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Cited by 306Sharing Economy and PlatformsTechnology Adoption and User BehaviourDigital Platforms and Economics

Why people participate in the sharing economy: an empirical investigation of Uber

Open access
Lee, Zach W.Y., Chan, Tommy K.H., Balaji, M.S., Chong, Alain Yee-Loong·2018·Internet Research
DOI 10.1108/intr-01-2017-0037
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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of inhibiting, motivating, and technological factors on users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy. Design/methodology/approach A self-reported online survey was conducted among Uber users in Hong Kong. A total of 295 valid responses were collected. The research model was empirically tested using the structural equation modeling technique. Findings The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users’ intention to participate in Uber. Research limitations/implications This study bridged the research gaps in the sharing economy literature by examining the effects of perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust in the platform on users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy. Moreover, this study enriched the extended valence framework by incorporating perceived platform qualities into the research model, responding to the calls for the inclusion of technological variables in information systems research. Practical implications The findings provided practitioners with insights into enhancing users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy. Originality/value This study presented one of the first attempts to systematically examine the effects of inhibiting, motivating, and technological factors on users’ intention to participate in the sharing economy.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1108/intr-01-2017-0037

Cites

84 of 84 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

1 of 34 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    The positive relationship between platform qualities and trust has been well-validated across a variety of e-commerce contexts.

    “The positive relationship between platform qualities and trust has been well-validated across a variety of e-commerce contexts”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Chen et al., 2015a

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Lim et al., 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Muhammad et al., 2014 source

      The results section (“We used SPSS and AMOS-IBM version 21”) reports a positive relationship between website information quality and e-trust in Chinese online retailing. But §2.1 notes that a cited study found a positive effect of information design on trust in Canada, not in China or Germany. This paper therefore supports a relationship for one platform quality in its studied context, not the claim that platform qualities have been well-validated across a variety of contexts. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingown data

    Trust in the platform was a significant predictor of users' intention to participate in Uber.

    “The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users' intention to participate in Uber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Perceived risks were a significant predictor of users' intention to participate in Uber.

    “The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users' intention to participate in Uber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Perceived benefits were a significant predictor of users' intention to participate in Uber.

    “The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users' intention to participate in Uber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Perceived platform qualities were a significant predictor of users' intention to participate in Uber.

    “The results suggested that perceived risks, perceived benefits, trust in the platform, and perceived platform qualities were significant predictors of users' intention to participate in Uber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 11
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 23

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The effect size f2 values for the relationships between perceived benefits, perceived risks, trust in the platform, and users' intention to participate are 0.182, 0.015, and 0.036, respectively.

    “Effect size analysis showed that the f 2 values involved in the relationships between perceived benefits, perceived risks, trust in the platform, and users' intention to participate are 0.182, 0.015, and 0.036, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    All latent constructs exceed the recommended thresholds for convergent validity, with composite reliability values ranging from 0.89 to 0.95, average variance extracted values ranging from 0.72 to 0.87, and all item loadings exceeding 0.70.

    “As illustrated in Table 2, all of the latent constructs exceed the recommended thresholds, with CR values ranging from 0.89 to 0.95, AVE values ranging from 0.72 to 0.87, and all item loadings exceeding 0.70”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    An expert panel of IS researchers assessed the face validity of the preliminary measurement items.

    “We invited an expert panel of IS researchers to assess the face validity of the preliminary measurement items”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Perceived risks and perceived benefits are two fundamental aspects of consumer decision-making.

    “perceived risks and perceived benefits are two fundamental aspects of consumer decision-making”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Peter and Tarpey, 1975 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The extended valence framework indicates that perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust have direct effects on consumers' purchase intention.

    “The extended valence framework indicates that perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust have direct effects on consumers' purchase intention.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kim et al., 2009 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The extended valence framework suggests that trust alters consumers' perceptions of risks negatively and benefits positively.

    “the extended framework suggests that trust alters consumers' perceptions of risks negatively and benefits positively”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kim et al., 2009 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Gender, age, education level and income were included as control variables in the research model.

    “we included gender, age, education level and income as control variables in the research model”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Respondents who did not have any experience with Uber were screened out.

    “Respondents who did not have any experience with Uber were screened out.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The preliminary measurement items were pretested for comprehensiveness, clarity, and desirable psychometric properties.

