The effects of website design on purchase intention in online shopping: the mediating role of trust and the moderating role of culture

Abstract

Lack of trust in online transactions has been cited as the main reason for the abhorrence of online shopping. We have tested the mediating role of trust in online transactions to provide empirical evidence that trust in the online store represents the generic mechanism through which the focal independent variables of website design are able to positively influence purchase intention and reduce the perceived risk. We have further demonstrated the moderating effect of the individual's culture in e-commerce and thereby offered insights into the relative importance of website design factors contributing to trust for customers of different cultural values.