eWOM in reward-based crowdfunding platforms: a behavioral approach

[EN] Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) plays a crucial role in influencing purchasing decisions of consumers in situations governed by asymmetric information. In this context, investors in reward-based crowdfunding platforms might modify their purchasing intentions according to recommendations of peer...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Comeig Ramírez, Irene, Sendra Pons, Pau
Format: book part
Publication Date:2020
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/148767
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/148767
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Web data
Internet data
Big data
Qca
Pls
Sem
Conference
eWOM
Internet
Experimental economics
Crowdfunding
Crowdsourcing
Description
Summary:[EN] Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) plays a crucial role in influencing purchasing decisions of consumers in situations governed by asymmetric information. In this context, investors in reward-based crowdfunding platforms might modify their purchasing intentions according to recommendations of peers and/or experts. The goal of this paper is to analyze the power of eWOM to shape consumers’ purchasing decisions. We do so by conducting an experiment through Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT). This online experimental tool allows for an instant access to a large and culturally diverse subject pool, facilitating behavioral research requiring large amounts of subjects. By recreating a reward-based crowdfunding webpage and tracking how consumers’ choices vary due to recommendations of other buyers and experts, this research confirms eWOM power in modifying purchasing decisions, as well as the prevalence of other buyers’ recommendations over those of experts. Additionally, it is tested AMT as a crowdsourcing platform that enables scholars to carry out online research related to economics and social sciences.