Factors Affecting Travel Decision Making: A Study of the Credibility of Online Travel-related Information in Vietnam
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract: This study investigates the factors influencing consumer perception of credibility of online travel-related information on online communities, especially online social networks and, in turn the degree to which the perception of online information credibility affects trust and travel decision-making. Online and offline surveys of Vietnamese consumers were conducted with a total of 328 individuals responding to questionnaires regarding the determinants of consumer perceptions, online trust and the use of online information for travel decisions. The findings show that online social network (Facebook) use is widespread in travel information exchanges and the degree of perception of online information credibility by the consumer has a positive effect on trust, as well as on the travel decision of the consumer.
Keywords: Online information credibility, travel decision, online communities, social network.References
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[41] Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K., “The Big Five Personality Dimensions and Job Performance: A Meta-analysis”, Personnel Psychology, 44 (1991), 1-26.
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[2] Vogt, C.A., & Fesenmaier, D.R., “Expanding the Functional Information Search Model”, Annals of Tourism Research, 25(3) (1998), 551-578.
[3] Pan, B., & Fesenmaier, D.R, “Online Information Search”, Annals of Tourism Research, 33(3) (2006), 809-832.
[4] Fesenmaier, D.R, & Jeng, J., “Assessing Structure in the Pleasure Trip Planning Process”, Tourism Analysis, 5 (2000), 13-27.
[5] Yoo, K-H., Lee, K. S. and U. Gretzel, “The role of Source Characteristics in e-WOM: What Makes Online Travel Reviews Credible and Likeable?”, In M. Sigala, L. Mich, J. Murphy, and A Frew (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2007, pp. 23-24. Vienna, Austria: Springer.
[6] Litvin, S.W., Goldsmith, RE., & Pan, B., “Electronic Word-of-mouth in Hospitality and Tourism Management”, Tourism Management, 29(3) (2008), 458-468.
[7] Pan, B., MacLaurin, T., and Crotts, J. C., “Travel Blogs and the Implications for Destination Marketing”, Journal of Travel Research, 46 (2007), 35-45.
[8] PhoCusWrightMarket Research, PhoCusWright’s Us Online Travel Overview, 8th Edition, 2008.
[9] Vina Research, Vina Research’s Vietnam Online Tourism Overview, 5th Vina Research, 2013.
[10] Smith, D., Menon, S., and Sivakumar, K., “Online Peer and Editorial Recommendations, Trust, and Choice in Virtual Markets”, Journal of Interactive Marketing, 19 (3) (2005), 15-37.
[11] Jin, Y.,Bloch, P.& Cameron, G. T., “A Comparative Study: Does the Word-of-mouth Communications and Opinion Leadership Model Fit Epinions on the Internet?”.
[12] Flanagin, A.J., & Metzger, MJ., “Perceptions of Internet Information Credibility”, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 77(3) (2000), 515-540.
[13] Johnson, T.J & Kaye, B.K., “Cruising Believes? Comparing Internet and Traditional Sources on Media Credibility Measures”, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 75(2) (2008), 325-341.
[14] Reih, S.Y., & Danielson, DR., “Credibility: A Multidisciplinary Framework. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology”, 41(1) (2007), 307-364.
[15] Johnson, T.J & Kaye, B.K., “Cruising Believes? Comparing Internet and Traditional Sources on Media Credibility Measures”, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 75(2) (2008), 325-341.
[16] Flanagin, AJ.,& Metzger, MJ., “The Perceived Credibility of the Personal Web Page Information as Influenced by the Sex of the Source”, Computer in Human Behavior, 19 (2003), 683-701.
[17] Moorman, C.. “Factors Affecting Trust in Market Research Relationships”, Journal of Marketing, 57(1) (1993), 81-101.
[18] Chen, P., Dhanasobhon, S., & Smith, M.D., “All Reviews are not Created Equal: The Disaggregate Impact of Reviews and Reviewers at Amazon.com, Heinz Research, Paper 55 (2008).
[19] Chevalier, J.,& Mayzlin, D., The Effect of Word of Mouth on Sales: Online Book Reviews, Journal of Marketing Research, 43 (August, 2006), 345-354.
[20] Berger, CR., & Calabrese, R.J., “Some Explorations in Initial Interaction and Beyond: Toward a Developmental Theory of Interpersonal Communication”, Human Communication Research, 1(2) (1975), 99-112.
[21] Neuliep, J.W., & Grohskopf, E.L, “Uncertainty Reduction and Communication Satisfaction during Initial Interaction: An Initial Test and Replication of a New Axiom”, Communication Reports, 13(2).(2000), 67-77.
[22] Berger, C.R., “Beyond Initial Interaction: Uncertainty, Understanding, and Development of Interpersonal Relationships”, In H. Giles & R. St. Clair (Eds.), Language and Social Psychology (pp. 122-144), Oxford, UK. Basil Blackwell, 1979.
