Factors Influencing Intention to Use Online Consumer Reviews

Abstract

Online consumer reviews have been shown to play an important role that can influence consumers' attitudes, behaviors, and purchasing decisions. This study seeks to understand factors that affect user intention to use online consumer reviews. To examine this area, this paper theorizes multiple constructs that may influence intention to use. The subjects in this study were 466 online Vietnamese consumers. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, and five of the seven hypotheses were found to be significant. This study found several results not found in prior studies. The construct perceived online review importance is found to be important in influencing intention to use online reviews. Both perceived usefulness and perceived credibility influenced consumers' perceptions on the importance of online reviews. The study findings contribute to the research field of online consumer reviews and provide new insights into intention to use online consumer reviews for a developing country, different from prior studies that have focused on developed countries.