    “which were then pretested for comprehensiveness, clarity, and desirable psychometric properties”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Responses from those who took an exceptionally short time to complete the survey were discarded to ensure the quality of the data.

    “Responses from those who took an exceptionally short time to complete the survey were also discarded to ensure the quality of the data.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The items in the dataset loaded significantly onto more than one principal component, indicating no single dominant factor.

    “the items in the dataset loaded significantly onto more than one principal component, indicating no single dominant factor”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Other than minor modifications in formatting, no major problems surfaced during the pretest.

    “Other than minor modifications in formatting, no major problems surfaced during the pretest.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Multiple items were used to assess each construct to ensure construct validity and reliability.

    “We used multiple items to assess each construct to ensure construct validity and reliability.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Previous empirical findings showed that trust served as an important risk-mitigating factor in e-commerce and e-government transactions.

    “Previous empirical findings showed that trust served as an important risk-mitigating factor in e-commerce and e-government transactions”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Beldad et al., 2012 source
    • cites Cheung and Lee, 2006 source
    • cites Gefen et al., 2003 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The heterotrait-monotrait threshold is 0.90.

    “well below the threshold of 0.90 (Hair et al., 2017)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hair et al., 2017

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Convenience and availability, monetary saving, and expanded mobility options were essential motivators for participating in peer-to-peer ridesharing services.

    “Ballus-Armet et al. (2014) conducted a survey regarding public perception of peer-to-peer ridesharing in the US, and found that convenience and availability, monetary saving, and expanded mobility options were essential motivators for participating in peer-to-peer ridesharing services.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ballus-Armet et al., 2014 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Convergent validity is assessed using three criteria: composite reliability should be at least 0.70, average variance extracted should be at least 0.50, and all item loadings should exceed 0.70.

    “Convergent validity is assessed using three criteria: (1) the composite reliability (CR) should be at least 0.70 (Chin, 1998), (2) the average variance extracted (AVE) should be at least 0.50 (Fornell and Larcker, 1981), and (3) all of the item loadings should exceed 0.70 (Fornell and Larcker, 1981;Hair et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Chin, 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Fornell and Larcker, 1981

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Hair et al., 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Researchers have repeatedly called for the inclusion of technological variables in information systems research.

    “researchers have repeatedly called for the inclusion of technological variables in information systems research (Hong et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hong et al., 2014 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Security risk has been found a salient inhibitor to various online services.

    “Security risk has been found a salient inhibitor to various online services”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lin and Lu, 2015 source
    • cites Powell, 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Tai and Ku, 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Perceived platform qualities and trust in the platform have been found to be important factors in previous e-commerce literature.

    “perceived platform qualities and trust in the platform have been found to be important factors in previous e-commerce literature (Beldad et al., 2012;Cheung and Lee, 2006;Gefen et al., 2003).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Beldad et al., 2012 source
    • cites Cheung and Lee, 2006 source
    • cites Gefen et al., 2003 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Economic reward and enjoyment were significant antecedents of user participation in the sharing economy.

    “Hamari et al. (2015) found that economic reward and enjoyment were significant antecedents of user participation in the sharing economy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hamari et al., 2015

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Discriminant validity is demonstrated when the square root of the average variance extracted for each construct is greater than the correlations between it and all other constructs.

    “is demonstrated when the square root of the AVE for each construct is greater than the correlations between it and all of the other constructs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fornell and Larcker, 1981

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Negative relationships between privacy risk and online activities have been found in previous studies.

    “negative relationships between privacy risk and online activities have been found in previous studies”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hajli and Lin, 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Pavlou et al., 2007 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust in the platform are important determinants of users' intention to participate in Uber.

    “All the hypotheses were supported, providing strong statistical evidence that perceived risks, perceived benefits, and trust in the platform are important determinants of users' intention to participate in Uber.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Enjoyment and economic reward are important intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that determine users' intention to participate in the sharing economy.

    “enjoyment and economic reward are important intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that determine users' intention to participate in the sharing economy”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hamari et al., 2015

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In crowdsourcing, project attributes and competition situation are important determinants of user participation added above intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.

    “considering crowdsourcing, project attributes (e.g., duration and difficulty level) and competition situation (e.g., competition intensity and market price) are important determinants of user participation added above the well-studied intrinsic and extrinsic motivations (Shao et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Shao et al., 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Platform qualities are the salient drivers that instill the perception of trust in the platform, which is considered the core of technology-enabled services.

