A study on characteristics affecting avatar benefits os avatar users

아바타 사용자의 행동분석에 따른 연구적 고찰

The purposes of this study were to identify Avatar benefits and characteristics of Avatar users. Avatars are imaginary characters that people use to represent themselves in the Cyber. The number of Netizens who want to consume avatars is increasing. It is necessary to understand about the consumption behavior of the Netizens who use Avatars. These data comes from Pollever Research Company in Korea on Oct. 2003. The factor Analysis of the data resulted in five factors that contribute to Avatar Benefits: uniqueness, response, assurance, self-expression, proxy satisfaction and affirmative. And we have found out meaningful themes, showing psychological experiences, purchasing strategies and repurchasing behavior of Avatars in the process of the consumption. The results showed a significant affect on each factor of the benefits and multiful regression analysis. Affirmative response was affected by self-esteem, fashion leadership and conspicuous value. So many Netizens were using unlimited purchasing coupons, exchanging Avatars and buying-selling-buying. Strategies for obtaining involved purchasing Avatars in order to get game points. The reason why Hangame site was No.1 of Avatar site in Korea. We have found out that Netizens needed to repurchase Avatars. Because they wanted to maintain positive psychological experiences in Avatar consumption.

지난 2년여 동안 급속히 발전해온 아바타가 사회에 미치는 영향 등을 자료의 미흡함과 인구 통계적 특성이 부족하여 연령별, 지역별, 학력별 차이 등을 비교 분석하지 못한 아쉬움이 남아 추후 연구에서는 좀 더 깊은 자료로 더 많은 연구자료가 필요하다.