The Role of Power and Incentives in Inducing Fake Reviews in the Tourism Industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 975-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungwoo Choi ◽  
Anna S. Mattila ◽  
Hubert B. Van Hoof ◽  
Donna Quadri-Felitti
Keyword(s):  
Online Reviews ◽  
Monetary Incentive ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Fake Reviews ◽  
Sense Of Power ◽  
Moderating Role

As online reviews have become increasingly prevalent in recent years and their influence on consumers’ purchasing decisions has grown exponentially, some companies have begun to ask people to write fake reviews about their businesses or their competitors while offering compensation in return. This process has drawn the attention of regulators because it knowingly misleads consumers. This article reports on two studies that looked at the effect of two types of incentives (self-benefiting or charitable) on individuals’ intentions to write fake reviews and examined the moderating role of a person’s sense of power on his or her propensity to post a fake review. The study findings indicate that powerless individuals are more likely to post a fake review when presented with a monetary incentive rather than a charity incentive, while powerful individuals are not impacted by incentive type. Moreover, when asked to post negative fake reviews about competitors, such effects are mitigated.

scholarly journals Extremely Negative Ratings and Online Consumer Review Helpfulness: The Moderating Role of Product Quality Signals

2020 ◽  
pp. 004728752091678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Filieri ◽  
Claudio Vitari ◽  
Elisabetta Raguseo
Keyword(s):  
Product Quality ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Consumer Review ◽  
Quality Signals ◽  
Review Helpfulness ◽  
Online Consumer Review ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Contrasting findings about the role of extremely negative ratings (ENRR) are found in the literature, thus suggesting that not all ENRR are perceived as helpful by consumers. In order to shed light on the most helpful ENRR, we have drawn on negativity bias and signaling theory, and we have analyzed the moderating role of product quality signals in the relationship between ENRR and review helpfulness. The study is based on the analysis of 9,479 online reviews, posted on TripAdvisor.com, pertaining to 220 French hotels. The findings highlight that ENRR is judged as being more helpful when the hotel has been awarded a certificate of excellence, and when the average rating score and the hotel classification are higher. On the basis of these results, we recommend that managers of higher category hotels, with a certificate of excellence and with higher average score ratings, pay more attention to extremely negative judgments.

Shoppers' Intention to Provide Online Reviews

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sai Vijay Tata ◽  
Sanjeev Prashar ◽  
Chandan Parsad
Keyword(s):  
Online Reviews ◽  
Online Review ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Moderating Role

With an increase in e-commerce activity, online reviews have become a pertinent source of information for shoppers. Existing research is limited to examining select predictors of shoppers' intention to write reviews; however, there exists a gap in deciphering the role of review involvement in intention to write reviews. The present study pertains to the influence of the usefulness of site and product, and shoppers' satisfaction, and also on the intention to write reviews online. Besides this, the article also explores the moderating role of review involvement on the relationship between shopper satisfaction and their intention to post reviews. The study reveals a few interesting and counter-intuitive findings that add to literature and practice in understanding online review posting behaviour. Theoretical and managerial implications based on the findings are also presented.

Measuring the effect of Chinese brand name syllable processing on consumer purchases

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Chuan Pan ◽  
Chih-Ying Kuo ◽  
Ching-Ti Pan
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Brand Name ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Seller Reputation ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer reactions to product categories, online seller reputation, and brand name syllables. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses four experimental designs to explore the seller reputation, product category, and brand name syllable effects in internet shopping. The authors chose sellers of (low/high) repute from Yahoo Mall. ANOVA is used to evaluate the results. Findings – Seller reputation moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase intention and product category moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase on internet (experiment 1). Consumers take the longest time to make purchasing decisions when buying credence goods or buying from sellers of low repute and that the response time mediates the moderating role of the product category (experiment 2) or reputation (experiment 3). Moreover, the effect of brand name syllable levels chosen/assigned by sellers of low repute is weakened for consumers with low (vs high) skepticism toward non-store shopping (experiment 4). Practical implications – This study is helpful to online sellers if they can identify their reputation, product category and those consumers have skepticism, they can create extra profit through brand name syllable practice. Originality/value – This paper extends the literature on consumers’ brand name syllable processing by identifying important moderators and probing into the decision process. The results allow us to substantiate prior research and suggest prescriptive strategies for internet retailers.

