Rather than focusing on a single industry or company, we
gathered data to evaluate our hypotheses via a cross-sectional
survey of online shoppers. Although an experimental
approach was considered, given the nature of the issues
under investigation, a survey-based approach was employed,
since it was considered prudent to focus on consumers’
interpretations and intentions in their “natural” setting
(rather than a potentially “artificial” experimental context.
However, we recognize that such methods can generate
fascinating insights into such issues – see Biswas and Biswas
(2004) for a particularly noteworthy study). Respondents
were required who have broad online experience and a
familiarity with a broad range of online shopping outlets.
Consequently, a randomly selected sample of 1,000 suitable
respondents was purchased from a data brokerage agency.
Potential respondents were initially contacted through a short
personalized e-mail that outlined the nature of the project.
To improve response rates, participation was encouraged
with a small financial incentive ($10.00). In total, 425
respondents replied expressing an interest in participating in
the study. Each of the 425 potential respondents was then
contacted by telephone to arrange a mutually convenient
time for a researcher to administer the survey instrument.
This process eventually led to 257 appointments with
potential respondents. At each appointment, the researcher
first required the respondent to list five web sites with which
they were familiar and that they had visited within the last
three months with the intention of purchasing or from
which they had purchased goods. To ensure variation,
respondents were asked to include both sites that they
viewed as “favorites” as well as less-favored sites. The
researcher selected one of these five sites at random
(throwing a die). Thereafter, the researcher and potential
respondent visited the randomly selected web site and the
respondents were asked to explore the site for ten minutes.
After this process and while still online, the respondents
were supplied with the survey instrument and asked to
complete the questionnaire. Briefly, data were gathered
regarding 96 different sites; the main sites being sites selling
audio/visual goods (32 percent), computer-related products
(12 percent), garments (9 percent), groceries (9 percent),