedecisionmakinganeyetrackingstudy AT jokinenjoel theroleofelectronicwordofmouthinconsumersonlinepurchasedecisionmakinganeyetrackingst