UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS' ONLINE SHOPPING ATTITUDE

AND PURCHASE INTENTION

NARGES DELAFROOZ

FEM 2009 3
 FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS' ONLINE SHOPPING ATTITUDE AND
PURCHASE INTENTION

By

NARGES DELAFROOZ

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in

Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor Philosophy

September 2009
 DEDICATIONS

This thesis is dedicated to my:

Mother & Father

Respectively:

and

Husband

Sina Siavash Moghaddam

With innermost and everlasting affection and love.

ii
 Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the
requirement for the degree of Doctor Philosophy

FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS' ONLINE SHOPPING ATTITUDE AND

PURCHASE INTENTION

By

NARGES DELAFROOZ

September 2009

Chairman : Associate Professor Laily Paim, PhD

Faculty : Human Ecology

The ever-increasing use of the Internet in Malaysia provides a developing prospect for E-

marketers. Such marketers’ awareness of the factors affecting Malaysian’s shopping attitudes

and intentions is crucial to further develop their marketing strategies in converting potential

customers into active ones, while maintaining the existing online customers.

Purchase intention is an important determinant of online shopping behavior and represents the

best estimates of future behavior available to market researchers. From an e-commerce

perspective, understanding of the Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory Planned Behavior, and

Technology Acceptance Model could provide a valid basis for explaining and predicting

consumers’ intentions towards adopting online shopping behavior.

iii
This study sets out to examine the factors influencing students’ online shopping attitudes and

intentions at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) through a five-pint Likert scale self-administered

questionnaire. The instrument has demonstrated acceptable levels of internal consistency,

reliability, and content validity according to previous documented studies. A sample of 370

students was selected among postgraduate students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Descriptive

analysis, Pearson correlation, partial correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis were

employed to achieve the objectives of the study.

The results of the study showed that the level of online shopping intention was relatively high

and direction of attitude towards online shopping was positive among the postgraduate students.

Moreover, it was found that utilitarian orientation and hedonic orientation, perceived benefits

and demographic characteristics (gender, age, and income) were significantly and positively

correlated with the attitude towards online shopping. In addition, the result revealed that the

perceived behavioural control and attitude were significantly and positively correlated with

online shopping intention. Finally, the finding identified that the trust in the construct of

perceived behavioural control and attitude had higher direct effect whereas utilitarian orientation,

convenience, prices and wider selection, and income had higher indirect effect on the students’

online shopping intention.

iv
 Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi
keperluan untuk ijazah doktor Falsafah

ABSTRAK 
FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI SIKAP PEMBELIAN DAN NIAT PEMBELIAN
SECARA ATAS TALIAN DALAM KALANGAN PELAJAR

Oleh

NARGES DELAFROOZ

2 September 2009

Pengerusi : Profesor Madya Laily Paim, PhD

Fakulti : Ecologi Manusia

Penggunaan internet yang semakin meningkat di Malaysia menyediakan prospek untuk maju

kepada e-dagang. Kesedaran terhadap faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi sikap dan niat pembeli

Malaysia boleh digunakan untuk membentuk strategi pemasaran yang akan menukar pelanggan

berpotensi kepada pelanggan yang aktif dan pada masa yang sama mengekalkan pelanggan atas

talian yang sedia ada.

Niat adalah penentu penting kepada perlakuan pembelian secara atas talian dan memberikan

anggaran yang terbaik mengenai perlakuan masa hadapan kepada penyelidik tentang pasaran.

Dari perspektif e-dagang, memahami teori Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory Planned

Behavior, dan Technology Acceptance Model boleh menjadi asas yang sahih untuk menerang

dan meramalkan niat pengguna ke arah menerima pakai perlakuan pembelian secara atas talian.

v
Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk memeriksa faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi sikap dan

niat pembelian secara atas talian dalam kalangan pelajar di Universiti Putra Malaysia melalui

soal selidik tadbir-sendiri berskala Likert lima tahap. Instrumen mempunyai tahap konsistensi

dalaman, kesahihan dan kesahan yang boleh diterima berdasarkan kajian lalu. Sejumlah 370

sampel telah dipilih dalam kalangan pelajar pasca siswazah di Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Analisis deskriptif, Korelasi Pearson, korelasi separa, regresi pelbagai, dan analisis laluan

dijalankan untuk mencapai objektif kajian.

Dapatan kajian menunjukkan tahap niat pembelian secara atas talian agak tinggi dan arah sikap

terhadap pembelian secara atas talian didapati positif dalam kalangan pelajar pasca siswazah.

