2. Trust building model
The overall theoretical model (Fig. 1) posits that two sets of antecedents—structural assurance of the web and two vendor-specific factors (perceived site quality and perceived reputation)—influence a user’s trusting beliefs in (perceptions of the attributes of a specific web vendor) and trusting intention towards a web-based vendor. Trusting beliefs and trusting intention together constitute what Rousseau et al., 1998; McKnight et al., 1998 called trust. Trusting beliefs, trusting intention, and perceived web risk, in turn, influence consumer intentions to engage in three specific behaviors: follow vendor advice, share information with the vendor, and purchase from the site. While trusting beliefs and trusting intention—willingness to depend form the essence of cognitive-emotional trust in the vendor, the behavioral intentions are outcomes resulting from that trust. Direct links are also posited between trusting beliefs and willingness to depend, as discussed in greater detail below.
2.1. Behavioral intentions
The ultimate variable of interest to a web-based vendor is consumers’ behavior, specifically their willingness to transact with the vendor through the web. In light of the difficulty of simulating actual behavior in an experimental setting, this study measures behavioral intentions instead. This is not uncommon. Numerous studies of technology acceptance have measured behavioral intentions but not behaviors (Agarwal and Prasad, 1998; Karahanna et al., 1999; Venkatesh, 1999, 2000). Prior research has also confirmed a strong correlation between behavioral intentions and actual behavior (Sheppard et al., 1988; Venkatesh and Davis, 2000). We define behavioral intentions in terms of consumer intentions to engage in three specific behaviors—(a) follow the advice of the web vendor, (b) share personal information with the vendor, and (c) purchase goods or services from the vendor. Each behavioral intention construct captures an individual’s projection or anticipation that she/he will behave in a specified way. Behavioral intentions go beyond willingness to depend on the other; rather, they involve a specific, solid intent, similar to what McKnight and Chervany, 2001–2002 called subjective probability of depending. Thus, one with behavioral intention volitionally intends to follow the advice, purchase, and/or share information, unless something precludes such action. For most shopping sites, the primary objective is to persuade the consumer to make a purchase. To purchase, the consumer must be willing to share personal information, such as name, address, and credit card number. Fee-based or subscription sites, such as the Wall Street Journal, also require users to share such personal information, as do sites that do not charge a fee but require users to register in order to use the site. In addition, for a medical, legal, or financial advice-giving site, such as the one used in this study, it is important that users feel comfortable accepting and acting upon the advice. Just as consumer web site users may window-shop but not buy, so advice site users may browse but never form a solid intent to act upon the advice of the web vendor. In both cases, the vendor’s strategic objective remains unfulfilled—web sites are most effective when people fully employ them—otherwise they are no better than a store in a ghost town. Each of the three intention constructs relates to a behavior that a user may perceive to be fraught with risk, making it an interesting problem for trust to address. Trust becomes important because risk is present (Rousseau et al., 1998). Following financial advice could place one’s money at risk, for example. Sharing personal information makes one potentially vulnerable to loss of privacy (Wang et al., 1998), misuse of the information by the vendor (such as for junk mailing), or even the theft of one’s identity. Purchasing puts one at risk of not receiving the services/products bought and then having to resolve a vendor nonperformance problem. If the purchase is made with a credit card, it places the credit card information under similar risk as it does personal information. Thus, these three specific behavioral intentions are important outcomes of trust. If carried out, these intentions would become trust-related behaviors.
