• 마케팅과학연구
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.179-187
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• 2010

对营销和广告经理来说, 理解消费者的偏好和使用的媒体类型是非常有必要的, 尤其是在如今市场细分的情况下. 清晰的理解能帮助经理更有效的选择合适的媒体. 而且由于性格特征的不同, 个人对媒体类型的选择和使用都不相同. 本文测试了一个性格特征, 即感知追求. 这是在测试 "新" 媒体偏好和使用的文献中尚未出现的. 感知追求是被定义为 "一种对变化, 新颖和复杂的感觉的需要和经历. 以及为承担这些经历愿意承受生理的和社会的风险" (Zuckerman 1979). 根据文献回顾, 我们提出了6个假设. 我们尤其关注使用与满足理论(Katz 1959), 这个理论解释了为什么人们选择媒体类型和他们使用不同媒体类型的动机的原因. 目前的理论表明高感知追求者(HSS), 由于他们对新颖, 激励和非传统的内容和想象的需要, 他们会更多的使用新媒体. 因此, 我们假设高感知追求者比低感知追求者(LSS)(H2a)或中等感知追求者(MSS)(H2b)会更多的使用网络而不是广播(H1a)或印刷媒体(H1b). 另外, 高感知追求者有更多的社交活动及朋友, 因此他们会比低感知追求者(a) 和中等感知追求者(b)更多的使用社交网络网页例如Facebook/MySpace(H3) 以及聊天室(H4). 感知追求者可以显示出一系列的行为包括抑制解除. 我们认为具有高水平去抑制的人们比低水平或中等水平的人们会更多的使用社交网络如Facebook/MySpace (H5) 和聊天室(H6). 我们的数据来源于对参加极限运动的参与者的网上调查. 为得到这个群组的信息, 我们使用雪球样本技术的提高版, 即连锁推荐方法来选择应答者. 这种方法被认为是对隐藏人群进行有效估算的方法(Heckathorn, 1997). 最终的有效样本包括1108名应答者. 主要是年轻人(56.36%在34岁以下), 男性(86.1%)和中产阶级(58.7%的家庭收入超过50,000美元). 我们用这个样本来进行感知追求的研究. 我们用简要感知追求量表来测试感知追求(Hoyle et al. 2007). 我们用自我报告使用过的不同媒体类型来测量媒体使用. 结果并不支持H1a和b. 高感知追求者并没有更多的使用网络这样的媒体. 事实上, 同其他的媒体类型相比, 这个平均水平是较低的. 高感知追求者使用最多的媒体类型时印刷媒体, 这说明了一种对主流的反抗. 结果支持H2a和b. 高感知追求者比低感知或中等感知追求者更多的使用网络. 进一步的分析揭示了在高感知和低感知追求者之间在使用印刷媒体方面有显著不同. 高感知追求者在他们感兴趣的极限运动方面会追求更专业的印刷出版物. 假设3a和b 揭示了高感知追求者比低感知或中等感知追求者更多的使用Facebook/MySpace. 在使用聊天室方面低感知和高感知追求者之间没有显著差距. 所以结果也不支持假设H4a, 但是H4b的结果是显著的. 不同抑制解除水平的应答者被认为使用Facebook/MySpace 和聊天室的水平也不同. 去抑制水平高比低水平或中等水平的使用Facebook/MySpace的水平高. 所以H5a和b 被支持. 类似的, H6b也被支持. 去抑制水平高的人们使用聊天室的概率显著多于中等水平的但并不多于低水平的人们(H6a). 这些结果为管理者提供了一些有趣的见解. 第一, 尽管高感知追求者比低感知或中等感知追求者更多的使用在线媒体, 但他们使用在线媒体仍然少于印刷或广播媒体. 广告执行者们不应该对这个重要的客户群过分的强调在线媒体. 第二, 社交媒体, 例如Facebook/MySpace和聊天室会是接近这个群体的有潜力的方法. 最后, 对去抑制水平高的群体, 有公共关系方面的启示. 这些个体更倾向于一些社会风险的行为. 这些直接的启示包括因特网捕食者和未来的雇主. 本研究的一个不足是受访者都是参与极限运动的. 这本身就是一个高感知追求者活动. 更大范围的人群需要被测试.

