Effect of Consumer Demographic Factors on Purchasing Herbal Products Online in Malaysia
The availability of broadband internet and increased
access to computers has been instrumental in the rise of internet
literacy in Malaysia. This development has led to the adoption of
online shopping by many Malaysians. On another note, the
Government has supported the development and production of local
herbal products. This has resulted in an increase in the production and
diversity of products by SMEs. The purpose of this study is to
evaluate the influence of the Malaysian demographic factors and
selected attitudinal characteristics in relation to the online purchasing
of herbal products. In total, 1054 internet users were interviewed
online and Chi-square analysis was used to determine the relationship
between demographic variables and different aspects of online
shopping for herbal products. The overall results show that the
demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, income
and ethnicity were significant when considering the online shopping
antecedents of trust, quality of herbal products, perceived risks and
perceived benefits.
<p>[1] A. K. Azizol, and M.A. Rasadah, “Medicinal plants in Malaysia: their
potential and utilization. In M.N.B. Nair, Mohd Hamami Sahri & Zaidon
Ashaari, ed. Sustainable management of non-wood forest products,”
Proceedings of an International Workshop held at Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Serdang,October 1997,Serdang Universiti Putra Malaysia
Press. , pp.14-17, 1998.
[2] A. Bhatnagar, and S, Ghosh, “A latent class segmentation analysis of EShoppers,”
Journal of Business Research, vol. 57, no. 7, pp. 758-767,
2004.
[3] CRN. “Dietary Supplements: Safe, Regulated and Beneficial,”
Nutritional Business Journal, 2001.
[4] B. N. Farah, and M. A. Higby. “E-commerce and privacy: Conflict and
opportunity,” Journal of Education for Business, pp. 303 –307, 2001.
[5] E. Garbarino, and M. Strabilevitz. “Gender Differences in the Perceived
Risk of Buying Online and the Effects of Receiving a Site
Recommendation,” Journal of Business Research, Vol. 57, pp. 768- 75,
2004.
[6] P. Gardiner, R. Graham, A. T. Legedza, A. C. Ahn, D. M. Eisenberg,
and R. S. Phillips. “Factors associated with herbal therapy use by adults
in the United States.” Altern Ther Health Med. 13, pp. 22–29, 2007.
[7] P. Gardiner, R.E. Graham, A.Y. Legedza, D.M. Eisenberg, and R.S.
Phillips. “Factors associated with dietary supplement use among
prescription medication users.” Arch Intern Med. 166, 1968–1974, 2006.
[8] S. Grabner-Krauter, and E. A. Kaluscha. “Empirical research in on-line
trust: a review and critical assessment,” International Journal of
Human-Computer Studies, Vol. 58, pp. 783-812, 2003.
[9] M. Limayem, M. Khalifa, and A. Frini. “What Makes Consumers Buy
From Internet? A Longitudinal Study of Online Shopping,” IEEE
Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics-Part A: Systems and
Humans, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 421-432, 2000.
[10] D. H. McKnight, and N. L. Chervany. “What Trust Means in
Ecommerce Customer Relationships: An Interdisciplinary Conceptual
Typology,” International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 6, No.
2, pp. 35-59, 2001.
[11] D. H. McKnight, C. Vivek, and K. Charles. “The impact of initial
consumer trust on intentions to transact with a web site: A trust building
model.” Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Vol 11, pp. 297-323,
2002.
[12] MITI. “Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) 2006 – 2020,” pp 489 –
517. Available at:
http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.
Document_879bae59-c0a81573-1bef1bef-926c5327/chapter14_25.pdf
(Retrieved at March 2012)
[13] MITI. “Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) 2006 – 2020,” pp 405 - 420.
Available at:
http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.
Document_879bae59-c0a81573-1bef1bef-926c5327/chapter14_25.pdf
(Retrieved at March 2012)
[14] M. N. Mohd Satefarzi, and P. Mansor. “Status Penggunaan Herba oleh
Pengilang Tempatan dan Potensi Penanaman di Malaysia.” Proceedings
of the Seminar on Medicinal &Aromatic Plants, pp.112–119, 2001.
[15] J. Park, D. Lee, and J. Ahn. “Risk-Focused E-Commerce Adoption
Model: a Cross-Country Study,” Journal of Global Information
Management, Vol. 7, pp. 6-30, 2004.
[16] P. Pavlou. “Consumer acceptance of electronic commerce: integrating
trust and risk with the technology acceptance model,” International
Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol 7, No 3, pp. 01- 134, 2003.
[17] G. Pires, J. Stanton, and A. Eckford. “Influences on the Perceived Risk
of Purchasing Online.” Journal of Consumer Behavior, Vol. 4, No. 2,
pp.118-131, 2004.
