Purpose: The purpose of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of how Generation X perceive that their purchase decisions are influenced by their use of social media. Method: The study is based on a qualitative research strategy. A semi structured interview was applied. The semi structured interview was conducted with ten respondents who were aged between 40–60 years and utilizes social media. Theory: This study contains the following theories: The purchase decision process and eWOM. Empirics/analysis: The result incorporates a summary of the processed data that forms the basis for the ongoing analysis. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the intricate process of purchase decision-making among Generation X consumers on social media. In the realm of needs identification, the majority of participants discovered new needs through social media advertisements, while a smaller fraction did not associate need discovery with ads. The significance of information search on social media emerged, with participants perceiving it as a tool to gather relevant information for planned purchases. External information-seeking involved personal, commercial, and public sources. The study uncovered that respondents react to both positive and negative reviews on social media, influencing their product and service evaluations. Nevertheless, varying levels of trust exist for social media reviews, with some participants dismissing them due to perceived bias and unreliability. Positive electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM), especially from reviewers with substantial followers, enhances the likelihood of purchase decisions for half of the respondents. Conversely, negative reviews, particularly those highlighting issues like shipping costs or customer service, can negatively impact purchase decisions. The credibility of eWOM influences respondents' willingness to adopt or dismiss information in their purchasing process. Negative consumer confidence may lead some respondents to refrain from making purchases. Credibility is attributed to reviewers with a significant following, while anonymous reviewers are perceived as less credible. Comprehensive and detailed reviews, offering nuanced insights and solutions, enhance credibility. Respondents' prior experiences and internet literacy affect their trust in online reviews, and those encountering fake reviews may exhibit more skepticism. In the evaluation of alternatives, consumers emphasize the importance of both price and quality, with social media significantly impacting pricing and product comparisons. Within the category of purchase decisions, the study found that even after consumers make a decision, unexpected situations can lead to changes, such as negative reviews, social factors, and unforeseen circumstances like price changes or sudden shifts in needs. This underlines the dynamic nature of Generation X's purchase decision-making, demonstrating the continued influence of external factors even post-decision
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:sh-53209 |
| Date | January 2023 |
| Creators | Garcia, Andy, Hallak, Isra |
| Publisher | Södertörns högskola, Företagsekonomi |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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