Abstract
Smartphone applications (apps) are becoming increasingly popular all over the world, particularly in the Chinese Generation Y population; however, surprisingly, only a small number of studies on app factors valued by this important group have been conducted. Because the competition among app developers is increasing, app factors that attract users’ attention are worth studying for sales promotion. This paper examines these factors through two separate studies. In the first study, i.e., Experiment 1, which consists of a survey, perceptual rating and verbal protocol methods are employed, and 90 randomly selected app websites are rated by 169 experienced smartphone users according to app attraction. Twelve of the most rated apps (six highest rated and six lowest rated) are selected for further investigation, and 11 influential factors that Generation Y members value are listed. A second study, i.e., Experiment 2, is conducted using the most and least rated app websites from Experiment 1, and eye tracking and verbal protocol methods are used. The eye movements of 45 participants are tracked while browsing these websites, providing evidence about what attracts these users’ attention and the order in which the app components are viewed. The results of these two studies suggest that Chinese Generation Y is a content-centric group when they browse the smartphone app marketplace. Icon, screenshot, price, rating, and name are the dominant and indispensable factors that influence purchase intentions, among which icon and screenshot should be meticulously designed. Price is another key factor that drives Chinese Generation Y’s attention. The recommended apps are the least dominant element. Design suggestions for app websites are also proposed. This research has important implications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choi J H, Lee H J. Facets of simplicity for the smartphone interface: a structural model. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2012, 70(2): 129–142
Cusumano M A. Platforms and services: understanding the resurgence of Apple. Communications of the ACM, 2010, 53(10): 22–24
Hsieh J K, Hsieh Y C. Appealing to Internet-based freelance developers in smartphone app marketplaces. International Journal of Information Management, 2013, 33(2): 308–317
Pitt L F, Parent M, Junglas I, Chan A, Spyropoulou S. Integrating the smartphone into a sound environmental information systems strategy: principles, practices and a research agenda. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2011, 20(1): 27–37
Pagani M, Fine C H. Value network dynamics in 3G–4G wireless communications: a systems thinking approach to strategic value assessment. Journal of Business Research, 2008, 61(11): 1102–1112
Peppard J, Rylander A. From value chain to value network: insights for mobile operators. European Management Journal, 2006, 24(2–3): 128–141
Braga C A P. E-commerce regulation: new game, new rules? The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 2005, 45(2–3): 541–558
Hörnle J. E-commerce — competition: competition and e-commerce. Computer Law & Security Review, 2002, 18(3): 155–163
Li Y H, Zhu S M. Competitive dynamics of e-commerce websites. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 2007, 31(5): 912–919
Lu Q H, Liu N. Pricing games of mixed conventional and e-commerce distribution channels. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 2013, 64(1): 122–132
Chevalier M. Increase in sales due to in-store display. Journal of Marketing Research, 1975, 12(4): 426–431
Nordfält J. Improving the attention-capturing ability of special displays with the combination effect and the design effect. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2011, 18(3): 169–173
Doong H S, Wang H C, Foxall G R. An investigation of consumers’ webstore shopping: a view of click-and-mortar company. International Journal of Information Management, 2011, 31(3): 210–216
Allender W J, Richards T J. Brand loyalty and price promotion strategies: an empirical analysis. Journal of Retailing, 2012, 88(3): 323–342
Cebi S. A quality evaluation model for the design quality of online shopping websites. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 2013, 12(2): 124–135
Hong I B, Cho H. The impact of consumer trust on attitudinal loyalty and purchase intention in B2C e-marketplaces: intermediary trust vs. seller trust. International Journal of Information Management, 2011, 31(5): 469–479
Liu C T, Guo Y M, Lee C H. The effects of relationship quality and switching barriers on customer loyalty. International Journal of Information Management, 2011, 31(1): 71–79
Moon J, Chadee D, Tikoo S. Culture, product type, and price influences on consumer purchase intention to buy personalized products online. Journal of Business Research, 2008, 61(1): 31–39