[18] Roberts, W. “Prepared Foods August 2009.” Available at:
http://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/article-benefiting-beveragesaugust-
2009 (Retrieved at September 2011)
[19] S. Rodgers, and M, Harris. “Gender and e-commerce: An exploratory
study,” Journal of Advertising Research , pp. 322-329, September 2003.
[20] J. C. Sipior, B. T. Bard, and N. M. Rongione. “Ethics of collecting and
using consumer internet data,” Information System Management, Vol 21,
No1, pp. 58–66, 2004.
[21] Z. M. Siti, A. Tahir, A.I. Farah and et al. “Use of traditional and
complementary medicine in Malaysia: a baseline study,” Cancer
Research , pp. 292-299, 2009.
[22] C. V. Slyke, C. L. Comunale, and F. Belanger. “Gender Differences in
Perceptions of Web-Based Shopping,” Communications of the ACM,
Vol. 45, No. 7, 82-86, 2002.
[23] G. K. Sonja, and A. K. Ewald. “Empirical research in on-line trust: a
review and critical assessment,” International Journal of Human-
Computer Studies, Vol 586, pp. 783 – 812, 2003.
[24] A. Tahir, S. Sondi, A.H. Azman, A.H. Maimunah, M.A. Haniza, H. Siti,
and et al. “The utilization of traditional and complementary medicine in
the Malaysian population: a community based survey.” in press, 2009.
[25] WHO. “Legal status of traditional medicine and complementary.”
Alternative medicine a worldwide review, 2002.
[26] R. Yatim. “The Malaysian Insider”, (14 December, 2010). Available at:
http://www.theMalaysianinsider.com/Malaysia/article/rais-broadbandpenetration-
has- exceeded-55pc/ (Retrieved at April 2012)
[27] L. Zhou, L. Dai, and D. Zhang. “Online shopping acceptance model – a
critical survey of consumer factors in online shopping,” Journal of
Electronic Commerce Research, Vol 8, No 1, pp. 41-62, 2007. [28] IDC. (2010). Instructor Development Course IDC in Malaysia Annually
Report. </p>
<p>[1] A. K. Azizol, and M.A. Rasadah, “Medicinal plants in Malaysia: their
potential and utilization. In M.N.B. Nair, Mohd Hamami Sahri & Zaidon
Ashaari, ed. Sustainable management of non-wood forest products,”
Proceedings of an International Workshop held at Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Serdang,October 1997,Serdang Universiti Putra Malaysia
Press. , pp.14-17, 1998.
[2] A. Bhatnagar, and S, Ghosh, “A latent class segmentation analysis of EShoppers,”
Journal of Business Research, vol. 57, no. 7, pp. 758-767,
2004.
[3] CRN. “Dietary Supplements: Safe, Regulated and Beneficial,”
Nutritional Business Journal, 2001.
[4] B. N. Farah, and M. A. Higby. “E-commerce and privacy: Conflict and
opportunity,” Journal of Education for Business, pp. 303 –307, 2001.
[5] E. Garbarino, and M. Strabilevitz. “Gender Differences in the Perceived
Risk of Buying Online and the Effects of Receiving a Site
Recommendation,” Journal of Business Research, Vol. 57, pp. 768- 75,
2004.
[6] P. Gardiner, R. Graham, A. T. Legedza, A. C. Ahn, D. M. Eisenberg,
and R. S. Phillips. “Factors associated with herbal therapy use by adults
in the United States.” Altern Ther Health Med. 13, pp. 22–29, 2007.
[7] P. Gardiner, R.E. Graham, A.Y. Legedza, D.M. Eisenberg, and R.S.
Phillips. “Factors associated with dietary supplement use among
prescription medication users.” Arch Intern Med. 166, 1968–1974, 2006.
[8] S. Grabner-Krauter, and E. A. Kaluscha. “Empirical research in on-line
trust: a review and critical assessment,” International Journal of
Human-Computer Studies, Vol. 58, pp. 783-812, 2003.
[9] M. Limayem, M. Khalifa, and A. Frini. “What Makes Consumers Buy
From Internet? A Longitudinal Study of Online Shopping,” IEEE
Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics-Part A: Systems and
Humans, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 421-432, 2000.
[10] D. H. McKnight, and N. L. Chervany. “What Trust Means in
Ecommerce Customer Relationships: An Interdisciplinary Conceptual
Typology,” International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 6, No.
2, pp. 35-59, 2001.
[11] D. H. McKnight, C. Vivek, and K. Charles. “The impact of initial
consumer trust on intentions to transact with a web site: A trust building
model.” Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Vol 11, pp. 297-323,
2002.