2.2. Willingness to depend
The model proposes that, as a factor of intentions to engage in specific behaviors, an individual forms a general willingness to depend on the web vendor. Willingness to depend is a trust construct (McKnight et al., 1998) in that it reflects volitional vulnerability, a concept commonly used to define trust (Mayer et al., 1995). Thus, professing a general willingness to depend on the other means one has made a conscious choice to put aside doubts and to move forward with the relationship instead of holding back (Holmes, 1991). In the web context, this means that a consumer has progressed to a willingness to engage in a positive relationship with the vendor. It is important to understand the difference between trusting intention—willingness to depend and the three specific behavioral intentions discussed earlier. Willingness to depend is general and non-committal, while the behavioral intentions are specific and inhere risk. An analogy may be helpful. On joining those discussing neighbor John’s recent personal disaster, one man heard people say, “I feel very sorry for John.” “Me too.” The man stepped up and boldly said, “I feel sorry for John to the extent of $50,” and putting the money on the table, added, “How sorry do you feel for him?” To have pity for John generally and to put money on the table for him bear different levels of personal risk and commitment. Similarly, it is one thing to say one is willing in general to depend on a web vendor and a different thing to say one is willing to incur specific relationship risks through following vendor advice, sharing information, and purchasing. McKnight and Chervany (2001–2002) made the same distinction between trusting intention and subjective probability of depending. Displaying a general willingness to depend is the first step, because it engenders specific behavioral intentions. If one is willing to depend on a web vendor (i.e. willing to accept general vulnerability), one is then more likely to be willing to accept the specific vulnerabilities associated with using the site, such as following vendor advice, sharing information, and purchasing from the site. Empirical evidence in prior trust literature also supports the effects of willingness to depend on the three behavioral intentions. Following advice is similar to being influenced by the other party, which (Zand, 1972) found to be affected by general trust.Anumber of studies have found general trust to be an antecedent of information sharing (Fulk et al., 1985; Hart and Saunders, 1993; Sherif, 1966). Of course, other factors influence information sharing as well (Wasko and Faraj, 2000). In the marketing literature, general trust has been linked to willingness to transact business (Doney and Cannon, 1997; Morgan and Hunt, 1994). Urban et al. (2000) found trust to be a factor in making purchasing decisions. Thus, it is hypothesized that willingness to depend will impact all three behavioral intentions.
2.3. Trusting beliefs
Trusting beliefs are perceptions of the trustworthiness of the object of trust. Trusting beliefs are the trustor perception that the trustee possesses characteristics that would benefit the trustor (Mayer et al., 1995; McKnight and Chervany, 2001–2002; Mishra, 1996). Trusting beliefs comes from a long history of research that considered the essence of trust to be perceptions about the ethical character (Ring and Van de Ven, 1994), ability (Gabarro, 1978), or predictability (Rempel et al., 1985) of the other party, or combinations of such attributes (Giffin, 1967). Over time, researchers have migrated towards three or four such beliefs—integrity (trustee honesty and promise keeping), benevolence (trustee caring and motivation to act in the trustor’s interests), competence (ability of the trustee to do what the trustor needs), and predictability (consistency of trustee behavior)1 (McKnight et al., 1998)—because most other trusting beliefs cluster conceptually with these. As Mayer et al. (1995) argued, a trustee who possesses these traits is very desirable as an exchange partner, because he/she will behave ethically, kindly, skillfully, and consistently in the exchange. For example, a web vendor who is honest would fulfill agreements with the consumer. A benevolent web vendor would not intentionally harm the consumer. A competent vendor would do a good job filling consumer orders with fine products. Thus, having high trusting beliefs should lead the consumer to be willing to depend on the vendor. We also posit a direct effect of trusting beliefs on specific behavioral intentions (that is, not all of the impact of trusting beliefs on behavioral intentions will be mediated through willingness to depend). For instance, a belief that the vendor is competent should lead one to be willing to follow the advice of the vendor because a competent and benevolent vendor will provide good advice. Similarly, a consumer will believe that a vendor with high benevolence and integrity will offer honest advice, in the consumer’s best interest, thereby increasing motivation to follow the advice. Belief in the benevolence and integrity of the vendor will positively affect willingness to share personal information (Culnan and Armstrong, 1999; Krackhardt and Stern, 1988; Nelson and Cooprider, 1996) because these beliefs embody assurance that the vendor will not abuse the information. Trusting belief—competence should assure one that the vendor has the technical acumen to protect personal information from hackers. Trusting beliefs will also positively affect willingness to purchase because they assur
