Title: Web-based software contracting: an experimental study of deception identification across two different media

Authors: Ned Kock, Jacques Verville, Jesus Carmona

Addresses: Division of International Business and Technology Studies, Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041, USA. ' Division of International Business and Technology Studies, Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041, USA. ' Division of International Business and Technology Studies, Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041, USA

Abstract: This study analyses choices made by subjects who were asked to accept or reject each of 20 clauses of a web-based software-purchasing contract, of which six clauses were deceitful. The subjects were split into two media conditions. In the text condition, the clauses were presented as text in a web browser window. In the video condition, web browser-embedded video clips were used. No significant differences were found across media conditions. Surprisingly though, the subjects did 18% and 14% worse than chance in terms of rejecting deceitful clauses through the text and video conditions, respectively.

Keywords: electronic commerce; e-commerce; electronic trade; e-trade; web-based contracts; software purchasing; communication media; media naturalness; deception identification; internet; enterprise management; video; text.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2006.011046

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2006 Vol.4 No.4, pp.379 - 392

Published online: 05 Oct 2006 *

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