• 한국유통학회지:유통연구
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.1-24
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• 2011

오프라인 구매환경과는 달리 온라인 환경에서는 제품을 직접 눈으로 확인하고 만져 볼 수 없다. 때문에 온라인 쇼핑몰을 구축하고 운영하는 입장에서는 보다 구체적인 제품정보를 제공해야 하며(김광석 2008), Alba (1997)는 제공된 정보의 질은 소비자들이 구매 후 만족을 얼마나 예상할 수 있는 가로 결정된다고 정의한 바 있다. 이에 패션 의류 온라인 쇼핑몰을 중심으로 실제 모델이 제품을 착용한 사진정보(실착사진)를 제공함으로써 실제 제품사용에 따른 결과를 제시하여 제품정보의 유용성을 높이고 있다. 한편 온라인 환경에서 소비자들의 제품에 대한 제한된 지각을 극복하는 또 다른 수단으로써, 가상제품경험은 가장 효과적인 것으로 논의되어 왔다(Jiang & Benbasat 2005). 그러나 가상현실도구의 도입과 지속적 활용에는 일반적인 텍스트/사진 정보와 비교해 높은 비용과 기술적 전문성을 요구한다(Shaffer 2006). 이는 특히 영세 소매상 입장에서 시장에 대한 진입장벽으로 작용하는 한편, 소비자의 정보처리과정에서는 오히려 단순한 형태의 정보에 비하여 더 높은 수준의 인지적 노력을 요구할 수 있다. 따라서 이러한 도구들의 활용하는 것이 소비자들의 정보과부하를 초래해 제품에 대한 핵심정보 취득을 방해하고, 소비자의 지각된 정보유용성에 부정적 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 제품유형을 소비자들의 제품 사용상황에 따라 휴대제품과 설치제품으로 구분하고, 이때 정지사진, 실착사진, VR로 대별되는 제품정보의 형태에 따른 소비자들의 지각된 정보의 유용성, 쇼핑몰에 대한 태도와 품질평가, 구매의도, 재방문 의도를 측정하기 위한 실험을 진행했다. 그 결과 소비자 구매의도에 영향을 미치는 종속변수군에 대해 제품유형과 제품정보형태가 상호작용효과를 일으키는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 마케팅과학연구
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.262-268
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• 2010

虚拟社区(virtual community, VC)今年来发展迅速, 越来越多的人参与到虚拟社区中交换信息和分享观点. 虚拟社区是通过计算机布告板和网络进行非面对面的知识和语言交流的一种大众集合体. B2C电子商务网站虚拟社区则是商业性的虚拟社区, 通过培养信任环境来促进消费者在该网站的购买行为. B2CVC通过信息交流, 如推荐, 评论, 买者与卖者评级等, 来建立社会性的氛围. 目前, 虽然学术界已经认识到B2CVC的重要性, 但是关于社区成员的口碑传播行为的研究还不充分. 本研究提出了一个理论模型, 探讨在B2C网站社区中参与度, 满意度, 信任度, 粘度和口碑传播之间的关系. 本研究的目的有三个: 1, 通过整合信念, 态度和行为的测量来实证检验B2C网站社区模型; 2, 更好地理解各因素对口碑传播的影响关系; 3, 更好地理解B2C网站社区黏度在CRM营销中的作用. 研究模型包含以下要素: 1, 社区成员的信念变量, 通过参与度来测量; 2, 社区成员的态度变量, 通过满意度和信任度来测量; 以及3, 社区成员的行为变量, 通过网站黏度和口播传播意愿来测量. 参与度是消费者在虚拟社区的参与动机. 对于社区成员来说, 信息的查找和发布是他们参与到社区的主要目的. 满意度是成员对社区整体评价的重要指标, 反映了成员与社区的交互程度. 虚拟社区的形成与发展依靠成员分享信息和服务的自愿程度. 研究者已经发现信任是促进匿名交互的关键, 因此构建信任被看作是虚拟社区的重要研究课题. 此外, 虚拟社区的成功依靠成员的粘度来提高购买潜力. 