The psychology behind the future of consumption: A quantitative study on attitude and behavioral intention towards access-based consumption
2021 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Access-based consumption which is defined as transactions in which no transfer of ownership takes place, is emerging as a more common way of obtaining access to goods/services. However, research examining factors that influence participation in access-based consumption is insufficient. This study aimed to explain attitude and behavioral intention towards access-based consumption through the concepts locus of control and environmental concern, after controlling for motivational factors (sustainability, enjoyment, reputation, economic benefits, risks) supported by previous research. This study investigated the hypotheses that 1) an internal rather than external locus of control positively influences attitude and behavioral intention towards access-based consumption, 2) perceived environmental concern positively influences attitude and behavioral intention towards access-based consumption and 3) attitude towards access-based consumption positively influences behavioral intention towards access-based consumption via other variables. Data was collected through an electronic survey and analyzed through hierarchical multiple regression analyses. We found that the motivational factors sustainability and enjoyment were robust predictors of both attitude and behaviroal intention, and economic benefits was a robust predictor of behavioral intention, where each factor accounted for unique variance. Locus of control could not significantly predict attitude or behavioral intention towards access-based consumption, which opposes previous data. Environmental concern could significantly predict attitude towards access-based consumption to a small degree, which is in line with previous research, however, could not predict behavioral intendtion towards access-based consumption, suggesting a possible attitude-behavior gap. The influence of attitude on behavioral intention towards access-based consumption could be found through mediation by other variables, which is in accordance with previous research.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021.
Keywords [en]
Access-based consumption, attitude, behavioral intention, environmental concern, locus of control
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-450329OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-450329DiVA, id: diva2:1584923
Educational program
Freestanding course
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-03-062021-08-132023-03-06Bibliographically approved