Consumer interpretations of digital ownership in the book market

Sabrina V. Helm (), Victoria Ligon (), Tony Stovall () and Silvia Riper ()
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Sabrina V. Helm: University of Arizona
Victoria Ligon: University of Arizona
Tony Stovall: Towson University
Silvia Riper: University of Arizona

Electronic Markets, 2018, vol. 28, issue 2, No 5, 177-189

Abstract: Abstract Technological advances in electronic markets, particularly product digitization, have transformed customer-product interactions. For example, altered ownership perceptions in the digital domain affect product acquisition, usage and disposition. This study’s goal is to explore how consumers conceptualize ownership of digital possessions in order to help marketers develop tailored positioning and commercialization strategies. Comparing physical books and e-books, we contribute to the literature on electronic markets, which neglects a consumer-focused perspective on digital possessions. Using focus groups with U.S. consumers, we identify six themes surrounding perceptions of psychological digital ownership, which mainly portray a constricted sense of ownership, limiting usage experience, and value perceptions. However, we also find that ease of disposition favors e-book usage. Typical assumptions about younger consumers’ preference for digital products were not supported. Based on our findings, we offer two managerial approaches: (1) enhancing the digital product experience or (2) emancipating digital products from their physical correlates.

Keywords: Psychological ownership; Digital ownership; Digital possessions; Digital products; E-books; Focus group research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12525-018-0293-6

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