An investigation into factors influencing consumer buying behaviour towards online shopping in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the factors influencing consumer buying behaviour towards online shopping in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A web survey was employed to test the concept mode. Perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived hedonic value (PHV) and perceived trust (PT) served as the independent variables, while consumer online buying behaviour (ConOBB) served as the dependent variable. The convenience sampling method was adopted to solicit data from 437 respondents. SPSS 26 and STATA 17 were the analytical tools used for the study. The analysis of the data includes a structural equation model (SEM) to assess the measurement and the influence of PEOU, PU, PHV and PT on ConOBB.

Findings

The study revealed that PEOU (Beta = 0.262), PU (Beta = 0.216), PHV (Beta = 0.354) and PT (Beta = 0.630) all had a positive relationship with ConOBB. The study also established that there are significant relationships between the factors (PEOU, PU, PHV and PT) and ConOBB in Ghana.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on Ghanaian consumers and emphasises mainly online shopping factors, which are PEOU, PU, PHV and PT. E-commerce businesses face fierce competition due to the increased availability of websites and other online platforms. To attract potential customers, companies must streamline processes, ensure user-friendliness and create a user-friendly experience.

Originality/value

The uptake of online shopping in Ghana is relatively slow compared with other countries, particularly in Africa. Online shoppers and service providers in Ghana are keen to sustain the industry. However, there is currently a scarcity of empirical studies in Ghana that focus on specific factors that influence consumer online buying behaviour. This study offers a new model that offers novel insights into the specific factors that aid in consumer online shopping behaviour in Ghana. The measuring instrument, which was found to be reliable and valid, also serves as an added value that this study offers. Both the model and measuring instrument can assist managers offering online shopping opportunities to be able to measure and formulate strategies that would enhance consumer online shopping experiences. By adding perceived hedonic value and trust to the model, this study offers a unique extension of the technology acceptance model. Thus, the findings add to the body of knowledge in the field of online shopping, particularly in the context of Ghana.

Citation

Turkson, P.J., Amoah, F. and Amoah, L.N.A. (2024), "An investigation into factors influencing consumer buying behaviour towards online shopping in Ghana", African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-11-2023-0419