Tambahan pula, didapati orientasi utilitarian dan hedonic, faedah yang ditanggapi dan ciri

demografi (gender, umur dan pendapatan) menunjukkan perkaitan yang positif dan signifikan

dengan niat ke arah pembelian secara atas talian. Juga, dapatan kajian menunjukkan kawalan

perlakuan yang ditanggapi dan sikap adalah berkait secara positif dan signifikan dengan niat

pembelian secara atas talian. Akhirnya, dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa elemen

kepercayaan dalam konstruk kawalan perlakuan yang ditanggapi dan sikap mempunyai kesan

arah yang lebih tinggi ke atas niat pembelian secara atas talian dalam kalangan pelajar.

vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, praise is to “Allah” the cherisher, and the sustainers of the world for giving me

strengths, health and determination to complete this thesis. I wish to express my deep and sincere

appreciation to the chair of my committee Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laily Paim for her valuable ideas and

support during the course of my thesis and also for the direction and guidance provided during

the entire period of my studies.

I take great pleasure here and wish to express my sincere appreciation to contribution of Prof. Dr.

Ali Khatibi, Dean of Faculty MBA of Management and Science University (MSU). My deepest

gratitude goes to Prof. Dr. Samsinar md. Sidin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sharifah Azizah Haron for

their valuable guidance and advice in throughout my study period at UPM. I also would like to

thank to my friends, Mrs Leila Falahatti, Mrs Marzieh Zendehdel, Mr Nabeel M. Gazzaz, Mr

Alagie Bah, and Mr Dita Agisimanto for given insurmountable support in their own ways to

complete this study.

I am indebted to my parents and my family for their patience and support during the completion

of this thesis. Finally, I wish to thank the one dearest to me, my husband Sina Siavash

Moghaddam, who continues to astonish me with his patience, resilience and love.

Sincerely

Narges Delafrooz

vii
I certify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on 4 September 2009 to conduct the final
examination of Narges Delafrooz on her thesis entitled “FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS'
ONLINE SHOPPING ATTITUDE AND PURCHASE INTENTION" in accordance with the
Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 and the Constitution of the Universiti Putra
Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] 15 March 1998. The Committee recommends that the student be
awarded the relevant degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Members of the Thesis Examination Committee were as follows:

Nobaya Ahmad, PhD

Lecturer
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Jamil bin Bojei, PhD

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Management
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)

Syuhaily Osman, PhD

Lecturer
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)

Zafar Uddin Ahmad, PhD

Professor
College of Business and Technology
Texas A&M University at Commerce
USA
(External Examiner)

BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD

Professor and Deputy Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia

viii 15 October 2009

Date:
This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The members of the
Supervisory Committee were as follows:

Laily Hj. Paim, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Sharifah Azizah Haron, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Human Ecology
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

Samsinar Md. Sidin, PhD

Professor
Graduate School of Management
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

HASANAH MOHD. GHAZALI, PhD

Professor and Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia
ix
Date: 16 November 2009
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and citations
which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously, and is not
concurrently, submitted for other degree at University Putra Malaysia or at any other institution.

_____________________________________
NARDES DELAFROOZ

Date: 2 October 2009

x
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DEDICATION ii
ABSTRACT iii
ABSTRAK v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii
APPROVAL viii
DECLARATION x
LIST OF TABLES xiii
LIST OF FIGURES xv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvi

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Problem Statement 4
1.2 Research Question 7
1.3 Objective 7
1.4 Hypothesis 8
1.5 Significant of Study 8
1.6 Organization of the Thesis 11

2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction 13
2.1 The Internet, E-commerce and Online Shopping 13
2.2 Online Purchase Intention 18
2.3 Online Shopping Attitude 19
2.4 Online Shopping Orientations 22
2.5 Online Shopping Perceived Benefits 27
2.6 Perceived Behavioural Control 36
2.7 Chapter Summary 46

3 THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
3.0 Introduction 47
3.1 Theory Reasoned Action (TRA) 48
3.2 Theory Planned Behavior (TPB) 50
3.3 Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) 54
3.4 Conceptual Framework 57
3.5 Chapter Summary 61

4 METHODOLOGY
4.0 Introduction 63
4.1 Research Design 64
4.2 Study Population 66
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 4.3 Sample Size 67
4.4 Sample Procedure 71
4.5 Instrument Development 74
4.6 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 81
4.7 Data Collection 86
4.8 Statistic Techniques 87
4.9 Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) 102
4.10 Chapter Summary 105