2. สร้างแบบจำลองแทนรูปแบบโดยรวมทฤษฎี (Fig. 1) posits ที่ สองชุด antecedents — มั่นใจโครงสร้างของเว็บและสองปัจจัยเฉพาะผู้จัดจำหน่าย (เว็บไซต์คุณภาพการรับรู้ และมองเห็นชื่อเสียง) — อิทธิพลผู้ใช้โดยความเชื่อใน (ภาพลักษณ์คอร์รัปชันของแอตทริบิวต์ของผู้ขายเว็บ) และโดยเจตนาต่อผู้ใช้เว็บ โดยความเชื่อ และความเชื่อถือความตั้งใจร่วมกันเป็นสิ่ง Rousseau และ al., 1998 แม็กไนต์และ al., 1998 เรียกว่าเชื่อถือ ความเชื่อถือความเชื่อ ความตั้งใจเชื่อถือ และเว็บรับรู้ความ เสี่ยง จะ มีอิทธิพลต่อความตั้งใจของผู้บริโภคในลักษณะเฉพาะสาม: ทำตามคำแนะนำของผู้จัดจำหน่าย การใช้ข้อมูลร่วมกับผู้จัดจำหน่าย และซื้อจากเว็บไซต์ ในขณะที่ความเชื่อความเชื่อถือ และความเชื่อถือความตั้งใจซึ่งยินดีที่จะขึ้นอยู่กับแบบฟอร์มการรับรู้อารมณ์ของใจในผู้จัดจำหน่าย ตั้งใจพฤติกรรมเป็นผลที่เกิดจากการที่ไว้ใจ นอกจากนี้ยังมี posited เชื่อมโยงโดยตรงระหว่างความเชื่อและความตั้งใจขึ้นอยู่ เชื่อถือตามที่อธิบายไว้ในรายละเอียดมากกว่านี้2.1. พฤติกรรมความตั้งใจThe ultimate variable of interest to a web-based vendor is consumers’ behavior, specifically their willingness to transact with the vendor through the web. In light of the difficulty of simulating actual behavior in an experimental setting, this study measures behavioral intentions instead. This is not uncommon. Numerous studies of technology acceptance have measured behavioral intentions but not behaviors (Agarwal and Prasad, 1998; Karahanna et al., 1999; Venkatesh, 1999, 2000). Prior research has also confirmed a strong correlation between behavioral intentions and actual behavior (Sheppard et al., 1988; Venkatesh and Davis, 2000). We define behavioral intentions in terms of consumer intentions to engage in three specific behaviors—(a) follow the advice of the web vendor, (b) share personal information with the vendor, and (c) purchase goods or services from the vendor. Each behavioral intention construct captures an individual’s projection or anticipation that she/he will behave in a specified way. Behavioral intentions go beyond willingness to depend on the other; rather, they involve a specific, solid intent, similar to what McKnight and Chervany, 2001–2002 called subjective probability of depending. Thus, one with behavioral intention volitionally intends to follow the advice, purchase, and/or share information, unless something precludes such action. For most shopping sites, the primary objective is to persuade the consumer to make a purchase. To purchase, the consumer must be willing to share personal information, such as name, address, and credit card number. Fee-based or subscription sites, such as the Wall Street Journal, also require users to share such personal information, as do sites that do not charge a fee but require users to register in order to use the site. In addition, for a medical, legal, or financial advice-giving site, such as the one used in this study, it is important that users feel comfortable accepting and acting upon the advice. Just as consumer web site users may window-shop but not buy, so advice site users may browse but never form a solid intent to act upon the advice of the web vendor. In both cases, the vendor’s strategic objective remains unfulfilled—web sites are most effective when people fully employ them—otherwise they are no better than a store in a ghost town. Each of the three intention constructs relates to a behavior that a user may perceive to be fraught with risk, making it an interesting problem for trust to address. Trust becomes important because risk is present (Rousseau et al., 1998). Following financial advice could place one’s money at risk, for example. Sharing personal information makes one potentially vulnerable to loss of privacy (Wang et al., 1998), misuse of the information by the vendor (such as for junk mailing), or even the theft of one’s identity. Purchasing puts one at risk of not receiving the services/products bought and then having to resolve a vendor nonperformance problem. If the purchase is made with a credit card, it places the credit card information under similar risk as it does personal information. Thus, these three specific behavioral intentions are important outcomes of trust. If carried out, these intentions would become trust-related behaviors.2.2. ความตั้งใจขึ้นอยู่The model proposes that, as a factor of intentions to engage in specific behaviors, an individual forms a general willingness to depend on the web vendor. Willingness to depend is a trust construct (McKnight et al., 1998) in that it reflects volitional vulnerability, a concept commonly used to define trust (Mayer et al., 1995). Thus, professing a general willingness to depend on the other means one has made a conscious choice to put aside doubts and to move forward with the relationship