社区成员间的观点交流和信息交换代表一种 "写作式" 的口碑传播. 因此口碑传播是推动B2C虚拟社区在互联网上扩散的主要因素之一. 研究模型及假设如图一所示. 本研究通过实证调查中国携程旅游网虚拟社区成员来验证模型. 数据收集过程中共发放243份问卷, 其中有效问卷204份. 通过实证数据验证了参与度, 满意度和信任度影响粘度和口碑传播之间的假设关系. 结构方程模型(SEM)方法用来进行数据分析. 模型的拟合指数结果为χ2/df 是2.76, NFI是 .904, IFI是 .931, CFI是 .930, 以及RMSEA是 .017. 结果表明, 参与度对满意度具有显著的影响(p<0.001, ${\beta}$=0.809). 参与度可以解释满意度的方差比例超过50%, 调整R2为0.654. 参与度对信任度具有显著影响(p<0.001, ${\beta}$=0.751), 解释率为57%, 调整R2为0.563. 此外, 满意度对黏度的影响显著(${\beta}$=0.514), 但是信任度对黏度的影响并不显著(p=0.231, t=1.197). 黏度对口碑传播的影响显著, 且解释率超过80%, 调整R2为 0.846. 总之, 研究结果支持了大部分的研究假设, 但是信任度显著影响粘度的假设没有得到支持. 本研究丰富了电子商务网站虚拟社区的学术研究成果, 深入探讨了在B2C电子商务环境下的用户信念, 态度和行为等因素. 研究成果有助于实践者进行更有针对性的资源开发和市场开拓. 网络营销人员可以针对B2C网站社区来有针对性地制定营销策略, 如对于国际旅游业务, 营销人员可以针对中国的B2C网站社区用户开展营销活动, 如为活跃的用户提供特殊折扣以及为早期参与者提高社区黏度定制营销计划等. 未来的研究应该拓展社区成员行为的研究, 并在不同的行业, 社区和文化背景下开展研究.

• 한국유통학회지:유통연구
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1-34
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• 2010

본 연구의 목적은 국내 외식 프랜차이즈 시스템에서 가맹점에 대한 가맹본부의 관계품질에 영향을 미치는 변수를 사후 지원서비스로 설정하고, 사후 지원서비스가 가맹점의 관계품질(신뢰, 만족, 몰입)과 경영성과(재무적 성과, 비재무적 성과)에 미치는 영향에 대한 포괄적인 모형을 개발하는 것이다. 제안된 모형을 검증하기 위하여 서울 및 경기 지역의 외식 프랜차이즈 가맹점 경영자 500명을 대상으로 설문 조사를 하여, 구조방정식을 통해 실증 분석하였다. 분석결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 사후 지원서비스 요인 중 제품범주 및 가격 요인과 정보제공 및 문제해결 능력 요인은 가맹점의 만족과 몰입에만 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 물류지원과 슈퍼바이저 지원 요인은 신뢰와 만족에만 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 재교육 및 훈련지원 요인은 가맹점의 신뢰와 몰입에만 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 넷째, 판매촉진 요인은 신뢰 만족, 그리고 몰입 모두에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 다섯째, 관계품질요인들 간의 관계는 신뢰가 만족에 긍정적인 영향을 미치지만 몰입에는 직접적으로 영향을 미치지 못하고, 만족을 통해서 몰입에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 여섯째, 신뢰는 재무적 성과에만 긍정적인 영향을 미치고, 만족과 몰입은 재무적 성과와 비재무적 성과 모두에 긍정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 마지막으로 본 연구의 결과요약과 시사점, 그리고 연구의 한계점과 향후 연구방향이 제시되었다.

