Mohammed Shamsul Chowdhury, Nadiah Ahmad: M31 Online Shopping Participation Trust Integrity Ability Benevolence
Mohammed Shamsul Chowdhury, Nadiah Ahmad: M31 Online Shopping Participation Trust Integrity Ability Benevolence
Mohammed Shamsul Chowdhury, Nadiah Ahmad: M31 Online Shopping Participation Trust Integrity Ability Benevolence
ISSN 18045839
ISSN 18045839
MOHAMMED SHAMSUL CHOWDHURY, NADIAH AHMAD
University Utara Malaysia, Kedah, Malaysia
Since the inception of the World Wide Web (www) and users
response to this technology, businesses ranging from small This study examines the antecedents of trust in influencing
to large corporations, including financial institutions have students intent to participate in ecommerce. Theory of
opened up opportunities for consumers to purchase their Reasoned Action (Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) and Theory of
products online. Online shopping has, however, remained Planned Behaviour (TPB) are among other theories that
debatable among the students and the educated public. explain online shopping behaviour. Following the theory of
Some people argue that online shopping on the internet is planned behaviour we can define intention as participation
not safe, not practical and would lead to fraud, but also quite to engage in an electronic transaction relationship with
a lot of people think online shopping is now safer, more a web retailer. Participation is the involvement of a person
flexible in time and can be done anywhere and anytime. in a particular activity in the context of ecommerce. The
Robinson (2000) reported that half of the people that have involvement is measured by the number of consumer
tried online banking services will not become active users. participation in the transactions (Kim et al., 2003).
Highly publicized cases involving major security failures Participation is determined by the confidence of partners,
might have contributed to the publics concern and lack of media, or others engaged in an activity. Participation in
confidence and acceptance of Internet banking. However, ecommerce will grow well if the sellers are able to maintain
any business relationship including ecommerce the trust since consumption intention (participation in
relationships depends on trust. Lack of trust has remained ecommerce) depends on trust. In other words, trust
one of the causes for consumers not purchasing online (Lee influences online shopping behaviour (Kimery and McCord,
and Turban, 2001). People are still not inclined to do online 2002, Pavlou, 2002,).
shopping because of the lack of trust towards this online Trust is typically viewed as a vital condition to successful
environment. Trust plays a predominant role for facilitating commercial exchange, aimed at identifying the components
and enhancing etransactions between consumers and of trust that affect potential buyers decision to buy the
evendors. products from the vendors online. The trust is critical in
Because of rapid growth of internet users in Malaysia since research in online shopping (Hoffman et al 1999). Corbit et
2000 (see table1) and Malaysians government efforts to al (2003) identified three key variables that affect perception
promote itself heavily as an information technology hub in of trust and risks of consumers engaged in online business.
the Asia region since 1990, ebusiness in this country has These are: (a) ecommerce reputation, (b) the consumer,
become more and more attractive than before, giving online and (c) the specific website. Tung et al. (2001) in their study
shopping more bright and promising look ((Louis and Leon, of trust and participation used variables that included
1999 cited in Narges et al, 2009) and students in this country involvement in a virtual community, trust the between
enjoy purchasing books/journals/magazines through the members, trusts for vendors, perceived benefits in the virtual
internet (Suki et al. 2006). Despite there is not enough community, perceived risks in ecommerce and participation
evidence of its acceptance amongst customers, especially in ecommerce. Ridings et al. (2002) found that the trust had
the students. Though a number of studies explored the a significant influence on the desires of members of virtual
factors that affected the consumers intention to trust, little communities to share with and obtain information from each
is known about students intent to trust for online vendors. other. Trust is the most important aspect of virtual
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FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER PARTICIPATION IN ONLINE SHOPPING IN MALAYSIA: THE CASE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
communities. Trust among the members of virtual the vendors. Service quality increases consumers
communities will be even greater if they know each other satisfaction and retention (Gefen, 2002). Mayer et al (1995)
individually. defines benevolence as the perceived intention of online
Kim et al (2003) identified ability, benevolence, and integrity sellers to serve the consumers to their best interest beyond
as three principal components of trust. The results of their its profit motive. If the consumers perceive that the seller
study indicate the experience and recommendation from does not have sincerity in doing any good to them, trust is
virtual community were influential in reducing the feeling of not likely to develop. Needless to mention that benevolence
risk in online purchase. This study was in consonance with breeds trust and altruism in a buyersellers transaction that
Mayer et al (1995), suggesting that ability, benevolence, and reduces uncertainty.
integrity are the principal factors affecting trust. The research Integrity
suggests that trust affect ecommerce participation by Integrity means some ones good faith agreement, speaking
consumers. Several research (for example Batty and lee, the truth, acting ethically and fulfilling promises (Bromiley,
1995; Liu et al, 2001) found shopping experience as 1995). Integrity, therefore, refers to vendors attitude and
a mixture of lifestyle compatibility, fun, and playfulness). habit in running their business. Integrity consists of the
Based on the above discussion we have developed our characteristics of sellers such as honesty, fulfilment,
conceptual framework (see figure 1) for this study that fairness, loyalty, dependability (Kim et al, 2003). This reflects
depicts that ability, benevolence, integrity, and trust would the belief that an Internet vendor will fulfil its promises and
encourage students participation in ecommerce. ethical obligations such as delivering goods and services
and keeping information secured. McKnight (2001)
Therefore, our study is guided by the following research contended that integrity is more about the character of the
questions: trustee rather than about trustortrustee relationship.
