Social support, source credibility, social influence, and solar photovoltaic panels purchase intention

Solar photovoltaic panels are green products that can alleviate the threat of global warming, but the rate of adoption remains low. This research explores the social influence on consumers' purchase willingness or intention of solar photovoltaic panels in the online context. According to social influence theory, we identify two social influence dimensions: informational social influence and normative social influence. Moreover, we analyze the antecedents of social influence: source credibility and social support and the moderating effects of perceived monetary benefits and environmental concerns. Data were collected from individuals, and A.M.O.S. is used to analyze the data. The results reveal that both informational social influence and normative social influence positively affect purchase willingness. When perceived monetary benefits or environmental concerns are higher, the positive relationships are stronger. Moreover, we find that source credibility (including expertise and trustworthiness of peers) and social support (including informational social support and emotional social support) positively affect two social influence types. The findings provide insights into enhancing individuals' willingness or intention to purchase solar photovoltaic panels.

Automated summary

This research explores the social influence on consumers' purchase willingness of solar photovoltaic panels in the online context, identifying informational social influence and normative social influence as key factors. The study reveals that both dimensions of social influence positively affect purchase willingness, especially when perceived monetary benefits or environmental concerns are heightened. Furthermore, the credibility of information sources and level of social support also play significant roles in influencing individuals' willingness to purchase solar panels.