The number of people shopping on the Internet has grown rapidly in recent years and it has been suggested that the growth rate of Internet transactions now exceeds that of traditional retailing. Despite the significant growth in the use of the Internet for business transactions, there is evidence to suggest that many customers abandon web sites without completing their transactions. It is clearly important to understand why people buy from the Internet and also the way consumers examine websites. There had been limited research undertaken to investigate the relationships between the various antecedents and the willingness to buy in the Internet environment, especially within a single study. The main trust of this research is to examine the antecedents that influence the willingness to buy from the Internet and also how these antecedents influence one another. The antecedents included in this research were brand image (Dodds, Monroe & Grewal, 1991), perceived risk (Sweeney & Soutar, 2001), trust (Lynch & Beck, 2001), affect (Lynch & Beck, 2001), convenience (Szymanski & Hise, 2000), relative price (Sweeney, Soutar & Johnson, 1999), site reputation (Baker, Grewal & Parasuraman, 1994) and web design (Szymanski & Hise, 2000). Some of the antecedents were found to be unsuitable and they were dropped from the study. The empirical results from the final model suggest that perceived value is positively influenced by affect and brand image. Both brand image and affect also positively influence the trust of the website. Willingness to buy from the website is influenced by perceived value and trust of the website.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Computer Science, Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2001. / Adviser: Fred Rothbaum. Submitted to the Dept. of Child Development. Includes bibliographical references. Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-180). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 140-142).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 72-73).

No description available.

Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Background: In Africa, internet access and use is plagued by numerous barriers. Whilst South Africa (SA) boasts a better population penetration than the rest of Africa there is a lack of regulation regarding the internet and e-mail use amongst health professionals and their patients. The aim of this study was to assess the use of the internet amongst dietitians and medical doctors (MDs) in clinical practice in SA and draft a policy on such usage amongst health professionals and their patients. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical web-based survey was conducted amongst registered dietitians and MDs. A cover letter including a hyperlink to the self-administered questionnaire was e-mailed to all dietitians and a proportionate, stratified random sample of MDs with contactable e-mail addresses. The questionnaire consisted of open and closed questions, including demographics, influence of the internet on the quality of care of patients, quality control with web resources and aspects of information technology (IT) which were recommended by health professionals to be incorporated as part of undergraduate health science education Results: A total of 176 health professionals participated in the study (106 dietitians and 70 MDs). The mean age of the dietitians was 32.6± (8.0) and the MDs 50.5± (8.9). The majority of the respondents in this study population were White (82%) females (67%). On average, practitioners had been in practice for 9.1(8.0) years. The majority of dietitians (58%) and MDs (68%) had access to the internet at both their practice or workplace and their home. More dietitians (65%) than MDs (41%) were using e-mail or internet. MDs did not use the internet for research purposes, whilst a fifth of dietitians (21%) reported using the internet as a research tool. A greater percentage of the sample [MDs (69%) and dietitians (82%)] reported that, the internet had improved the quality of care of their patients. The dietitians (60%) and MDs (53%) in this study sample were unclear about how to source information and determine the reliability or accuracy of the information obtained from internet resources. Conclusion: Internet is incorporated into the practice of most dietitians and to a lesser extent by MDs. In this study, the need for training amongst health professionals regarding the use of the internet was highlighted. The study reflects that even though health professionals were unsure of the credibility of the internet information resourced, it did not stop the use of the internet in the practice. This is an area of concern, since it could potentially result in the distribution of misinformation. This warrants regulation on the use of the internet in health practices in SA. A policy on the use of IT in health care practice has been drafted. Further research on the use of IT in the healthcare practice is required before the policy can be finalized. The advantage is that some elementary information is now available. The challenge is to ensure that the time lapse between additional research, policy finalization and policy implementation is kept to a minimum. / OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: In Afrika is internet toegang en gebruik met baie hindernisse belas. Alhoewel Suid-Afrika (SA) met ‘n beter bevolkingspenetrasie as die res van Afrika spog is daar ‘n gebrek aan regulasie in verband met internet en e-pos gebruik tussen gesondheidswerkers en hul pasiënte. