Effects of recommendation systems on consumer inferences of website motives and attitudes towards a website

초록

Drawing on the theoretical framework of consumer inferences of marketer motives, we explore consumer responses to different types of product recommendation provided by an e-commerce website (i.e. recommendation systems, RS). The findings demonstrate that RS for alternative brands only are most likely to lead to the consumer inference of a consumer-serving motive, followed by RS for both alternative brands and additional products, and RS for additional products only. In turn, the consumer inference of a consumer-serving motive has a positive influence on attitude towards the website. However, the consumer inference of a firm-serving motive does not mediate the effect of RS type on attitude towards the website. Further, the effect of RS type on attitude towards the website occurs only for consumers low in interpersonal trust. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

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