Ÿ To what extent ability, benevolence and integrity The foregoing literature review reveals that when consumers
influence students participation in ecommerce in feel that the seller has been maintaining trust that is given,
Malaysia? the consumers will be happy to continue to increase their
Ÿ To what extent does the trust influence participation of participation. Even in certain situations, consumers will invite
ecommerce in Malaysia? or notify colleagues to participate in these activities. Studies
Figure 1: Conceptual framework (for example, Ridings et al., 2002; Kim et al., 2003; Gefen
and Straub, 2004) show that ability, benevolence, and
integrity are all principal components of trust and people
participate in ecommerce mainly because each transaction
involves trust that the vendor has to guarantee to the
consumers. Once the trust is grown in their minds, they
become a savvy expert and eager to participate in online
shopping rather than the brick and mortar marketplaces,
thereby increasing the growth of internet business.
Source: Author
Based on foregoing discussion and our research framework
Following the Theory of Planned Behaviour our research we propose the following hypotheses:
model is adhered to trust factor affecting online shopping H1: There is a significant relationship between trust and
intention. The model posits that intention to perform an act students participation in online shopping
is a function of trust, ability, benevolence and integrity of the
H1a: There is a significant impact of ability on online
e vendors. Hope is that a better understanding of these key
shopping participation
variables will advance our current understanding of students
trust in ecommerce. From managerial point of view, the H1b: There is a significant impact of benevolence on online
study is a useful tool to help managers design internet shopping participation
marketing strategies that will initiate and develop confidence H1c: There is a significant impact of integrity on online
in students to participate in ecommerce. Related studies shopping intention participation
for each of the components of trust are described below:
Ability
We define ability as the competencies and characteristics Since university students have been found to be frequent
of vendor that allows a seller to have influence within specific users of technology and likely to buy products online, they
area. Consumers perceptions of sellers ability is guided by are chosen as the target sample. In addition, todays
two related beliefs: (a) the sellers competencies to perform university students represent a significant part of the online
an act, and (b) sellers knowledge needed to perform that buying consumers and a longterm potential market (Bruin
act (Bhattacherjee, 2002). Ability has been measured as a and Lawrence, 2000). The research was conducted on
factor of trust in online shopping, as evidenced from internet users who are students from University Utara
numerous researches (e.g., Gifen and Straub, 2004; Malaysia. Research timing scope is made within five
McKnight et al 2002). If the vendor is not capable of months, from July 2011 to November 2011.
delivering up to customer expectations, then customers lose We used nonprobability procedure to select respondents
trust in vendor (Gifen and Straub, 2004). Therefore, the trust since we do not know how many students have access to
directly depends on the characteristics of the seller and the internet and are engaged in online shopping. This is in
significantly reduces the perceived risks in online shopping consonance with several studies (Sekaran, 1992, Cooper
( Doonlin et al 2005). and Schindler, 2003). Questionnaire was distributed to 260
Benevolence students who have access to Internet and were voluntarily
Benevolence is consumers beliefs about the sincerity of the recruited. Responses were obtained from 140 students
vendor. The customers always look for quality service from (response rate 54%).
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FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER PARTICIPATION IN ONLINE SHOPPING IN MALAYSIA: THE CASE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
If the value of Cronbach's Alpha is smaller than 0.60, it is
The main instrument in this study is the questionnaire to considered poor; if it is in the range of 0.60 to 0.80, it is
capture the information relating to research objectives. The considered acceptable, and if it is above 0.80, it is
measurement of variables is performed by using 5point considered good (Sekeran, 1992).
Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree = 1 to strongly
disagree = 5. Respondents were also asked to answer
The major focus of the study was to describe the relation
general questions that will be used as the basis for knowing
between independent variables and dependent variable
whether the respondents are included in the criteria.
(entrepreneurial intention). In order to describe the relation
The construction of the items of dependent variable between independent variables, the Pearsons correlation
(participation) and independent variables (trust, ability, as a measure was chosen. Pearson r is the most widely
benevolence, and integrity) is based on Corbeit et al (2003), used Bivariate correlation technique (Gall et al, 1996). The
Kim et al (2003), Tung et al (2001) and Gefen and Straub hypotheses were tested using regression analysis. Finally
(2004), as is evidenced from the operational definition of to test the model and to look at the effects of independent
research variable ( see table 2). variables on students intention to participate in
ecommerce, controlling for background variables, the
Table 2: Operational definition of research variables regression analysis was used.
