4.3 Test of the moderating effect of identity trustworthiness and embeddedness
For testing the moderating effect of identity trustworthiness and embeddedness on
parts of the structure model, this study classifies the consumers into subgroups and
verifies their effect. Two groups were identified based on the trust consumers had for
direct sellers by cluster analysis. Using factor scores of the trustworthiness construct,
Ward’s method was employed to obtain a hierarchical cluster solution. No outlying
observations were found. Based on supporting literature and an examination of the
dendogram, a two-cluster solution appeared to be the most meaningful and
interpretable result. Table III presents the mean values of two groups on the dimension
of identity trustworthiness along with the number of respondents classified into each
group. T-test (P ¼ 0.000) confirmed the significance of group differences. The same
cluster analysis procedure was used to classify the two groups of consumers with
higher and lower embeddedness, respectively.
H9 and H10 are tested by the competing structure model A to verify the moderating
effects of identity trustworthiness. The results as shown in Table III reveal that the
coefficient is not significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2, i.e. the
moderating effect of identity trustworthiness is not obvious. But we can observe
something momentous in these two groups. The coefficient of the structure model in
Group 1 (lower trustworthiness) is lower than Group 2 (higher trustworthiness) and the
coefficient of identity distinctiveness is not significant in Group 1 but significant in
Group 2.
H11-H13 are tested by the competing structure model B to verify the moderating
effects of identity embeddedness. The results as shown in Table III reveal that the
moderating effect of identity embeddedness is not obvious. This study further
observes that the coefficient of structure model in Group 3 (lower embeddedness) is
lower than Group 4 (higher embeddedness) in identity distinctiveness and identity
prestige but not in identity attractiveness. The coefficients of these three independent
variables are not significant in Group 1 but significant in Group 2 except identity
distinctiveness.