• 마케팅과학연구
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.59-88
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• 2008

Digital Convergence means integration between industry, technology, and contents, and in marketing, it usually comes with creation of new types of product and service under the base of digital technology as digitalization progress in electro-communication industries including telecommunication, home appliance, and computer industries. One can see digital convergence not only in instruments such as PC, AV appliances, cellular phone, but also in contents, network, service that are required in production, modification, distribution, re-production of information. Convergence in contents started around 1990. Convergence in network and service begins as broadcasting and telecommunication integrates and DMB(digital multimedia broadcasting), born in May, 2005 is the symbolic icon in this trend. There are some positive and negative expectations about DMB. The reason why two opposite expectations exist is that DMB does not come out from customer's need but from technology development. Therefore, customers might have hard time to interpret the real meaning of DMB. Time is quite critical to a high tech product, like DMB because another product with same function from different technology can replace the existing product within short period of time. If DMB does not positioning well to customer's mind quickly, another products like Wibro, IPTV, or HSPDA could replace it before it even spreads out. Therefore, positioning strategy is critical for success of DMB product. To make correct positioning strategy, one needs to understand how consumer interprets DMB and how consumer's interpretation can be changed via communication strategy. In this study, we try to investigate how consumer perceives a new product, like DMB and how AD strategy change consumer's perception. More specifically, the paper segment consumers into sub-groups based on their DMB perceptions and compare their characteristics in order to understand how they perceive DMB. And, expose them different printed ADs that have messages guiding consumer think DMB in specific ways, either cellular phone or personal TV. Research Question 1: Segment consumers according to perceptions about DMB and compare characteristics of segmentations. Research Question 2: Compare perceptions about DMB after AD that induces categorization of DMB in direction for each segment. If one understand and predict a direction in which consumer perceive a new product, firm can select target customers easily. We segment consumers according to their perception and analyze characteristics in order to find some variables that can influence perceptions, like prior experience, usage, or habit. And then, marketing people can use this variables to identify target customers and predict their perceptions. If one knows how customer's perception is changed via AD message, communication strategy could be constructed properly. Specially, information from segmented customers helps to develop efficient AD strategy for segment who has prior perception. Research framework consists of two measurements and one treatment, O1 X O2. First observation is for collecting information about consumer's perception and their characteristics. Based on first observation, the paper segment consumers into two groups, one group perceives DMB similar to Cellular phone and the other group perceives DMB similar to TV. And compare characteristics of two segments in order to find reason why they perceive DMB differently. Next, we expose two kinds of AD to subjects. One AD describes DMB as Cellular phone and the other Ad describes DMB as personal TV. When two ADs are exposed to subjects, consumers don't know their prior perception of DMB, in other words, which subject belongs 'similar-to-Cellular phone' segment or 'similar-to-TV' segment? However, we analyze the AD's effect differently for each segment. In research design, final observation is for investigating AD effect. Perception before AD is compared with perception after AD. Comparisons are made for each segment and for each AD. For the segment who perceives DMB similar to TV, AD that describes DMB as cellular phone could change the prior perception. And AD that describes DMB as personal TV, could enforce the prior perception. For data collection, subjects are selected from undergraduate students because they have basic knowledge about most digital equipments and have open attitude about a new product and media. Total number of subjects is 240. In order to measure perception about DMB, we use indirect measurement, comparison with other similar digital products. To select similar digital products, we pre-survey students and then finally select PDA, Car-TV, Cellular Phone, MP3 player, TV, and PSP. Quasi experiment is done at several classes under instructor's allowance. After brief introduction, prior knowledge, awareness, and usage about DMB as well as other digital instruments is asked and their similarities and perceived characteristics are measured. And then, two kinds of manipulated color-printed AD are distributed and similarities and perceived characteristics for DMB are re-measured. Finally purchase intension, AD attitude, manipulation check, and demographic variables are asked. Subjects are given small gift for participation. Stimuli are color-printed advertising. Their actual size is A4 and made after several pre-test from AD professionals and students. As results, consumers are segmented into two subgroups based on their perceptions of DMB. Similarity measure between DMB and cellular phone and similarity measure between DMB and TV are used to classify consumers. If subject whose first measure is less than the second measure, she is classified into segment A and segment A is characterized as they perceive DMB like TV. Otherwise, they are classified as segment B, who perceives DMB like cellular phone. Discriminant analysis on these groups with their characteristics of usage and attitude shows that Segment A knows much about DMB and uses a lot of digital instrument. Segment B, who thinks DMB as cellular phone doesn't know well about DMB and not familiar with other digital instruments. So, consumers with higher knowledge perceive DMB similar to TV because launching DMB advertising lead consumer think DMB as TV. Consumers with