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Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) and Its Influence on Book Purchasing Decisions: A Study of the Anobii Digital Bookshelf

Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) and Its Influence on Book Purchasing Decisions: A Study of the Anobii Digital Bookshelf

Angela Lin, Jonathan Foster
Copyright: © 2013 |Pages: 17
ISBN13: 9781466640825|ISBN10: 1466640820|EISBN13: 9781466640832
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4082-5.ch009
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MLA

Lin, Angela, and Jonathan Foster. "Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) and Its Influence on Book Purchasing Decisions: A Study of the Anobii Digital Bookshelf." Consumer Information Systems and Relationship Management: Design, Implementation, and Use, edited by Angela Lin, et al., IGI Global, 2013, pp. 156-172. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4082-5.ch009

APA

Lin, A. & Foster, J. (2013). Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) and Its Influence on Book Purchasing Decisions: A Study of the Anobii Digital Bookshelf. In A. Lin, J. Foster, & P. Scifleet (Eds.), Consumer Information Systems and Relationship Management: Design, Implementation, and Use (pp. 156-172). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4082-5.ch009

Chicago

Lin, Angela, and Jonathan Foster. "Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) and Its Influence on Book Purchasing Decisions: A Study of the Anobii Digital Bookshelf." In Consumer Information Systems and Relationship Management: Design, Implementation, and Use, edited by Angela Lin, Jonathan Foster, and Paul Scifleet, 156-172. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4082-5.ch009

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Abstract

Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is playing an increasingly influential role in informing consumers’ purchasing decisions. Previously confined to seeking information from a small group of family and friends, consumers are now able via the Internet and social media, to draw on the contributions of a much larger group of other consumers. This chapter presents findings from a content analysis of a selection of book readers’ contributions to the Anobii Digital Bookshelf review site. The research questions guiding this analysis are: do online book reviews influence consumers’ book purchasing decisions? What conditions affect the influence of online book reviews? What are the consequences of online book reviews for consumers’ book purchasing decisions? The evidence from this study suggests that online book reviews play an influential role in the majority of Anobii members’ purchasing decisions; and that the opinions of other readers are sought primarily because of their perceived independence. Findings in relation to the informational and social attributes of book reviews, along with their framing are also presented. The chapter concludes with discussing the implications of the study for the implementation and use of eWOM, including the need to differentiate between different consumer types, being cognizant of the issue of source credibility, and the informational and social attributes that contribute to this, and of possible social and technological biases.

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