instead of holding back (Holmes, 1991). In the web context, this means that a consumer has progressed to a willingness to engage in a positive relationship with the vendor. It is important to understand the difference between trusting intention—willingness to depend and the three specific behavioral intentions discussed earlier. Willingness to depend is general and non-committal, while the behavioral intentions are specific and inhere risk. An analogy may be helpful. On joining those discussing neighbor John’s recent personal disaster, one man heard people say, “I feel very sorry for John.” “Me too.” The man stepped up and boldly said, “I feel sorry for John to the extent of $50,” and putting the money on the table, added, “How sorry do you feel for him?” To have pity for John generally and to put money on the table for him bear different levels of personal risk and commitment. Similarly, it is one thing to say one is willing in general to depend on a web vendor and a different thing to say one is willing to incur specific relationship risks through following vendor advice, sharing information, and purchasing. McKnight and Chervany (2001–2002) made the same distinction between trusting intention and subjective probability of depending. Displaying a general willingness to depend is the first step, because it engenders specific behavioral intentions. If one is willing to depend on a web vendor (i.e. willing to accept general vulnerability), one is then more likely to be willing to accept the specific vulnerabilities associated with using the site, such as following vendor advice, sharing information, and purchasing from the site. Empirical evidence in prior trust literature also supports the effects of willingness to depend on the three behavioral intentions. Following advice is similar to being influenced by the other party, which (Zand, 1972) found to be affected by general trust.Anumber of studies have found general trust to be an antecedent of information sharing (Fulk et al., 1985; Hart and Saunders, 1993; Sherif, 1966). Of course, other factors influence information sharing as well (Wasko and Faraj, 2000). In the marketing literature, general trust has been linked to willingness to transact business (Doney and Cannon, 1997; Morgan and Hunt, 1994). Urban et al. (2000) found trust to be a factor in making purchasing decisions. Thus, it is hypothesized that willingness to depend will impact all three behavioral intentions.2.3. Trusting beliefsTrusting beliefs are perceptions of the trustworthiness of the object of trust. Trusting beliefs are the trustor perception that the trustee possesses characteristics that would benefit the trustor (Mayer et al., 1995; McKnight and Chervany, 2001–2002; Mishra, 1996). Trusting beliefs comes from a long history of research that considered the essence of trust to be perceptions about the ethical character (Ring and Van de Ven, 1994), ability (Gabarro, 1978), or predictability (Rempel et al., 1985) of the other party, or combinations of such attributes (Giffin, 1967). Over time, researchers have migrated towards three or four such beliefs—integrity (trustee honesty and promise keeping), benevolence (trustee caring and motivation to act in the trustor’s interests), competence (ability of the trustee to do what the trustor needs), and predictability (consistency of trustee behavior)1 (McKnight et al., 1998)—because most other trusting beliefs cluster conceptually with these. As Mayer et al. (1995) argued, a trustee who possesses these traits is very desirable as an exchange partner, because he/she will behave ethically, kindly, skillfully, and consistently in the exchange. For example, a web vendor who is honest would fulfill agreements with the consumer. A benevolent web vendor would not intentionally harm the consumer. A competent vendor would do a good job filling consumer orders with fine products. Thus, having high trusting beliefs should lead the consumer to be willing to depend on the vendor. We also posit a direct effect of trusting beliefs on specific behavioral intentions (that is, not all of the impact of trusting beliefs on behavioral intentions will be mediated through willingness to depend). For instance, a belief that the vendor is competent should lead one to be willing to follow the advice of the vendor because a competent and benevolent vendor will provide good advice. Similarly, a consumer will believe that a vendor with high benevolence and integrity will offer honest advice, in the consumer’s best interest, thereby increasing motivation to follow the advice. Belief in the benevolence and integrity of the vendor will positively affect willingness to share personal information (Culnan and Armstrong, 1999; Krackhardt and Stern, 1988; Nelson and Cooprider, 1996) because these beliefs embody assurance that the vendor will not abuse the information. Trusting belief—competence should assure one that the vendor has the technical acumen to protect personal information from hackers. Trusting beliefs will also positively affect willingness to purchase because they assur
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