The role of pleasure in web site success

We developed and empirically validated a process model of web site success in an online shopping context by identifying the role of pleasure as a key mediating variable. Web site evaluations (of content, organization, and technology) were posited as affecting the success (involving satisfaction, commitment, and trust) of a multi-dimensional web site. Pleasure was introduced as a key variable, mediating the relationship between web site evaluation and web site success. We found that pleasure partially mediated the evaluations–success relationship and also found significant support for direct relationships between web site evaluations and success. Additionally, satisfaction was found to be instrumental in helping predict user commitment and trust that online shoppers placed on the site owner.