Variable Indicator Code Source
Regression Model: α +β1χ1 +β2χ2 +β3x3+β4χ4 +€
Ability Competency X1 Ridings et al., 2002;
Kim et al., 2003; Gefen Y = dependent variable (participation)
and Straub, 2004 α= constant
Experience X2 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen
and Straub, 2004 β1 = beta coefficient for trust
E x t e n s i v e X3 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen χ1 = trust
Knowledge and Straub, 2004 β2= beta coefficient for ability
I n s t i t u t i o n a l X4 Ridings et al., 2002;
Endorsement Kim et al., 2003; Gefen χ2 = ability variable
and Straub, 2004 β3 = beta coefficient for benevolence variable
Benevolence Concerned X5 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen
χ3 = benevolence variable
and Straub, 2004
Willingness to X6 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen β4 = beta coefficient for integrity variable
Share and Straub, 2004 χ4 = integrity variable
Dependable X7 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen
and Straub, 2004
Integrity Fulfilling X8 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen The data analysis is divided into two parts. The first part
and Straub, 2004 consists of decretive statistics used to study the
Honesty X9 Kim et al., 2003 demographic characteristic. Table 1 shows the analysis of
Good Will X10 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen demographic factors with frequency and percentage.
and Straub, 2004
Table 4: The analysis of demographic factors
Trust Handling in X11 Kim et al., 2003
Demographic Freq Percentage
Comfort
Gender Male 89 64
Satisfaction X12 Kim et al., 2003
Female 51 36
Responsibility X13 Kim et al., 2003; Gefen
and Straub, 2004 Age Less than 18 years 0
Participation Sustainability Y1 Corbit et al., 2003 1929 95 68
Frequency Y2 Tung et al., 2001; 3040 40 29
Corbit et al., 2003 41 and up 5 3
Recommenda Y3 Tung et al., 2001 Education Diploma students 15 11
tion
Undergraduate students 55 39
Source: Author
Master students 42 30
Doctoral students 28 20
Home 58 41
Next we carried out the validity and reliability test. Based on
the results (see table 3) no construct value for reliability was A c c e s s i n g Office/campus 46 33
Internet (source) Internet cafe 32 23
below 0.60 except for Integrity construct. However, the
Integrity construct value is nearly 0.60, then all constructs Others 4 3
in this study are feasible for use in the model and is Average use of 15 hours 73 52
supported by previous study (e.g., Sekeran, 1992). Internet a week 610 hours 59 42
Table 3: Construct reliability value 1115 hours 8 6
Construct Construct Reliability Specification 1620 hours 0 0
Ability 0,66 Acceptable 20 hours and up 0 0
Benevolence 0,645 Acceptable Facilities used Website 26 19
Integrity 0,598 Acceptable Email 43 31
Trust 0,698 Acceptable Chatting 41 29
Participation 0,702 Acceptable Shopping online 30 21
Source: Author Source: Author
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FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER PARTICIPATION IN ONLINE SHOPPING IN MALAYSIA: THE CASE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Table 5 : Correlations among Independent Variables and Consumer Participation
Participation Ability Benevolence Integrity Trust Mean SD
Participation 1 0.371** 0.424** 0.470** 0.616** 10,82 2,08
Ability 0.371** 1 0.362** 0.342** 0.412** 14,35 2,15
Benevolence 0.424** 0.362** 1 0.520** 0.585** 10,94 1,89
Integrity 0.470** 0.342** 0.520** 1 0.537** 10,67 1,97
Trust 0.616** 0.412** 0.585** .0537** 1 10,83 2
Source: Author ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2tailed).
The demographic factors reveal that 68% of the respondents Trust will continue to play an important role in ecommerce
are in the age group of 1929, 41% access the internet from participation since it does influence behavioural intentions.
home and 33% from office/campus. 94% of the respondents But the students views about the ability and benevolence
are found to be using Internet for 1 to 10 hours a week. Only of the Internet vendor might not have an important influence
21% the respondents reported that they do online shopping, on their intention to participate in ecommerce.
indicating the fact that these students are still lacking Implications, limitations, and future research of the study
confidence in online shopping.
The study provides a useful insight on the significant role of
trust in students online shopping. There is no denial to the
The use of statistical correlation is to evaluate the strength fact that there has been a tremendous increase in online
of the relations between independent variables (ability, shopping. This implies that trust is a key factor that indicates
benevolence, integrity and trust) with the dependent variable the effect of the Internet vendor trust on students online
(consumer participation). The result shown in the table 5 shopping behaviour. The limitation of this study is that it only
shows that trust (r = 0.62) has the highest correlation, ability uses four variables (ability, benevolence, integrity, and trust)
has the lowest correlation (0.37) with the students in explaining the consumer participation, but did not take
participation compared to the trust variable. other important variables into account (e.g., cost switching
The regression analysis results from the table 6 below vendors and the presence of third party seal) which are
shows that integrity and trust factors indicate the existence considered to be necessary in escalating projecting
of significance influence towards consumer participation consumer participation. Future studies could be undertaken
(p < 0.05) while the ability and benevolence factors are not in this regard.
significant (p > 0.05). The result shows that trust is the major
influence factor in the consumer participation as proved by
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