5 RESULT AND DISSCUSION

5.0 Introduction 107
5.1 Demographic Profile of Respondents 108
5.2 Descriptive Statistics for Key Independent Variables 110
5.2.1 Online Shopping Orientations 111
5.2.2 Perceived Behavioural Control 114
5.2.3 Online Shopping Perceived Benefits 124
5.3 Level of Purchase Intention and Direction Attitude 131
toward Online Shopping
5.4 Relationship between Online Shopping Orientations, 138
Perceived Benefits, Demographic Characteristics, and
Attitudes towards Online Shopping
5.5 Relationship between Perceived Behavioural Control, 147
Attitudes, and Purchase Intention
5.6 Predicting Intention to Purchase Online 151
5.7 Chapter Summary 166

6 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION

6.0 Introduction 168
6.1 Summary of Finding and Conclusion 168
6.2 Implications and Recommendations 178
6.3 Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research 185
6.4 Chapter Summary 187

REFRENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY 189
APPENDICES 215
BIODATA OF STUDENT 233

xii
LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
2.1 Malaysia’s Statistic Regarding ICT Market and E-commerce Transaction 16

2.2 Differences between Utilitarian and Hedonic Consumers 26

4.1 Variables and Sources 75

4.2 Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Test Results 85

4.3 Distribution of Intention Score and the Levels of Intention 88

4.4 Distribution of Attitude Score and the Direction of Attitude 89

4.5 Strength of the R-value 91

4.6 Descriptive Analysis of Variables 103

5.1 Respondents’ Demographic Profiles 109

5.2 Distribution of Respondents’ shopping Behaviour 110

5.3 Responses of Items Measuring Online Shopping Orientations 114

5.4 Responses of Items Measuring Perceived Behavioural Control 120

5.5 Frequent of Internet Usage 123

5.6 Frequency Distribution of Online Shopping Perceived Benefits 130

5.7 Categories of Purchase Intention 132

5.8 Frequency Distribution of Items Purchase Intention 133

5.9 Direction of Students’ Attitude towards Online Shopping 136

5.10 Partial Correlation between Utilitarian Orientations and Attitude 140

5.11 Partial Correlation between Hedonic Orientations and Attitude 142

5.12 Pearson Correlation between Perceived Benefits and Attitude 143

5.13 Pearson’s Correlation Coefficients of Attitude and Perceived Benefits 144

Dimensions

5.14 Estimates of Coefficients for the Model 146

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5.15 Pearson Correlation between Perceived Control, Attitude, and Purchase 148
Intention

5.16 Pearson Correlation between Intention and Attitude 150

5.17 Summary of Hypotheses Testing 151

5.18 Estimates of Coefficients First Model of Path Analysis 153

5.19 Estimates of Coefficients the Second Model of Path Analysis 156

5.20 Estimates of Coefficients for the Third Model of Path Analysis 158

5.21 Results of Path analysis 160

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

3.1 Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) 49

3.2 Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) 52

3.3 Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) 55

3.4 Research Framework 61

4.1 Path Diagram of the First Model 99

4.2 Path Diagram of the Second Model 100

4.3 Path Diagram of the Third Model 102

5.1 Result of Path analysis 159

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

TRA : Theory Reasoned Action

TPB : Theory Planned Behaviour

TAM : Technology Acceptance Model

PC : Personal Computer

IS : Information System

ICT : Information and Communications Technology

MSC : Multimedia Super Corridor

IT : Information Technology

B2C : Business to Consumer

B2B : Business to Business

SPSS : Statistical Package for the Social Science

TNS : Taylor Nelson Sofres

IDC : International Data Corporation

UCLA University of California, Los Angeles

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

xvi
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, Internet is not only a networking media, but it is also used as a means of

transaction for consumers at global market. The usage of Internet has grown rapidly

over the past years and it has become a common means for delivering and trading

information, services and goods (Albarq, 2006).

According to the survey by A.C.Nielsen (2007), more than 627 million people in the

world have done online shopping. A research by Forrester (2006) reported that e-

commerce market would grow from $228 billion in 2007 to $288 billion in 2009. As

reported by Jupiter Media Metrix (2005), the online retail sales in US amounted to

USD65 billion in 2004, and this would likely reach USD117 billion in 2008. By

2010, e-commerce will account for $316 billion in sales, or 13 percent of the overall

retail sales. As a result of the survey, 61 percent of the online users in the US will

make their purchases via the Internet in 2010, as compared to merely 46 percent in

2004.