Kuo Y F, Wu C M. Satisfaction and post-purchase intentions with service recovery of online shopping websites: perspectives on perceived justice and emotions. International Journal of Information Management, 2012, 32(2): 127–138
Song J, Baker J, Lee S, Wetherbe J C. Examining online consumers’ behavior: a service-oriented view. International Journal of Information Management, 2012, 31(3): 221–231
Udo G J, Bagchi K K, Kirs P J. An assessment of customers’ e-service quality perception, satisfaction and Intention. International Journal of Information Management, 2010, 30(6): 481–492
Kim H W, Chan H C, Gupta S. Value-based adoption of mobile Internet: an empirical investigation. Decision Support Systems, 2007, 43(1): 111–126
Wang Y S, Yeh C H, Liao Y W. What drives purchase intention in the context of online content services? The moderating role of ethical self-efficacy for online piracy. International Journal of Information Management, 2013, 33(1): 199–208
Éthier J, Hadaya P, Talbot J, Cadieux J. B2C website quality and emotions during online shopping episodes: an empirical study. Information & Management, 2006, 43(5): 627–639
Cao M, Zhang Q Y, Seydel J. B2C e-commerce website quality: an empirical examination. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 2005, 105(5): 645–661
Liu C, Arnett K P. Exploring the factors associated with website success in the context of electronic commerce. Information and Management, 2000, 38(1): 23–33
Moon J W, Kim Y G. Extending the TAM for aWorld-Wide-Web context. Information and Management, 2001, 38(4): 217–230
Lin J C C, Lu H. Towards an understanding of the behavioural intention to use a Web site. International Journal of Information Management, 2000, 20(3): 197–208
Cai S H, Jun M. Internet users’ perceptions of online service quality: a comparison of online buyers and information searchers. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 2003, 13(6): 504–519
Cox J, Dale B G. Key quality factors in website design and use: an examination. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 2002, 19(7): 862–888
Santos J. E-service quality: a model of virtual service quality dimensions. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 2003, 13(3): 233–246
Huang E Y. Is revamping your website worthwhile? Industrial Management and Data Systems, 2005, 105(6): 737–751
Katerattanakul P. Framework of effective website design for businessto- consumer Internet commerce. INFOR, 2002, 40(1): 57–70
Wan H A. Opportunities to enhance a commercial website. Information & Management, 2000, 38(1): 15–21
Bauer C, Scharl A. Quantitative evaluation of website content and structure. Internet Research, 2000, 10(1): 31–43
Huizingh E K R E. The content and design of websites: an empirical study. Information & Management, 2000, 37(3): 123–134
Rose G, Khoo H, Straub D W. Current technological impediments to business-to-consumer electronic commerce. Communication of the AIS, 1999, 1(16): 1–74
Robins D, Holmes J. Aesthetics and credibility in website design. Information Processing & Management, 2008, 44(1): 386–399
Lindgaard G, Fernandes G, Dudek C, Brown J. Attention web designers: you have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression! Behaviour & Information Technology, 2006, 25(2): 115–126
Tractinsky N, Katz A S, Ikar D. What is beautiful is usable. Interacting with Computers, 2000, 13(2): 127–145
Wathen C N, Burkell J. Believe it or not: factors influencing credibility on the Web. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2002, 53(2): 134–144
Norman D A. Emotional Design: Why We Love (or hate) Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2004
Lee S, Koubek R J. The effects of usability and Web design attributes on user preference for e-commerce websites. Computers in Industry, 2010, 62(4): 329–341
Wulf K D, Schillewaert N, Muylle S, Rangarajan D. The role of pleasure in website success. Information & Management, 2006, 43(4): 434–446
Costa-Montenegro E, Barragáns-Martinez A B, Rey-López M. Which App? A recommender system of apps in markets: implementation of the service for monitoring users’ interaction. Expert Systems with Apps, 2012, 39(10): 9367–9375
de Kock E, van Biljon J, Pretorius M. Usability evaluation methods: mind the gaps. In: Proceedings of the 2009 Annual Research Conference of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists. 2009, 122–131
Manhartsberger M, Zellhofer N. Eye tracking in usability research: what users really see. Usability Symposium, 2005, 198(2): 141–152
Ehmke C, Wilson S. Identifying Web usability problems from eyetracking data. In: Proceedings of the 21st British HCI Group Annual Conference on People and Computers. 2007, 119–128
Starker I, Bolt R A. A gaze-responsive self-disclosing display. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 1990, 1251–1254