[23] Gibbs, J.L., Ellison, N.B., NB., & Lai, “First Come Love, then Comes Google: An Investigation of Uncertainty Reduction Strategies and Self-disclosure in Online Dating”, Communication Research, 38(1) (2011), 70-100.
[24] Jarvenpaa, S.L., Tractinsky, N., & Saarinen, L., “Consumer Trust in an Internet Store: A Cross-cultural Validation”, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 5(2) (2006).
[25] Jonassen, D., Davidson, M., Campbell, J., & Haag, B.B., “Constructivism and Computer-Mediated Communication in Distance Education”, American Journal of Distance Education, 9(2) (1995), 7-26.
[26] Culnan, M., & Markus, M.L., “Information technologies” .In Jablin, F., et al (Eds.) “Handbook of Organizational Communication: An Interdisciplinary Perspective”, Newbury Park, California, Sage Publications, 420-443, 1987.
[27] Parks, M.R., & Floyd, K., “Making Friends in Cyberspace”, Journal of Communication, 46 (1996), 80-97.
[28] Austin, E.W.,& Dong, Q., Source versus Content Effects of Judgments of News Believability. Journalism Quarterly, 71 (4) (1994), pp. 973-983.
[29] Johnson, T.J., & Kaye, BK., “Choosing is Believing? How Web Gratifications and Reliance Affect Internet Credibility among Politically Interested Users”, Atlantic Journal of Communication, 18(1) (2010), 1-21.
[30] Greer, J.D., “Evaluating the credibility of online information: A test of source and advertising influence”, Mass Communication and Society, 6(1) (2003), 11-28.
[31] Madrigal, R., “Personal Values, Traveler Personality Type, and Leisure Travel Style”, Journal of Leisure Research, 27(2) (1995), 125-142.
[32] Nickerson, N. P., & Ellis, G. D., “Traveler Types and Activation Theory: A Comparison of Two Models”, Journal of Travel Research, 29 (3) (1991), 517-527.
[33] Roehl, W, S., & Fesenmaier, D. R., “Risk Perception and Pleasure Travel: An Exploratory Analysis”, Journal of Travel Research, 30(4) (1992), 17-26.
[34] Turten, T. L., & Bosnjak, M., “Understanding Differences in Web Usage: The Role of Need for Cognition and Five Factor Model of Personality”, Social Behavior and Personality, 29(4) (2001), 391-398.
[35] Ma, M., & Agarwal, R., “Through a Glass Darkly: Information Technology Design, Identity Verification, and Knowledge Contribution in Online Communities”, Information System Research, 18(1) (2007), 42-67.
[36] Sussman, S.W., & Seigal, W.S., “Information Influence in Organizations: An Integrated Approach to Knowledge Adoption”, Information System Research, 14 (1) (2003), 47-65.
[37] Schiffman, L., & Kanuk, L., Consumer Behavior, 10th ed., New York. Prentice Hall, 2010.
[38] McCroskey, J.C.,& Richmond, V.P, “Applying Reciprocity and Accommodation Theories to Supervisor/Subordinate Communication”, Journal of Applied Communication Research, 28 (2000), 278-289.
[39] Dodds, W.B., Monroe, K.B., & Grewal, D., “Effect of Price, Brand, and Store Information on Buyers’ Product Evaluations”, Journal of Marketing Research, 61 (1991), 35-51.
[40] Bart, Y., Shankar, V., Sultan, F., & Urban, G.L, “Are the Drivers and Role of Online Trust the Same for All Web Sites and Consumers? A Large Scale Exploratory Empirical Study”, Journal of Marketing, 69(4) (2005), 133-152.
[41] Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K., “The Big Five Personality Dimensions and Job Performance: A Meta-analysis”, Personnel Psychology, 44 (1991), 1-26.
[42] Gilly, M.C., J.L., Wolfinbarger, M.F., & Yale, L.J., “A Dynamic Study of Interpersonal Information Search”, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 26(2) (1998), 83-100.
[43] Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W.C., “Multivariate Data Analysis”, London: Prentice Hall, 1998.
[44] Anderson, James C., and David W. Gerbing, “Structural Equation Modeling in Practice: A Review and Recommended Two-step Approach”, Psychological Bulletin, 103 (May, 1988), pp. 411–423.
[45] Nunnally, J.C, “Psychometric Theory” (2nd edition), New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967.
[46] Fornell, C.,& Larcker, D., “Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error”, Journal of Marketing Research, 18 (1981), 39-50.
[47] Riedl, C., Kobler, F.,& Krcmar, H., “Tweeting to Feel Connected: A Model for Social Connectedness in Online Social Networks”, Human-Computer Interaction, 29(10) (2013), 670-687.
[48] Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W.C., “Multivariate Data Analysis”, London: Prentice Hall, 1998.
[49] Hayduck, L., “Structural Equation Modeling with LISREL”. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987.
[50] Scott, J., “The Measurement of Information Systems Effectiveness: Evaluating a Measuring Instrument”, Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Information Systems, (1994), 111-128.