less interest on digital products don't know well about DMB AD and then think DMB as cellular phone. In order to investigate perceptions of DMB as well as other digital instruments, we apply Proxscal analysis, Multidimensional Scaling technique at SPSS statistical package. At first step, subjects are presented 21 pairs of 7 digital instruments and evaluate similarity judgments on 7 point scale. And for each segment, their similarity judgments are averaged and similarity matrix is made. Secondly, Proxscal analysis of segment A and B are done. At third stage, get similarity judgment between DMB and other digital instruments after AD exposure. Lastly, similarity judgments of group A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2 are named as 'after DMB' and put them into matrix made at the first stage. Then apply Proxscal analysis on these matrixes and check the positional difference of DMB and after DMB. The results show that map of segment A, who perceives DMB similar as TV, shows that DMB position closer to TV than to Cellular phone as expected. Map of segment B, who perceive DMB similar as cellular phone shows that DMB position closer to Cellular phone than to TV as expected. Stress value and R-square is acceptable. And, change results after stimuli, manipulated Advertising show that AD makes DMB perception bent toward Cellular phone when Cellular phone-like AD is exposed, and that DMB positioning move towards Car-TV which is more personalized one when TV-like AD is exposed. It is true for both segment, A and B, consistently. Furthermore, the paper apply correspondence analysis to the same data and find almost the same results. The paper answers two main research questions. The first one is that perception about a new product is made mainly from prior experience. And the second one is that AD is effective in changing and enforcing perception. In addition to above, we extend perception change to purchase intention. Purchase intention is high when AD enforces original perception. AD that shows DMB like TV makes worst intention. This paper has limitations and issues to be pursed in near future. Methodologically, current methodology can't provide statistical test on the perceptual change, since classical MDS models, like Proxscal and correspondence analysis are not probability models. So, a new probability MDS model for testing hypothesis about configuration needs to be developed. Next, advertising message needs to be developed more rigorously from theoretical and managerial perspective. Also experimental procedure could be improved for more realistic data collection. For example, web-based experiment and real product stimuli and multimedia presentation could be employed. Or, one can display products together in simulated shop. In addition, demand and social desirability threats of internal validity could influence on the results. In order to handle the threats, results of the model-intended advertising and other "pseudo" advertising could be compared. Furthermore, one can try various level of innovativeness in order to check whether it make any different results (cf. Moon 2006). In addition, if one can create hypothetical product that is really innovative and new for research, it helps to make a vacant impression status and then to study how to form impression in more rigorous way.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.69-98
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• 2009

We investigated what factors motivate gamers to participate in a guild and why they continue to be engaged as members of the guild. We find that, based on the result of focus group interviews with MMORPG gamers, social support and self-esteem factors play important roles. Considering both prior research and the focus group interviews we have conducted, we define social support and character control as independent variables. Character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem are proposed as mediating variables while guild flow and game loyalty as dependent variables. Accordingly, we develop the research model and hypotheses, and verify them empirically. Based on our experiences of playing the WoW game, we proposed a research model and conducted focus-group interviews (FGIs). FGIs involve formulating a hypothesis and then collecting some relevant data. FGIs were conducted face-to-face with students of C University in Korea. We formulated structured interview schedules, and the questions were based on our research variables and personal experiences. The questions for the interviews encompassed the following areas: (a) the demographic characteristics of the focus group; (b) the number of years for which respondents had played online games; (c) the motive for starting a game; (d) the number of game-characters assumed by each gamer; (e) the type of game played; and (f) other issues such as the reasons for involvement in the play, the willingness to reuse the game in case new versions were released, etc. On average, it took two hours to interview each of three groups. A primary set of FGIs was conducted with three groups on the premise that there would be some differences caused by character race (Horde vs. Alliance) or by playable server (Normal vs. Combat). With respect to the manner of playing, we found that guild members shared information, felt a sense of belonging, and played computer games for quite a long time through the guild; however, they did not undergo these experiences when playing alone. Gamers who belonged to a specific guild helped other players without expecting compensation for that, freely shared information about the game, gave away items for free, and more generous with other members who made mistakes. The guild members were aware of the existence other members and experienced a sense of belonging through interactions with, and evaluations from, other players. It was clear that social support was shown within the guild and that it played an important role as a major research variable. Based on the results of the first FGIs, a second set of in-depth FGIs was carried out with a focus on the psychology of the individual within the guild and the social community of the guild. The second set of FGIs also focused on the guild's offline meetings. Gamers, over all, recognize the necessity of joining a community, not only off-line but also online world of the guild. They