Out of this number, university students contribute to about $200 billion a year in the

buying power to the US market, with an average student’s available discretionary

spending totalling to $287 each month (Gardyn, 2002). Due to the students’

purchasing power in the marketplace, it is critical for e-retailers and consumer

behaviour marketers to fully understand the attitude and intention of this particular

population towards online shopping. Furthermore, 90 percent of the university

students were reported to have a daily access to the Internet (Xu & Paulins, 2005).

With the expansion of educational services in Malaysia, university students have

become one of the important consumer market segments (Sabri, MacDonald, Masud,

Paim, Hira, & Othman, 2008). Therefore, to successfully attract this particular group

of population, the e-retail service providers must learn more about them, particularly

in relation to their attitude towards online shopping, online shopping intentions, and

their antecedents.

Many studies have concentrated on online shopping in the world. However, there is

still a need for a closer examination of the online shopping intention in specific

countries (Bobbit & Dabholkar, 2001; Goldsmith, 2002; Salisbury et al., 2001).

Considering that Internet shopping is still at the early stage of development in

Malaysia, little is known about consumers’ behaviour adopting this new shopping

channel and the factors which influence this behaviour (Haque, Sadeghzadeh &

Khatibi, 2006). According to Shwu-Ing (2003), a person’s shopping behaviour is

influenced by four major psychological factors, such as motivation, perception,

belief and attitude.

The roles of a shopper’s personal attitudes have been widely acknowledged in

consumer decision-making and behavioural intentions (Shwu-Ing, 2003). In

particular, attitude serves as the bridge between consumers’ characteristics and the

consumption that satisfies their needs (Armstrong & Kotler, 2000; Shwu-Ing, 2003).

Moreover, consumers’ characteristics, such as personality, as well as demographic

and perception on online shopping benefits, have also been found to influence their

online shopping behaviour (Cheung & Lee, 2003; Goldsmith & Flynn, 2004; Shwu-

2
Ing, 2003; Wolfinbarger & Gilly, 2001). Thus, identifying the relative importance of

each determinant of choice towards a given action could be a useful step in

understanding why such behaviour occurs. According to Ajzen (1985), perceived

behavioural control has been argued to have an impact on the occurrence of such

behaviour and thus, a predictor of behavioural intentions. Such intentions are

important as they represent the best estimates of the future behaviour available to

market researchers (Wrighta, Sharp and Sharp, 2002).

Meanwhile, behavioural intention is determined by an individual’s attitude towards

performing the behaviour. An individual’s perception of the benefits of the

behaviour, as well as the individual’s self efficacy and ability to control both internal

and external resources on the behaviour in performing the intended behaviour, led to

the development of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory of Planned

Behaviour (TPB) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). From an e-business

perspective, understanding these TRA, TPB, and TAM could provide a valid basis

for explaining and predicting consumers’ intention towards adopting online shopping

behaviour (Bobbit and Dabholkar, 2001; Choi and Geistfeld, 2003; Goldsmith, 2002;

Netemeyer, Andrews, and Durvasula, 1993; Pavlou and Chai, 2002; Salisbury,

Pearson and Miller, 2001). Such understanding would enable e-commerce managers

to gain better insights into the consumers’ online shopping motivation and facilitate

them in developing effective strategies towards increasing website traffic flow

(Aldridge, Forcht and Pierson, 1997; Wysocki, 2000).

The main aim of this study is to investigate purchasing intention of post-graduate

students at University Putra Malaysia, with a particular emphasis on understanding

3
and evaluating the factors which directly or indirectly influence their purchasing

intention by measuring the attitude towards online shopping.

1.1 Problem Statements

Online shopping in Malaysia is a new technology breakthrough since it has just

begun to assault the Malaysia retailing sector with online shopping services (Haque

et al., 2006). In order to increase online shopping in Malaysia, understanding

consumer online shopping behavior and factors influencing this behavior when

shopping online should be given priority.

Research indicates that 81 percent of those who browse web sites for goods and

services do not actually make an online shopping (Gupta, 1995; Kline, 1998; Shim,

Eastlick, Lotz, & Warrington, 2001). Interestingly, Taylor Nelson Sofres (2002)

reported that only 3 percent of Malaysians Internet users shopped online in May

2002, a reduce of 1 percent compared to 4 percent in 2001 (Chua, 2008; Hamid &

Khatibi, 2006). Majority Malaysians (76 %), specially younger people were using

the internet for non-shopping activities such as seeking information, playing games,

entertainment, or communicating with friends, etc. (Hamid & Khatibi, 2006).

