First impressions count: exploring the importance of website categorisation
by Anjala S. Krishen
International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology (IJCAT), Vol. 47, No. 1, 2013

Abstract: Grounded in categorisation theory, this exploratory research provides insights regarding how consumers initially perceive websites - as images rather than 'clickable' interfaces. According to this view, at first glance, consumers categorise websites with respect to some set of attributes, much as they categorise products or retailscapes. Similarity judgements are gathered from survey data using the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) technique. Results show four salient attributes - uniqueness, educational value, personalisation, and trustworthiness. The main substantive contribution of this paper is the application of perceptual mapping to study and categorise static websites, and the finding that the non-dynamic attributes of uniqueness, educational value, personalisation, and trustworthiness are as important with i-branding as with retail branding. A methodological novelty is that rather than relying on consumer self-report regarding attributes of the websites, the present research utilises similarity scaling technique to capture website perceptions through indirect measures.

Online publication date: Mon, 02-Dec-2013

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology (IJCAT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com