The internet : what are the effects of interpersonal trust, need for cognition and biological sex on internet use?

Abstract

This dissertation is a part replication of a study carried out by Das et al (2003 ). lt aims to investigate the effects a person's level of interpersonal trust, need for cognition and biological sex on on-line purchasing and information seeking behaviours in internet use. Interpersonal trust was studied in relation to attitudes towards web security and on-line purchasing. On the other hand, the respondents need for cognition was examined in relation to attitudes towards information seeking and information seeking behaviours on the interment. The methodology used for this dissertation was a quantitative'. Questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of University students, who were about on campus. Firstly, it was found that individual with a high level of interpersonal trust are more likely to have a high level of positive attitude towards security on the web which leads to a higher likelihood of making an on-line purchase. In addition, a person with a high level of need for cognition is more likely to use the internet for information seeking behaviours. Lastly, little difference was found between males and females in internet use except that men are more likely to make purchases on the internet while women had a higher need for cognition than the men.