Title: Social media influence on purchase intentions: instrument validation

Authors: Lauren Reiter; Roger McHaney; Kim Y. Hiller Connell

Addresses: Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design, Indiana University, 243 Memorial Hall East, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA ' Department of Management, Kansas State University, 214 Calvin Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA ' Department of Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design, Kansas State University, 321 Justin Hall, KS 66506, USA

Abstract: This article focuses on the psychometric stability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) by Davis (1989) when applied to users of social media interacting in ways which may eventually lead to the purchase of environmentally sustainable apparel. The study used an online survey method with a sample size of 178. This research provides evidence that the instrument is a valid and reliable measure when being used in a social media context. Given this evidence, those specifically impacted by this research, which include but are not limited to communication managers and those responsible for online communities and social media policies, can confidently apply the TAM instrument for use in this arena. The acceptance of users engaging in online peer interaction through specific social media technology websites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest has been validated and makes this study valid for future research considerations.

Keywords: social media; purchase intention; technology acceptance model; TAM; validation; scale; ease of use; usefulness; social networking sites; SNS; online communities; USA; United States; virtual communities; web based communities; psychometric stability; environmentally sustainable apparel; apparel industry; clothing industry; garment industry; Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2017.082719

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2017 Vol.13 No.1, pp.54 - 72

Received: 28 Mar 2016
Accepted: 08 Apr 2016
Published online: 09 Mar 2017 *

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