Hierarchical perspective toward consumer innovativeness: Direct and mediating links between the separate levels of the construct
Hierarchical perspective toward consumer innovativeness: Direct and mediating links between the separate levels of the construct

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the so-called “hierarchical perspective” on consumer innovativeness based on the models of Midgley & Dowling (1978) and Hirschman (1980). An excerpt of 1106 respondents is used, aged 20 to 65 years, randomly selected. The results of the conducted analyses confirm on an empirical level the hierarchical model of the construct in the context of the Bulgarian consumer. In particular, there are statistically significant links between the three levels of consumer innovativeness (inherent, vicarious and adoptive). The vicarious innovativeness has a more significant impact on the adoptive innovativeness compared to the inherent innovativeness. Only two of its three dimensions (advertising and word of mouth) have predictive capacity with regards to the adoptive innovativeness. Also, the vicarious innovativeness acts as a mediating factor in the causal relationship between the inherent and adoptive innovativeness. In addition, the article offers an interpretation of the results in view of the leading theoretical statements and research in the field.

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