Previous research shows that online reviews may have different effects for search goods and experience goods. However, as a typical type of experience goods, software can be further divided into different categories based on product characteristics. Little research has been conducted regarding the different effects of online reviews for different types of software. Furthermore, to offer free samples is another common practice of software firms to alleviate consumer uncertainty prior to purchase. To fill the corresponding research gap, this research focuses on the interaction effects between online reviews and free samples for different types of software. Through our empirical analysis, we find that user ratings significantly increase consumers’ sample downloads. Furthermore, consumers download more samples for some categories than for others. Finally, user and editor ratings might have differential effects for different types of software.

先前的研究表明，在线评论可能会对搜索商品和体验商品产生不同的影响。但是，作为一种典型的体验商品，可以根据产品特征将软件进一步分为不同的类别。关于在线评论对不同类型的软件的不同影响的研究很少。此外，提供免费样品是软件公司减少购买前消费者不确定性的另一种惯例。为了填补相应的研究空白，本研究着重于在线评论与不同类型软件的免费样本之间的交互作用。通过我们的经验分析，我们发现用户评级显着提高了消费者的样本下载量。此外，与某些类别相比，消费者下载的样本更多。