According to Jariah, Husniyah, Laily and Britt (2004), with the expansion of

educational services in Malaysia, university students become one of the most

important market segments for two reasons; First, this group has money and

shopping interests. Second, this is the segment of the population that has the

potential of earning a greater income than other segments of the population.

4
Therefore, it will be of great significance to find out the factors which influence

students’ intention to shop online if we want to expand the group of online buyers

and the volume of e-commerce. Unfortunately, studies examining students’ behavior

towards online shopping in the Malaysian environment are of a limited number

(Haque et al., 2006).

Consumers’ attitude towards online shopping is known as the main factor that affects

online shopping behavior (Michael, 1998). Attitude directly influence decision

making and also is central to a buyer’s shopping behavior. Consequently, the group

with more positive attitude should be the target market (Shwu-Ing, 2003). According

to study conducted by Haque et al. (2006), attitude towards online shopping is

considerably quite negative among Malaysians. Therefore, it is important to

recognize that numerous factors precede attitude formation and change.

The process of consumers’ decision-making on online shopping relates to the

experiences and satisfaction they perceive while shopping. The Malaysian Internet

users conducting online shopping seek benefits such as cost saving, convenience,

cheaper price, a way to easily search for information, and a 24-hours services

(Haque, Mahmud, Tarofder, & Ismail, 2007). As pointed out by Rodgers and

Thorson (2000), various consumers’ motives affect attitude towards online shopping

so internet users become more used to this medium. So, to understand the driving

forces toward online shopping and their relationship with attitude, it is important to

recognize how students make their online purchase.

5
Consumer shopping behaviour is strongly influenced by consumers’ characteristics.

In addition, attitudes serve as the bridge between consumers’ characteristics and

online shopping behavior. As mentioned by Defeng, Bingchuan, and Li (2006)

attitude towards online shopping is influencing by demography factors, such as

gender, age and income. In addition consumers have different personality, which

may influence how they perceive their online shopping behavior (Wolfinbarger &

Gilly, 2001). Hence, consumer personality that can be classified into utilitarian

orientation and hedonic orientation lead to different shopping behaviors.

Finally, opportunities of online shopping can be restricted by internal and external

constraints on behavior (Karami, 2006). It is important in explaining human behavior

since an individual who has the intention of accomplishing a certain action may be

unable to do so because his or her environment prevents the act from being

performed. Moreover, there are some barriers which have contributed to the

unwillingness of Malaysians to shop online because they afraid their personal

information will be stole or misused by others (Haque et al., 2006). Despite the high

potential of online shopping in Malaysia, there is still a lack of understanding

concerning the online shopping and its impact on marketing (Chua, Khatibi, &

Ismail, 2006). Consequently a framework is needed to structure the complex system

of effects of these different factors, and develop an in-depth understanding of

consumers’ attitudes towards Internet shopping and their intentions to shop online.

6
1.2 Research Question

Research questions are posed to obtain the relevant information required to fulfill the

objectives. The proposed questions to be answered in this research are as follow:

1. What is the level of consumers’ purchase intention and direction attitude towards

online shopping?

2. Are there any relationships between utilitarian orientation, hedonic orientation,

demographic characteristics, online shopping perceived benefits, and attitudes?

3. Are there any relationships between perceived behavioral control, attitude, and

purchase intention?

4. Would consumers’ purchase intention be predicted by attitude, shopping

orientations, perceived behavioral control, demographic characteristics and online

shopping perceived benefits directly or indirectly?

1.3 Objective

The purpose of this research is to investigate the purchase intention among

postgraduate students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. More specifically, the objectives

of this study are:

1. To determine consumers’ purchase intention and direction attitude towards online

shopping.

2. To determine the relationships between utilitarian orientation, hedonic orientation,

demographic characteristics and online shopping perceived benefits and attitudes.

7
3. To determine the relationships between perceived behavioral control, attitude, and

purchase intention.

4. To determine whether, or not, consumers’ purchase intention would be predicted

by shopping orientations, perceived behavioral control, demographic characteristics,

and online shopping perceived benefits directly or indirectly by attitude.

1.4 Hypotheses

H1. There is positive relationship between the utilitarian orientation and the attitude

towards online shopping.

H2. There is positive relationship between the hedonic orientation and the attitude

towards online shopping.

H3. There is positive relationship between the online shopping perceived benefits

and the attitude towards online shopping.

H4. There is relationship between the demographics characteristics (age, gender and

income) and the attitude towards online shopping.

H5. There is positive relationship between the perceived behavioral control and the

purchase intention.

H6. There is positive relationship between the attitude and the purchase intention.

1.5 Significance of Study