Title: Privacy concerns in e-commerce: an empirical investigation of gender differences

Authors: Silvana Faja, Silvana Trimi

Addresses: Department of Computer Information Systems, University of Central Missouri, 301I Dockery, Warrensburg, MO 64093, USA. ' Management Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, CBA 276, P.O. Box 880491, Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA

Abstract: Privacy of personal information disclosed during e-commerce transactions continues to be an important issue for internet users. Previous research indicates the existence of gender differences in privacy concerns online. However, little has been done to explore these differences in the context of various dimensions of privacy and their influence on purchasing behaviour. This study focuses on gender differences from two perspectives. First, it explores gender differences along three specific dimensions of privacy. Second, it considers the moderating role of gender in the relationships between dimensions of privacy and purchasing behaviour. Results of this study show that female and male internet users do not differ in their concern about information privacy online. However, they differ in the way privacy concerns influence their purchasing behaviour online.

Keywords: e-commerce; information privacy; gender differences; online purchasing; purchasing behaviour; electronic business; e-business; electronic commerce; personal information; female users; male users; internet users; e-purchasing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2008.020676

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2008 Vol.6 No.4, pp.386 - 404

Published online: 09 Oct 2008 *

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