Wang, Zhina. Research on consumer trust in Douyin. Master's Degree(Knowledge and Innovation Management). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2026.
Abstract:
With the rapid development of social e-commerce, consumer trust has become a critical factor affecting user participation and purchasing behavior. Douyin, as one of the most influential platforms in China, faces both opportunities and challenges in building and maintaining consumer trust. This study aims to explore the key factors influencing consumer trust on Douyin and to propose strategies for enhancing trust based on the framework of Customer Knowledge Management (CKM).To achieve this aim, a mixed-methods approach was adopted. First, 200 online comments from Douyin and Zhihu were initially collected, from which 157 valid comments were retained and analyzed using text mining to identify consumer perceptions and trust-related themes. Second, a Kano questionnaire survey with 202 valid responses was conducted to classify trust-related features into different need types and calculate satisfaction coefficients. Finally, in-depth interviews with nine participants were carried out to complement and validate the quantitative results.The findings show that consumer trust in Douyin is influenced by multiple factors, including product quality, platform service performance, payment security, and information responsibility. Kano model analysis reveals that most features, such as compensation policies, payment protection, and complaint handling, fall into the performance need (O) category, highlighting their direct impact on user trust. A smaller number of features were identified as attractive needs (A), providing additional satisfaction when present, while some were classified as indifferent needs (I), indicating low user sensitivity. The interviews further emphasized the importance of timely compensation, transparent service mechanisms, and proactive governance in enhancing trust.This research contributes theoretically by integrating CKM and trust theory into the study of social e-commerce, enriching the understanding of consumer trust mechanisms in digital platforms. Practically, it provides actionable insights for Douyin and similar platforms, including strengthening service standardization, improving governance transparency, and enhancing user security measures. These recommendations can help platforms build sustainable consumer trust and maintain long-term competitiveness.Keywords: Consumer Trust ; Social E-commerce ; Douyin ; Kano Model ; Customer Knowledge Management (CKM).