Salvucci D D, Anderson J R. Intelligent gaze-added interfaces. In: Proceedings of the SIGHCI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2000, 273–280
Qu L, Johnson W L. Detecting the learner’s motivational states in an interactive learning environment. In: Proceedings of the 2005 Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education: Supporting Learning through Intelligent and Socially Informed Technology. 2005, 547–554
Schiessl M, Duda S, Thölke A, Fischer R. Eye tracking and its application in usability and media research. MMI-interaktiv Journal, 2003, 6: 1–10
DeCarlo D, Santella A. Stylization and abstraction of photographs. In: Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques. 2002, 769–776
Lynton N, Thogersen K. Reckoning with Chinese Gen Y. Bloomberg Businessweek, 2010, 441–457
Djamasbi S, Siegel M, Tullis T. Generation Y, Web design, and eye tracking International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2010, 68(5): 307–323
Djamasbi S, Tullis T, Siegel M, Capozzo D, Groezinger R, Ng F. Generation Y & Web design: usability testing through eye tracking. In: Proceedings of the 14th Americas Conference on Information Systems. 2008, 1–11
Tractinsky N. Aesthetics in information technology: motivation and future research directions. Human-Computer Interaction in Management Information Systems: Foundations, 2006, 6: 330–347
Maslow A H, Frager R, Cox R. Motivation and personality. New York: Harper & Row, 1970
Tractinsky N. Toward the study of aesthetics in information technology. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Information Systems. 2004, 771–780
Oh J, Fioritob S S, Cho H, Hofackerd C F. Effects of design factors on store image and expectation of merchandise quality in web-based stores. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2008, 15(4): 237–249
Tan G W, Wei K K. An empirical study of Web browsing behaviour: towards an effective website design. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 2006, 5(4): 261–271
Sauro J, Lewis J R. Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research. London: Elsevier, 2012
Djamasbi S, Tullis T, Hsu J, Mazuera E, Osberg K, Bosch J. Gender preferences in Web design: usability testing through eye tracking. In: Proceedings of the 13th Americas Conference on Information Systems. 2007, 1–8
Ntuen C A, Goings M, Reddin M, Holmes K. Comparison between 2-D & 3-D using an autostereoscopic display: the effects of viewing field and illumination on performance and visual fatigue. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2009, 39(2): 388–395
Faraday P. Visually critiquing web pages, In: Proceedings of the 6th Conference on Human Factors and the Web. 2000, 155–166
Hillier M. The role of cultural context in multilingual website usability. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 2003, 2(1): 2–14
Chadwick-Dias A, Tedesco D, Tullis T. Demographic differences in preferred Web site content. In: Proceedings of the Usability Professionals’ Association Annual Conference. 2004, 1–8
Chapman P. Remembering what we’ve seen: predicting recollective experiences from eye movements when viewing everyday scenes. In: Underwood G, ed. Congitive Processes in Eye Guidance. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51175458).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Shijian Luo is the vice dean of Department of Industrial Design, College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, China. He got his master degree at Hunan University, China and PhD degree at Zhejiang University. He has professional experience on user experience and product innovation design, service design, and computer-aided industrial design.
Yi Hu received his Bachelor’s degree from School of Design, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, China in 2011. At present, he is a PhD candidate at Zhejiang University, China. His research interests focus on the fields of user experience and product innovation design, computer aided industrial design, and product family design.
Yuxiao Zhou is a PhD candidate at Zhejiang University, China. He got his MS and BS degrees from Computer Science School of Zhejiang University and School of Art, Zhejiang University of Technology, China. He has solid background in design, humancomputer research, and has professional experience on user experience design, interaction design and user research.
Electronic supplementary material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Luo, S., Hu, Y. & Zhou, Y. Factors attracting Chinese Generation Y in the smartphone application marketplace. Front. Comput. Sci. 11, 290–306 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11704-016-5022-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11704-016-5022-8