E-catalogs: how can brain hemisphericity relate to online shoppers' preferences?

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between online shoppers’ brain hemisphericity and their preference for electronic catalogs (e-catalogs). e-Catalogs provide information on online products and services and can be presented in various forms, including text-oriented catalogs, audio-enabled catalogs, 3D catalogs, virtual trials, and custom animated catalogs. It is proposed that Web shoppers’ brain hemisphericity can provide a basis for personalization of e-catalogs. Data were collected using two survey instruments. A verbalizer–visualizer questionnaire was used to measure participants’ brain hemisphericity. Participants’ preferences for different features of e-catalogs were measured using an e-catalogs questionnaire. Data were collected from a total of 1,087 respondents. ANOVA and multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. The findings suggest that participants’ verbal and visual scores provide a basis for customization of e-catalogs. The personalization of e-catalogs can facilitate and improve Web shoppers’ online shopping experience and assist their decision-making process for online purchases.