    “platform qualities are the salient drivers that instill the perception of trust in the platform, which is considered the core of technology-enabled services.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    There are plausible means to instill users' trust in sharing economy platforms, such as adopting actionable rating systems and providing social proof.

    “there are also numbers of plausible means to instill users' trust in sharing economy platforms, such as adopting actionable rating systems and providing social proof (Iyer, 2016).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Iyer, 2016

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Perceived platform qualities instill users' trust in the platform, playing a substantial role in influencing users' intention to participate in the sharing economy.

    “In addition, perceived platform qualities instill users' trust in the platform, playing a substantial role in influencing users' intention to participate in the sharing economy.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
29 of 29

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The provision of sharing economy services relies heavily on information and internetworking technologies.

    “Since the provision of sharing economy services hinges on the information and networking technologies”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Participating in different sharing economy services often requires users to enter into transactions with strangers.

    “participating in different sharing economy services, such as Uber or Airbnb, often requires users to enter into such transactions with strangers”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sharing economy services, such as Uber and Airbnb, can be provided at a much lower price compared to their traditional counterparts.

    “the sharing economy services, such as Uber and Airbnb, can be provided at a much lower price compared to their traditional counterparts”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Trust reflects users' willingness to take risks to fulfill their needs.

    “Trust reflects users' willingness to take risks to fulfill their needs.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Consumers in the e-commerce context always concern that the sellers may not adhere to their transactional obligations.

    “Consumers in the ecommerce context always concern that the sellers may not adhere to their transactional obligations.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The target audience of Uber users is predominantly Internet-savvy.

    “Given the predominantly Internet-savvy target audience of Uber users”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Past studies on the sharing economy have been qualitative in nature or focused on examining motivating factors of users' participation.

    “past studies on the sharing economy have been qualitative in nature or focused on examining motivating factors of users' participation in the sharing economy.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The role of inhibiting factors in user participation in the sharing economy has not received commensurate scholarly attention.

    “the role of inhibiting factors in user participation in the sharing economy has not received commensurate scholarly attention.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Contemporary sharing economy services are enabled by information technologies.

    “contemporary sharing economy services are enabled by information technologies (e.g., the online platforms of Uber and Airbnb)”
9 of 9

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Trust-item loading differs between the two tables

    Minor

    Table 2 gives TRU3 a loading of 0.75, while the TRU column of Appendix B gives it 0.8. The difference exceeds rounding to the displayed precision.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. 2015, American tourist claims he was held captive and sexually assaulted by his transexual Airbnb host in Spain
  2. 2011, What’s Mine is Yours: How Collaborative Consumption is Changing the Way We Live
  3. Chin, W.W. (1998), “The partial least square approach to structural equation modeling”, in Marcoulides, G.A. (Ed.), Modern Methods for Business Research, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ, pp. 295-336.
  4. 2014, The business model for the sharing economy between SMEs, WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics, 11, 625
  5. 2009, Multivariate Data Analysis
  6. Iyer, A. (2016), “How modern marketplaces like Uber and Airbnb build trust to achieve liquidity”, available at: http://firstround.com/review/How-Modern-Marketplaces-Like-Uber-Airbnb-Build-Trust-to-Hit-Liquidity/ (accessed December 22, 2017).
  7. 2015, Handbook on Research on Sustainable Consumption
  8. 2014, Making Sense of the UK Collaborative Economy

Cited by

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Related

Authors
Lee, Z. W. Y., Chan, T. K. H., Balaji, M. S., & Chong, A. Y.-L.
Affiliations
  • Durham University (GB)
  • Northumbria University (GB)
  • University of Nottingham Ningbo China (CN)
ORCID
Venue
Internet Research
Publisher
Emerald
Published
2018-06-04
Volume
28
Issue
3
Pages
829-850
ISSN
1066-2243 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1108/intr-01-2017-0037
OpenAlex
W2787919713
Cited by
305
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 2
FWCI
53.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.emerald.com/insight/site-policies (tdm)
Locations
  • Internet Research (publishedVersion)
  • Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Sharing Economy and Platforms
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Digital Platforms and Economics
Keywords
sharing economy, Uber, risk perception, perceived benefits, platform trust, technological factors, ride-hailing platforms

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