An Empirical Investigation of the Determinants of Online Information Disclosure

Organizations collect customer information in order to understand and meet their customers' needs. However, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential value of their personal information and the potential risks associated with disclosing it. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action and Transaction Cost Theory, a model was developed that examines the central role of risk in disclosure decisions as well as the factors (risk and information relevance) that mitigate individuals' risk perceptions. Overall, our findings provide insight into the nomological network of salient beliefs that affect individuals' intent to share information with a website. The analysis of the measurement model demonstrated satisfactory validity for the instrument, while the testing of the structural model provided support to all of the hypotheses proposed. The high variance (>50%) explained for attitudes and intent reflects the strength of our model. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.