Contextual Effects of Online Review Recency: Three Research Propositions

Abstract

Online reviews are influential information sources for tourists in trip planning and related decision-making. How tourists process online reviews is context-specific, so the effects of online reviews on their perceptions or decision-making are affected by different contextual factors. Building on the literature on information recency, this research note discusses recency as an important information component of online reviews and explores a range of contextual factors that affect online review recency in terms of its role in information search and processing. Three propositions are suggested as the basis for future research. Implications for both theory development and managerial practice are also discussed.