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die gebruik van die internet deur dieetkundiges en mediese dokters (MDs) in kliniese praktyk in SA te assesseer en om ‘n konsepbeleid rakende sulke gebruik tussen gesondheidswerkers en hul pasiënte op te stel. Metode: ‘n Dwarssnit analitiese web-gebaseerde opname is met geregisteerde dieetkundiges en MDs onderneem. ‘n Dekkingsbrief met ‘n webskakeling (hyperlink) tot die selfgeadministreerde vraelys is aan alle dieetkundiges en aan ‘n eweredig, gestratifiseerde ewekansige steekproef van MDs met kontakbare e-pos adresse gestuur. Die vraelys het uit oop en toe vrae bestaan, insluitend demografie, invloed van die internet op die kwaliteit van sorg van pasiënte, kwaliteitskontrole met web-hulpmiddels en aspekte van informasie tegnologie (IT) wat deur gesondheidswerkers aanbeveel was om deel te word van voorgraadse gesondheidswetenkaplike onderrig. Resultate: ‘n Totaal van 176 gesondheidswerkers het aan die studie deelgeneem (106 dieetkundiges en 70 MDs). Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die dieetkundiges was 32.6± (8.0) jaar en die MDs 50.5± (8.9) jaar. Die meerderheid respondente in hierdie studie populasie was blank (82%) en vroulik (67%). Oor die algemeen was praktisyne vir 9.1± (8.0) jaar in praktyk. Die meerderheid dieetkundiges (58%) en MDs (68%) het toegang tot die internet by beide hul praktyk of werkplek en hul huis. Meer dieetkundiges (65%) as MDs (41%) het e-pos of internet gebruik. MDs het nie die internet vir navorsingsdoeleindes gebruik nie, terwyl ‘n vyfde van dieetkundiges (21%) raporteer het dat hulle die internet vir navorsingsdoeleindes gebruik het. ‘n Groot persentasie van die populasie [MDs (69%) en dieetkundiges (82%)] het gerapporteer dat die internet tot ‘n verbetering in sorg van hul pasiënte gelei het. Die dieetkundiges (60%) en MDs (53%) in hierdie studie was onseker hoe om informasie te verkry en die betroubaarheid en akuraatheid van die informasie vanaf internetbronne te bevestig. Opsomming: In hierdie studie word internet in die praktyke van die meerderheid dieetkundiges en tot ‘n mindere mate in die van MDs geinkorporeer. Die noodsaaklikheid vir opleiding in die gesondheidsberoepe met betrekking tot die gebruik van die internet is aan die lug gebring. Hierdie studie weerspieël dat alhoewel gesondheidswerkers onbewus was van die geloofwaardigheid van internet informasie, dit nie die gebruik van die internet in hul praktyk gestop het nie. Dit is ‘n area van kommer aangesien dit potensieel na die verspreiding van misinformasie kan lei. Dit motiveer dus reguleering van die gebruik van die internet in gesondheidspraktyke in SA. ‘n Beleid oor die gebruik van IT in gesondheidspraktyke is in konsepvorm opgetrek. Verdere navorsing oor die gebuik van IT in gesondheidspraktyke word benodig om die konsepbeleid te finaliseer. Die voordeel is dat basiese inligting nou beskikbaar is. Die uitdaging is om te verseker dat die tydsduur tussen addisionele navorsing, beleidsfinaliseering en beleidsimplementering tot ‘n minimum gehou word.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stennbosch, 2001.Thesis / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Internet connects millions of computers and people from all over the world with each other. A few clicks with a mouse are usually enough to gain access to the computers of almost any university in the world. But it is not only professors and researchers with years of experience who publish on the Internet. Anyone can publish anything for any reason without any editing or verification of the content. The Web is a valuable source of the information needed by science journalists to confirm facts of stories or to gain background information on a subject - if they know that the information is reliable. This web site identifies and discusses criteria to help establish the credibility of a web site. The Internet consists of far more than just the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is, however, the most talked-about and bestknown part of the Internet, and the criteria discussed on this web site are applicable to the World Wide Web alone. With a little common sense and the necessary adaptations they can, however, be used to determine the credibility of information found on other parts of the Internet. Science journalists, students using the Web for research, and any other Web surfer will benefit from reading this document. Anybody can publish on the Web. Is there a set of rules that can be applied to a web site to measure its credibility? What are these rules? o FjrsUI1~ssion1i Is the layout professional? Is the site user friendly? Is the style appropriate for the type of information? Is the document free of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors? Does it take too long to load? o The_Contel1!Are there flaws in the logic used? Is the writer biased? Is there any verification for this information? Is the information accurate and complete? o A~ When was the web page published? Are there many broken links? o Sourc(?.<,)f theJnt'oxmation Who is the author? Who is the publisher? What do others have to say about this web site? o P1!!]2_O~e/Targ~_lAudiel1W~~ho is the target audience? What does the user want from the web site? What is the purpose of the web site? Who gains what? A summary of the criteria in tabular form is available here. The criteria discussed on this web site are only guidelines. Some criteria are more important than others. The situation will determine the relevance of each of the criteria. The origin of the information, the purpose thereof and the logic used are usually the most important criteria. The most important rule, however, is the use of common sense. Examine more than one source and compare them with one another. An intelligent decision regarding the credibility of the information can only be made when all (or most) sides ofa matter have been examined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Internet verbind