The impact of online reviews on destination trust and travel intention: The moderating role of online review trustworthiness

2021 ◽  
pp. 135676672110632
Author(s):  
Lujun Su ◽  
Qingyue Yang ◽  
Scott R Swanson ◽  
Ning Chris Chen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Online Review ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Intensity Changes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

This study explores the impact of the valence (positive/negative) and emotional intensity (strong/weak) of online reviews on potential Chinese visitors’ travel intentions and trust of a destination. An experimental design was used to test the hypotheses. Findings suggest that online review valence and emotional intensity affect travel intentions and that destination trust can partially mediate this relationship. Changes in destination trust and travel intention due to positive/negative review emotional intensity changes are not equivalent. Furthermore, online review trustworthiness moderates the valence and destination trust and travel intention relationships, but not the effect of review emotional intensity on the same outcomes.

Power drives consumer voice behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Wan ◽  
Huaibin Li
Keyword(s):  
Role Playing ◽  
Voice Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Consumer Voice ◽  
Sense Of Power ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThe active voice behavior of customers is crucial to the development of enterprises, but few studies have examined how to promote customer voice behavior. Does a sense of power drive consumers to provide advice to the companies involved? This paper aims to address the issue.Design/methodology/approachBy conducting three experiments, the authors proved the effect of the sense of power on customer voice behavior. In Study 1, the authors manipulated subjects' sense of power levels (high vs low) through an episodic recall task. Tangible goods were used as experimental material. The authors verified that power had a positive impact on customer voice behavior. In Study 2, the authors changed the experimental materials to intangible service products and used role-playing tasks to manipulate the subjects' sense of power. Study 2 validated the mediating role played by self-confidence in the main effect. In Study 3, the authors validated the moderating role of self-doubt for the power effect.FindingsBased on the approach-inhibition theory of power and the situated focus theory of power, the current research finds that there is a positive effect of consumer's sense of power on their voice behavior. It also further analyzes the mediating role of self-confidence, the mechanism by which power affects customer voice behavior. However, this positive effect does not always occur. Self-doubt plays a moderating role in this relationship. If the individual's self-doubt level is high, the positive effect of power on the individual's self-confidence cannot be observed, which means that self-doubt is a boundary condition for the positive effect of power on individuals' self-confidence.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors discuss the influence of sense of power on customer voice behavior and test the mediating role of self-confidence and its boundary conditions. The results show that consumers are more confident in themselves when they feel a sense of power and are more likely to proactively make suggestions to the company. However, the overall effect is not obvious when consumers have a high level of self-doubt. As a psychological state of consumers that firms can easily manipulate, the effects of power on consumer behavior remain to be explored by the authors.Practical implicationsThe findings of current research suggest that empowering consumers who are less self-doubting can increase their self-confidence, which, in turn, can lead to more active expression and feedback on issues that need improvement in their experience. Thus, companies can enhance consumers' sense of power through some ways, such as using environmental elements to stimulate consumers' sense of power.Originality/valueThere are few studies on how the sense of power affects consumers' voice behavior. Prior work on voice behavior has focused on the perspective of customers' perception of the social exchange relationship between themselves and enterprises. The research explores the strategies suitable for enterprises to promote customer voice behavior from the perspective of the sense of power, and the findings contribute to the research on the sense of power and consumer voice behavior.

Antecedents of tourist loyalty to tourist destinations: a mediated-moderation study

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suhail Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
The State ◽  
Destination Image ◽  
Satisfaction Level ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourist Destinations ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of destination image on satisfaction level and tourist loyalty toward the various tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir. The study, also, attempted to investigate the mediating role of satisfaction and moderating role of gender, past experience and tourist origin in the proposed model.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out in the state of Jammu and Kashmir spread over three divisions, i.e., Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The study employs questionnaire survey method for data collection. Purposive sampling was adopted for data collection and data analysis was carried out through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques.FindingsThe study has found that cognitive image, affective image and unique image are the significant dimensions of destination image, which in turn has a positive effect on satisfaction level and tourist loyalty. It was also found that destination image has both direct and indirect effect on tourist loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThe state of Jammu and Kashmir has been badly affected by ongoing political instability, which has caused huge losses to the tourism industry. The results of the study will be helpful to policymakers in designing various strategies and programs for maximizing tourist inflow and growth of tourism industry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.Practical implicationsFurther, finding of the study will assist destination managers in understanding consumer behavior for promoting destination shopping activities. This will enhance tourist expenditure at destinations and thus provides direct benefits to the local economy.Originality/valueVery little research has been conducted on moderating role of gender, past experience and tourist origin in the destination image and its association with satisfaction and tourist loyalty in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Managing destination image and quality of tourist experience are critical to induce favorable expectations of destination in the tourist’s mind.

