earticle

영어

As merging online and offline channels into one single platform, individuals could easily and frequently switch between online and offline channels. In order for understanding such unique behaviors, this study attempts to explore why and how consumers choose their channels to search and purchase a product. We have drawn on multiple theories that have been used to explain individuals’ judgment and decision making (i.e., construal level theory and regula-tory focus theory) in order to develop and tested two-way ANOVA based models of how both regulatory focus (e.g., promotion vs. prevention) and product types (e.g., experience goods vs. searching goods) including the psychological distance cue separately and jointly affect individuals’ channel selection behavior (e.g., intention to use single channel vs. intention to use cross-channels). Our results have indicated that consumers with promotion-focus are more likely to use a single channel in experience goods rather than in searching goods when there exists the psychological cue. Based on our findings, the implication for both research and practice are discussed.