Consumer search behavior in online shopping : the effects of novice versus expert product knowledge

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dc.contributor.advisorPalmquist, Ruth A.en
dc.contributor.advisorErdelez, Sanda, 1960-en
dc.creatorJaillet, Hélene Franceen
dc.date.accessioned2011-03-21T16:28:34Zen
dc.date.available2011-03-21T16:28:34Zen
dc.date.issued2001-08en
dc.descriptiontexten
dc.description.abstractThe Internet now provides consumers with a new tool for finding information during the pre-purchase phase of a buying decision. It also provides researchers with a method to study the information-seeking behavior of consumers in a dynamic environment. User knowledge has been identified in prior research as having an influencing effect on search behavior. In the case of consumers, user knowledge is defined as their novice- or expert-level product knowledge. The primary research question that guided this study was whether product knowledge creates significantly different search behavior among consumers while online shopping. Specifically, the study examined differences in the site types consumers use and in any patterns to their site type visits. Two online shopping tasks were used to identify distinctive external information-search patterns among consumers (n = 43). The participants were classified according to their level of product knowledge. The objective of the analysis was to identify differences in the site types used and in the sequence of site type usage between those having expert and novice product knowledge. Using McNemar tests and log-linear analyses, significant differences between novices and experts were found in the usage of site types. Significant pattern differences were also found in the antecedent site types used under expert versus novice conditions. The resultant data has implications for both information professionals and for marketers in designing specifically tailored web sites and web tools that assist different user groups in finding the information they seek.
dc.description.departmentInformationen
dc.format.mediumelectronicen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/10591en
dc.language.isoengen
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.en
dc.rights.restrictionRestricteden
dc.subjectSearching behavior--United Statesen
dc.subjectInternet research--United Statesen
dc.subjectElectronic commerce--United Statesen
dc.subjectConsumer behavior--United Statesen
dc.titleConsumer search behavior in online shopping : the effects of novice versus expert product knowledgeen
thesis.degree.departmentInformation, School ofen
thesis.degree.disciplineInformation Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorThe University of Texas at Austinen
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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