scholarly journals Power Decreases Loneliness through Enhanced Social Support: The Moderating Role of Social Exclusion

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-556
Author(s):  
Gong Sun ◽  
Wangshuai Wang ◽  
Jianyi Han ◽  
Zucheng Yu ◽  
Jie Li
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Apoyo Social ◽  
Sense Of Power ◽  
Moderating Role

En los últimos años, el poder y la soledad son dos temas importantes de investigación en psicología social. Sin embargo, están en ramas separadas de literatura a pesar de la relación potencial. Para llenar este vacío, esta investigación investiga sistemáticamente cómo, por qué y cuándo el sentido de poder afecta la soledad examinando el efecto principal, el papel mediador del apoyo social percibido y el papel moderador de la exclusión social. En el Estudio 1, 539 participantes en China participaron en un estudio de encuesta, que incluyó la Escala de Sentido de Poder, la Escala de Apoyo Social Percibido y la Escala de Soledad de UCLA. En el Estudio 2, probamos casualmente los efectos principales y moderadores en un experimento controlado utilizando una muestra de los Estados Unidos. Tomados en conjunto, los resultados muestran que: (1) El sentido de poder reduce la soledad. (2) El apoyo social percibido media esta relación, de modo que el poder fortalece el apoyo social percibido y, por lo tanto, disminuye la soledad. (3) La exclusión social modera esta relación, de modo que la función de amortiguamiento del poder es efectiva sólo cuando la exclusión social está ausente. In recent years, power and loneliness are two important research topics in social psychology. However, they are in separate streams of literature despite the potential relationship. To fill this gap, this research systematically investigates how, why, and when sense of power affects loneliness by examining the main effect, the mediating role of perceived social support, and the moderating role of social exclusion. In Study 1, 539 participants in China participated in a survey study, which included Sense of Power Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. In Study 2, we casually tested the main and moderating effects in a controlled experiment using a sample from the United States. Taken together, the results show that: (1) Sense of power reduces loneliness. (2) Perceived social support mediates this relationship, such that power enhances perceived social support and thereby decreases loneliness. (3) Social exclusion moderates this relationship, such that the buffering function of power is effective only when social exclusion is absent.

scholarly journals Fake or Genuine? Contextualised Text Representation for Fake Review Detection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Mohawesh ◽  
Shuxiang Xu ◽  
Matthew Springer ◽  
Muna Al-Hawawreh ◽  
Sumbal Maqsood
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Text Representation ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Benchmark Datasets ◽  
Hidden Patterns ◽  
Fake Reviews

Online reviews have a significant influence on customers' purchasing decisions for any products or services. However, fake reviews can mislead both consumers and companies. Several models have been developed to detect fake reviews using machine learning approaches. Many of these models have some limitations resulting in low accuracy in distinguishing between fake and genuine reviews. These models focused only on linguistic features to detect fake reviews and failed to capture the semantic meaning of the reviews. To deal with this, this paper proposes a new ensemble model that employs transformer architecture to discover the hidden patterns in a sequence of fake reviews and detect them precisely. The proposed approach combines three transformer models to improve the robustness of fake and genuine behaviour profiling and modelling to detect fake reviews. The experimental results using semi-real benchmark datasets showed the superiority of the proposed model over state-of-the-art models.

How is the hospitality and tourism industry in India responding to the dynamic digital era?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjana Singh ◽  
Sandeep Munjal
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism Industry

Purpose This paper aims to introduce the background with the theme issue question: How is the hospitality and tourism industry in India responding to the dynamic digital era? Design/methodology/approach The paper has discussed the importance of digital technologies and its scope in customer engagement and marketing of hospitality and tourism products; nevertheless, it also identifies the role of human touch and traditional marketing by suggesting the appropriate mix. This paper has examined the role of influencers and online reviews in impacting the purchase tech decisions related to travel and tourism. Findings This paper highlights the current digital trends in hospitality and tourism of India and highlights the contribution of authors toward the strategic question. Practical implications The theme issues draw extensively from industry leaders, digital agencies, restaurant owners and tech consumers to offer relevant and varied perspectives. Originality/value India is making significant progress in the adoption of digital technologies; yet, there is limited research in providing insights and barriers about hospitality and tourism services. This theme issue will identify the untapped potential and issues with respect to the Indian context.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document