miljoene rekenaars en mense regoor die aarde met mekaar. Net 'n paar klieke van 'n muis kan toegang verskaftot die rekenaars van amper enige universiteit in die wêreld. Dit is egter nie net professors en navorsers met jare se ervaring in hul veld wat hul bevindinge op die Wêreldwye Web publiseer nie. Enige-iemand kan enige-iets om enige rede publiseer sonder dat dit deur enige-iemand gelees of goedgekeur hoef te word. Die Web is 'n waardevolle bron van die tipe inligting wat wetenskap-joernaliste nodig het om die feite van hul stories te bevestig, of om agtergrondinligting oor 'n onderwerp in te samel - mits hulle seker is dat die inligting vertrou kan word. Hierdie webwerf identifiseer en bespreek verskillende kriteria wat kan help om die gehalte van die inhoud van 'n webwerfte bepaal. Die Wêreldwye Web is die bekendste deel van die Internet. Die riglyne is van toepassing op die Web alleen, maar kan met aanpassings ook op die ander dele van die Web gebruik word. Wetenskapjoernaliste, studente wat die Web gebruik vir navorsing, en enige webgebruiker sal baat vind by hierdie webwerf. Te veel mense kan publiseer. Is daar 'n stel reëls waarvolgens 'n webwerf gemeet kan word wat sal verseker dat die inhoud akkuraat en betroubaar is? Wat is daardie reëls? By die ondersoek na die gehalte van die inhoud van 'n webwerf, kan die volgende in gedagte gehou word: o Eerst_ell1ilnlkke Is die uitleg professioneel? Is die werf gebruikersvriendelik? Pas die skryfstyl by die tipe inligting? Is die dokument vol spel- en taalfoute? Laai die dokument vinnig af? o (_J~loof\yaarciigl1Yidyangi_eJnhQlIC!Is die logika wat gebruik word, logies? Is die skrywer objektief? Is daar enige ondersteuning vir hierdie inligting? Is die inligting akkuraat en volledig? o Ouci~Jd9n}Wanneer is die webbladsy gepubliseer? Is dit vol gebreekte skakels? o Qie o_QGiPJ:Qllg_Ygji1e1i1llligting Wie is die skrywer? Wie is die uitgewer of instansie? Wat het ander oor die webwerf te sê? o Q()elL(_J~h()()I Wie is die teikengehoor? Wat is die gebruiker se doel daarmee? Wat is die webwerf se doel? Waar lê die geld? 'n Opsomming van die kriteria in tabelvorm is hLer beskikbaar Die kriteria wat op hierdie webwerf bespreek word, is slegs riglyne. Sommige kriteria is belangriker as ander. Waardie inligting vandaan kom, wie verantwoordelik is daarvoor en wat die doel is daarmee is dalk die belangrikste vrae. Die belangrikheid van die ouderdom van die inligting hang van die tipe inligting wat ondersoek word, af. Die belangrikste reël by die beoordeling van 'n webwerf blyegter gesonde verstand. Meer as een bron moet ondersoek en met mekaar vergelyk word. Eers as alle (of genoeg) kante van 'n saak ondersoek word, kan 'n ingeligte besluit oor die akkuraatheid van inligting geneem word.

Wikipedia is no longer just another source of knowledge about the world. It is fast becoming a central source, used by other powerful knowledge brokers like Google and Bing to offer authoritative answers to search queries about people, places and things and as information infrastructure for a growing number of Web applications and services. Researchers have found that Wikipedia offers a skewed representation of the world that favours some groups at the expense of others so that representations on the platform have repercussions for the subjects of those representations beyond Wikipedia's domain. It becomes critical in this context to understand how exactly Wikipedia's representations come about, what practices give rise to them and what socio-technical arrangements lead to their expression. This ethnographic study of Wikipedia explores the values, principles and practices that guide what knowledge Wikipedia represents. It follows the foundational principles of Wikipedia in its identity both as an encyclopaedia and a product of the free and open source software and internet freedom rhetoric of the early 2000s. Two case studies are analysed against the backdrop of this ideology, illustrating how different sets of actors battle to extend or reject the boundaries of Wikipedia, and in doing so, affect who are defined as the experts, subjects and revolutionaries of the knowledge that is taken up. The findings of this thesis indicate that Wikipedia's process of decision-making is neither hierarchical nor is it egalitarian; rather, the power to represent on Wikipedia is rhizoid: it happens at the edges rather than in the centre of the network. Instead of everyone having the same power to represent their views on Wikipedia, those who understand how to perform and speak according to Wikipedia's complex technical, symbolic and policy vocabulary tend to prevail over those who possess disciplinary knowledge about the subject being represented. Wikipedians are no amateurs as many would have us believe; nor are they passive collectors of knowledge held in sources; Wikipedians are, instead, active co-creators of knowledge in the form of facts that they support using specially chosen sources. The authority of Wikipedia and Wikipedians is garnered through the performative acts of citation, through the ability of individual editors to construct the traces that represent citation, and through the stabilization and destabilization of facts according to the ideological viewpoints of its editors. In venerating and selecting certain sources among others, Wikipedians also serve to reaffirm traditional centres of authority, while at the same time amplifying new centres of knowledge and denying the authority of knowledge that is not codified in practice. As a result, Wikipedia is becoming the site of new centres of expertise and authoritative knowledge creation, and is signalling a move towards the professionalization of the expertise required to produce factual data in the context of digital networks.