Examining consumer participation on brand microblogs in China: perspectives from elaboration likelihood model, commitment–trust theory and social presence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheshi Bao ◽  
Dongdong Wang

Purpose Brand microblogs have been adopted as a new approach to promote products or services and maintain relationships with consumers for companies, but literature on why consumers are willing to participate on these microblogs is still relatively limited. The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting consumers’ participation on brand microblogs and then indicate the underlying mechanism of this process based on elaboration likelihood model (ELM), commitment–trust theory and social presence. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted in China to investigate consumers who followed brand microblogs. A total of 380 valid responses were collected, and the data were analyzed by the partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the proposed research model. Findings The findings show that argument quality and source credibility of a brand microblog are two important factors that enhance consumers’ community commitment and trust toward the microblog, which, in turn, promote their participation intention. In addition, social presence has a moderating effect on the relationship between trust toward brand microblog and participation. Originality/value This study extends the understanding regarding consumers’ information adoption processes in brand microblogs from both central and peripheral routes based on ELM. Besides, the role of trust in affecting consumers’ participation and community commitment in the context of brand microblog has been examined from a more detailed perspective. Finally, this paper better reveal the role of social presence in brand communities by focusing on its moderating effect on the relationship between commitment–trust and consumers’ participation. These findings can provide entrepreneurs with insights into strengthening consumers’ participation and operating their brand microblogs in the long-term.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10(4) (10(4)) ◽  
pp. 1152-1168
Author(s):  
Dalal Hodaed Alsheikh ◽  
Norzalita Abd Aziz ◽  
Layla Hodaed Alsheikh

relationship between e-WOM and tourist visit intentions. As e-WOM in the form of comments, reviews, opinions, suggestions and recommendation are largely available in the online space, it has been found crucial to investigate the quality and credibility of such information. Elaboration Likelihood Model has been used to build the research model or framework. The study findings suggest the mediating role of source credibility and argument quality in the relationship between e-WOM and tourist visit intention. The study reveals that traveler seeks highly credible sources and information quality before deciding on any travel related products and services. The mediating role of source credibility and argument quality from ELM theory has been investigated from domestic tourism perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Zhang ◽  
Biao Xu ◽  
Jun Wu

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mechanism of its impact in the Chinese business-to-business (B2B) context. Design/methodology/approach Renqing in China has played an important role in business relationships and has been receiving increased attention in both practice and theory. However, little is known about whether it can influence purchase intentions in a rational B2B condition. This research aims to examine the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mechanism of its impact in the Chinese B2B context. Based on a survey of 1,010 industry buyers from 468 Chinese downstream buyer companies, the empirical findings indicate a positive relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mediating role of long-term orientation (LTO) for increasing purchase intentions. In addition, this study also finds that product involvement (PI) has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions, which means that renqing has a big positive effect on purchase intentions in low PI conditions. The results highlight several implications for B2B companies that sell products to Chinese enterprises. Findings The empirical findings indicate a positive relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mediating role of LTO for increasing purchase intentions. In addition, this study also finds that PI has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions, which means that renqing has a big positive effect on purchase intentions in low PI conditions. Originality/value First of all, by answering the research question, this study shows that renqing has a positive effect on purchase intentions in Chinese B2B context. Second, this study elucidates the influence mechanism of renqing on purchase intention and identifies the mediating effect of LTO and the moderating effect of PI.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhou

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to draw on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) to examine users' information adoption intention in online health communities (OHC).Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected 350 valid responses using a survey and conducted the moderated regression analysis to examine the research model.FindingsThe results indicated that users' information adoption intention is influenced by both central cues (argument quality) and peripheral cues (source credibility and emotional support). In addition, self-efficacy moderates the effect of both central cues and peripheral cues on information adoption intention.Originality/valuePrevious research has focused on the effect of individual motivations such as reciprocity and benefits on user behavior, and has seldom disclosed the influencing process of external factors on OHC users' behavioral decision. This research tries to fill the gap by adopting ELM to uncover the mechanism underlying OHC users' information adoption.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Mei Ming Wong ◽  
Shiet Ching Wong ◽  
Guek Nee Ke

