An Exploratory Examination of Social Website Quality

<p>With websites becoming the frontend for numerous systems the system's benefits require customers to have a favorable evaluation of the site and an intention to re-use it. It must be considered to be of high quality. With websites increasing adding collaborative technologies (such as tools for social networking forums and blogging) a new instrument to evaluate the quality of these types of sites is needed. Before such an instrument is developed an understanding of the applicable theories is needed. This study offers that background. First the potential benefits of this research and its guiding questions are presented. Next is a literature review outlining possible constructs upon which an instrument to evaluate the quality of social websites could be based. Then the focus group's background and details are provided along with the analysis strategy content analysis. After that each constructs is discussed with the supporting/non-supporting evidence from the groups. Finally the discussion concludes with discussions of limitations and suggestions for follow-on research. From this investigation nine constructs (Ease of Understanding Intuitive Operation Informational Fit-to-task Relative Advantage Trust Response Time Visual Appeal Innovativeness and Social Presence) were discovered which could provide the basis for an instrument to measure social website quality.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>