admit that the guild is important for them to easily and conveniently enjoy playing online computer games. The active behavior and positive attitudes of existing guild members can motivate new members of the guild to adapt themselves to the guild environment. They then adopt the same behaviors and attitudes of established guild members. In this manner, the new members of the guild strengthen the bonds with other gamers while feeling a sense of belonging, and developing social identity, thereby. It was discovered that the interaction among guild members and the social support encouraged new gamers to quickly develop a sense of social identity and increase their self-esteem. The guild seemed to play the role of socializing gamers. Sometimes, even in the real world, the guild members helped one another; therefore, the features of the guild also spilled over to the offline environment. We intend to use self-esteem, which was found through the second set of FGIs, as an important research variable. To collect data, an online survey was designed with a questionnaire to be completed by WoW gamers, who belong to a guild. The survey was registered on the best three domestic game-sites: 'WoW playforum,' 'WoW gamemeca,' and 'Wow invent.' The selected items to be measured in the questionnaire were decided based on prior research and data from FGIs. To verify the content of the questionnaire, we carried out a pilot test with the same participants to point out ambiguous questions as a way to ensure maximum accuracy of the survey result. A total of 244 responses were analyzed from the 250 completed questionnaires. The SEM analysis was used to test goodness-of-fit of the model. As a result, we found important results as follows: First, according to the statistics, social support had statistically significant impacts on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Second, character control had significant effects on character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity shows its clear impact on self-esteem and game loyalty. Fourth, guild identity affected self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Fifth, self-esteem had a positive influence on the guild flow. These days, the number of virtual community is rising along with its significance largely because of the nature of the online games. Accordingly, this study is designed to clarify the psychological relationship between gamers within the guild that has been generally established by gamers to play online games together. This study focuses on the relationships in which social support influences guild flow or game loyalty through character control, character identity, guild identity, and self-esteem, which are present within a guild in the MMORPG game environment. The study results are as follows. First, the effects of social support on character control, character identity, guild identity and self-esteem are proven to be statistically significant. It was found that character control improves character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Among the seven variables, social support, which is derived from FGIs, plays an important role in this study. With the active support of other guild members, gamers can improve their ability to develop good characters and to control them. Second, character identity has a positive effect on self-esteem and game loyalty, while guild identity has a significant effect on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Self-esteem affects guild flow. It was found that the higher the character and guild identities become, the greater the self-esteem is established. Contrary to the findings of prior research, our study results indicate that the relationship between character identity and guild flow is not significant. Rather, it was found that character identity directly affects game players' loyalty. Even though the character identity had no direct effect on increasing guild flow, it has indirectly affected guild flow through self-esteem. The significant relationship between self-esteem and guild flow indicates that gamers achieve flow, i.e., a feeling of pleasure and excitement through social support. Several important implications of this study should be noted. First, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to conduct this study. Through FGIs, it was observed that both social support and self-esteem are important variables. Second, because guilds had been rarely studied, this research is expected to play an important role in the online community. Third, according to the result, six hypotheses (H1, H5, H6, H7, H8, and H11) setup based on FGIs, were statistically significant; thus, we can suggest the corresponding relationships among the variables as a guideline for follow-up research. Our research is significant as it has following implications: first, the social support of the guild members is important when establishing character control, character identity, guildidentity and self-esteem. It is also a major variable that affects guild flow and game loyalty. Second, character control when improved by social support shows notable influence on the development of character identity, guild identity and self-esteem. Third, character identity and guild identity are major factors to help establish gamers' own self-esteem. Fourth, character identity affects guild flow through self-esteem and game loyalty. The gamers usually express themselves through characters; the higher character identity is, the more loyalty a gamer has. Fifth, guild identity, established within the guild, has clear effects on self-esteem, guild flow and game loyalty. Sixth, qualitative and quantitative methods are employed to conduct this study. Based on the results of focus group interviews and SEM analysis, we find that the social support by guild members and psychological factors are significant in strengthening the flow of guild and loyalty to the game. As such, game developers should provide some extra functions for guild community, through which gamers can play online games in collaboration with one another. Also, we suggest that positive self-esteem which is built up through social support can help gamers achieve higher level of flow and satisfaction, which will consequently contribute to minimizing the possibility for the players to develop negative attitude toward the guild they belong to.