Visual cues and the bandwagon effect: do images and review votes make online reviews more credible?
Date
2021
Authors
Zhu, Lina, author
Park, Young Eun, advisor
Sivakumar, Gayathri, committee member
Robinson, Arnold, committee member
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Abstract
Using the dual-process theory, this study aims at examining the impact of customers- uploaded images and the number of review votes on consumers' perceived credibility of the review, attitudes, and purchase intention towards the reviewed product. In the experiments, 256 participants participated in a 2 (image: images vs. no images) × 2 (review vote: a large review vote vs. a small review vote) between-subjects factorial design. The results show that review votes have significant positive impact on participants' perceived credibility, attitude, and purchase intention. The study also found significant impact between the relationships among perceived credibility, attitude, and purchase intention, as well as the mediated effect of attitude on the relationship between perceived credibility and purchase intention. However, in case of the customers-uploaded images, there is no significant impact of images on perceived credibility, attitude, and purchase intention found in this study. The study discusses its theoretical and empirical implications and limitations.
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Subject
eWOM
online review
attitude
purchase intention
eWOM credibility