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to combine the elaboration likelihood model and hedonic/utilitarian values into a coherent model of shopping motivational values for online and offline Malaysian shoppers. Once these values were identified, they were compared to one another based on shopping channel, gender, and age group. Design/methodology/approach The Shopping Motivational Value Questionnaire was developed by the researcher after extensive literature review and measured the respondent’s perception toward shopping motivational values in both shopping channels. Data were collected from 306 Malaysians above the age of 21, and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and pairwise t-test techniques. Findings The factor analysis revealed a three-factor model of shopping motivational values. Gratification Values were the most important to shoppers, followed by Essential and Societal Values. Shoppers perceived all these motivational values as important when shopping offline as compared to online, regardless of gender and age group. Research limitations/implications The results of the factor analysis revealed a three-factor model of shopping motivational values: Gratification Values which were the most important to shoppers, followed by Essential and Societal Values. These values were then compared to one another based on shopping channel, gender, and age group. Results indicate that shoppers perceived all these motivational values as important when shopping offline rather than online, regardless of gender and age group. Moreover, the perception of shoppers toward specific product categories and other shopping channels were not taken into account. Originality/value This study attempted to combine the elaboration likelihood model and hedonic and utilitarian values into a coherent model. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher with these two theoretical models as its foundation. Additionally, the shopping motivational values of this study have been formulated to be compatible to both shopping channels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2681-2703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuemei Liu ◽  
Zhiwei Zhu ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Chunyan Fu

PurposeThis study, based on construal level theory, aims to examine the influential mechanism of leader empowerment behaviour on employee creativity. Specifically, it examines the mediating role of cognitive flexibility between leader empowerment behaviour and employee creativity, along with the moderating effect of consideration of future consequences (CFC) on this linkage.Design/methodology/approachA two time-point survey study (n = 214) was conducted to collect information from leaders and employees in terms of mutual evaluation in several Chinese industries. To effectively avoid common source bias, this survey was conducted through pairing leaders and employees. During the survey, the supervisors and subordinates were double-blinded. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsFirstly, leader empowerment behaviour can significantly predict employee creativity. Second, cognitive flexibility plays a partial mediating role in the linkage between leader empowerment behaviour and employee creativity. Thirdly, CFC moderates the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour and cognitive flexibility. The mediating role of cognitive flexibility underlies the overall moderating effect of CFC on the relationship between leader empowerment behaviour and employee creativity.Research limitations/implicationsWe used construal level theory to explain the influence of the mechanism of leader empowerment behaviour on employee creativity. In this manner, this study bridges the gap between theory and practice, as well as enriching the research on leader empowerment behaviour and employee creativity, especially in the Chinese context. Moreover, our study has several practical managerial implications, based on the importance of employee creativity. It inspires the implementation of leader empowerment behaviour, cultivation of employee creativity and introduction of several procedures.Originality/valueThis paper discusses the influential mechanism of leader empowerment behaviour on employee creativity from a new perspective and explains the process of encouraging employee creativity through information-processing methods. It mainly highlights the application of construal level theory to discuss employee creativity and develops a new research frame for employee creativity. Leaders can raise employee creativity through leader empowerment behaviour.


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Stephenson ◽  
William L. Benoit ◽  
David A. Tschida

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukta Srivastava ◽  
Sreeram Sivaramakrishnan

