September 2007 – Consumer Choice

This data set contains questions about how people research, buy and evaluate products they purchase online. It includes modules on cell phones, real estate and music and was used in the reports “Online Shopping” and “The Internet and Consumer Choice”.

The internet plays an important role in how people conduct research for purchases, but it is just one among a variety of sources people use and usually not the key factor in final purchasing decisions.

Most online Americans view online shopping as a way to save time and a convenient way to buy products, but most also express discomfort about sending personal or credit card information over the internet