When WOM is attributed to the product, its valence indicates the
degree to which the product performs as promised (Khare
et al. 2011; Sun 2012; West and Broniarczyk 1998), and its
dispersion indicates variability in that performance (e.g.,
quality control problems, variance in individual attributes,
inconsistency across time or usage occasion). As a result,
higher dispersion should increase perceived outcome uncertainty
and risk, affecting judgments negatively. In contrast,
the implications of WOM attributed to reviewer characteristics
are markedly less negative. In fact, reviewerattributed
dispersion presents consumers with opportunities
to learn about their own preferences (i.e., extensive learning;
Hoeffler et al. 2013), to satisfy curiosity about their potential
experience (Raju 1980), or to demonstrate open-mindedness
(Ratner and Kahn 2002). Together, these opportunities
should mitigate the negative effects of dispersion on product
evaluations.