[12] MITI. “Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) 2006 – 2020,” pp 489 –
517. Available at:
http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.
Document_879bae59-c0a81573-1bef1bef-926c5327/chapter14_25.pdf
(Retrieved at March 2012)
[13] MITI. “Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) 2006 – 2020,” pp 405 - 420.
Available at:
http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.
Document_879bae59-c0a81573-1bef1bef-926c5327/chapter14_25.pdf
(Retrieved at March 2012)
[14] M. N. Mohd Satefarzi, and P. Mansor. “Status Penggunaan Herba oleh
Pengilang Tempatan dan Potensi Penanaman di Malaysia.” Proceedings
of the Seminar on Medicinal &Aromatic Plants, pp.112–119, 2001.
[15] J. Park, D. Lee, and J. Ahn. “Risk-Focused E-Commerce Adoption
Model: a Cross-Country Study,” Journal of Global Information
Management, Vol. 7, pp. 6-30, 2004.
[16] P. Pavlou. “Consumer acceptance of electronic commerce: integrating
trust and risk with the technology acceptance model,” International
Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol 7, No 3, pp. 01- 134, 2003.
[17] G. Pires, J. Stanton, and A. Eckford. “Influences on the Perceived Risk
of Purchasing Online.” Journal of Consumer Behavior, Vol. 4, No. 2,
pp.118-131, 2004.
[18] Roberts, W. “Prepared Foods August 2009.” Available at:
http://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/article-benefiting-beveragesaugust-
2009 (Retrieved at September 2011)
[19] S. Rodgers, and M, Harris. “Gender and e-commerce: An exploratory
study,” Journal of Advertising Research , pp. 322-329, September 2003.
[20] J. C. Sipior, B. T. Bard, and N. M. Rongione. “Ethics of collecting and
using consumer internet data,” Information System Management, Vol 21,
No1, pp. 58–66, 2004.
[21] Z. M. Siti, A. Tahir, A.I. Farah and et al. “Use of traditional and
complementary medicine in Malaysia: a baseline study,” Cancer
Research , pp. 292-299, 2009.
[22] C. V. Slyke, C. L. Comunale, and F. Belanger. “Gender Differences in
Perceptions of Web-Based Shopping,” Communications of the ACM,
Vol. 45, No. 7, 82-86, 2002.
[23] G. K. Sonja, and A. K. Ewald. “Empirical research in on-line trust: a
review and critical assessment,” International Journal of Human-
Computer Studies, Vol 586, pp. 783 – 812, 2003.
[24] A. Tahir, S. Sondi, A.H. Azman, A.H. Maimunah, M.A. Haniza, H. Siti,
and et al. “The utilization of traditional and complementary medicine in
the Malaysian population: a community based survey.” in press, 2009.
[25] WHO. “Legal status of traditional medicine and complementary.”
Alternative medicine a worldwide review, 2002.
[26] R. Yatim. “The Malaysian Insider”, (14 December, 2010). Available at:
http://www.theMalaysianinsider.com/Malaysia/article/rais-broadbandpenetration-
has- exceeded-55pc/ (Retrieved at April 2012)
[27] L. Zhou, L. Dai, and D. Zhang. “Online shopping acceptance model – a
critical survey of consumer factors in online shopping,” Journal of
Electronic Commerce Research, Vol 8, No 1, pp. 41-62, 2007. [28] IDC. (2010). Instructor Development Course IDC in Malaysia Annually
Report. </p>
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:63399", author = "G. Rezai and Z. Mohamed and M. N. Shamsudin and M. Z. Zahran", title = "Effect of Consumer Demographic Factors on Purchasing Herbal Products Online in Malaysia", abstract = "The availability of broadband internet and increased
access to computers has been instrumental in the rise of internet
literacy in Malaysia. This development has led to the adoption of
online shopping by many Malaysians. On another note, the
Government has supported the development and production of local
herbal products. This has resulted in an increase in the production and
diversity of products by SMEs. The purpose of this study is to
evaluate the influence of the Malaysian demographic factors and
selected attitudinal characteristics in relation to the online purchasing
of herbal products. In total, 1054 internet users were interviewed
online and Chi-square analysis was used to determine the relationship
between demographic variables and different aspects of online
shopping for herbal products. The overall results show that the
demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, income
and ethnicity were significant when considering the online shopping
antecedents of trust, quality of herbal products, perceived risks and
perceived benefits.
", keywords = "Demographic factors, herbal products, Malaysian
consumers, online shopping, Chi-square analysis", volume = "7", number = "8", pages = "2421-7", }