PurposeIt is empirically proven that enhanced engagement with a focal medium motivates a consumer to post electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). However, what has not been explored is whether enhanced exposure to eWOM results in greater consumer brand engagement (CBE). While answering this question, this study also assesses the influence of eWOM and CBE on customer loyalty and satisfaction with the brand. The study has been conducted across two products –a search product and an experience product.Design/methodology/approachA model is developed and hypotheses are proposed using the Elaboration Likelihood Model which are then tested using PLS-SEM. Data was collected from 712 respondents across India.FindingsFindings indicate that eWOM significantly and positively affects CBE in both product categories. CBE significantly and positively influences both satisfaction and loyalty. eWOM is not significantly related to loyalty for both search and experience products. It is, however, found to be significantly and positively associated with satisfaction in case of the experience product, while a non-significant relationship was found for the search product.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study uses the survey method and PLS-SEM as the analysis technique which makes it correlational and confirmatory. The study, therefore, makes no firm claims on establishing causality.Originality/valueThe paper presents an original idea that CBE fully mediates the relationship between eWOM and satisfaction. This study attempts to fulfil a critical gap in the existing literature by establishing that eWOM generated by other users/consumers about a brand has a significant impact on CBE irrespective of the type of the product that is search or experience.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqing Wu ◽  
Hongxin Wang ◽  
Chun-Wang Wei ◽  
Chundong Zheng

PurposeThis study explores the influence of sharing achievement (i.e. sustainability, enjoyment, and economic benefits) obtained by participating in the sharing economy on social entrepreneurial intention (SEI), as well as the role of perceived social worth and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy (SESE).Design/methodology/approachThis study used multiple regression analysis on a sample of 331 MBA students aged between 24 and 48 years.FindingsThe findings indicate that sharing achievement is positively related with SEI, and perceived social worth mediates the relationship between them. Moreover, SESE not only has a moderating effect on the relationship between perceived social worth and SEI but also positively moderates the overall mediation model.Practical implicationsEntrepreneurship educators could focus on improving students' SESE through courses and training. Whereas, policymakers and decision makers should actively promote the sharing economy model and regulate its management. Moreover, existing organizers of the sharing economy should improve participants' sharing achievement.Originality/valueThis study determines the relationship between sharing achievement and SEI and enriches the push/pull theory from the perspective of pull factors in the context of the sharing economy. Moreover, by exploring the mediating effect of perceived social worth and the moderating effect of SESE, the study provides understanding on the influence mechanisms of sharing achievements on SEI.


2020 ◽  
pp. 004728752091951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung Ja Kim ◽  
James F. Petrick

Communications can be integral in persuading funders to invest in visitor economy crowdfunding. Despite the important role of diverse communications on consumer persuasion, research on the effectiveness of persuasive communications related to crowdfunding ventures has been limited. To bridge the gap, this study aims to verify an elaboration likelihood model to better understand the role of dual-route persuasive communications. Seven hypotheses related to argument quality, source credibility, benefit of crowdfunding, attachment to fundraiser and platform, and continued crowdfunding were examined, using herding behavior as a moderator. The findings revealed that argument quality had a substantial impact on benefit. Further, source credibility was found to have positive impacts on benefit and attachment; benefit had a significant effect on attachment and continued crowdfunding, and attachment had the strongest influence on continued crowdfunding. Additionally, herding behavior was found to moderate five of the six hypotheses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna R. McAlister ◽  
Danielle Bargh

Purpose The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) proposes two routes to persuasion – the central route (persuasion occurs via information) and the peripheral route (persuasion occurs via visual cues, attractive actors and other source characteristics). The central route is typically used for high-involvement decisions and the peripheral route is used in low involvement situations. The ELM has received extensive support when tested with adults; however, its ability to explain young children’s responses to persuasive communications has not been fully tested. Hence, the purpose of this research is to assess whether the standard tenets of the ELM apply to children’s processing of persuasive messages. Design/methodology/approach This study involved 84 preschool children, ages three to six. It used a 2 (involvement) × 2 (argument strength) × 2 (source attractiveness) design to test children’s responsiveness to advertisements for a novel breakfast cereal. Findings The findings suggest that children are naturally inclined to be persuaded by advertising messages, regardless of their level of involvement. It is the weak arguments and weak peripheral cues that dissuade children who are highly involved with a message. Originality/value This research makes an original contribution to the existing literature by testing the extent to which the ELM applies to children’s processing of persuasive advertisements. The finding that weak peripherals dissuade children from believing an ad’s message has strong implications for advertising practitioners.


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