YOUNG Scottish shoppers are belying their image as digital "natives" by preferring to research purchases online before buying them in the traditional way on the High Street.

A poll into the shopping habits of 11-19-year-olds found they reverse the practice of window shopping in stores, then buying items over the internet - so called "showrooming" - which is increasingly alarming retailers.

In the survey, carried out on behalf of Young Scot, 75% of those questioned said they preferred to buy clothes, DVDs and other items in shops or other venues rather than on websites. However, 73% said they would often research items online first.

Follow-up focus groups heard from young people that they saw shopping as a social activity and malls and city centres as safe places to hang out with their peers.

Meanwhile, reasons given for reluctance to shop online included concern that electrical items might be damaged in the post and clothes bought unseen were a hassle to return if they turned out to be unwanted or a bad fit.

Young Scot surveyed 542 users of its card, which is offered to every child of secondary school age in Scotland. Children's Minister Aileen Campbell will speak at an event tomorrow to mark the issuing of 500,000 of the cards since 1985, when the scheme was launched.

The cards provide free services and offers to holders, including discounts at 1400 outlets across the country, travel discounts, proof of age and access to council libraries, leisure and cashless catering in many schools.

The results showed most of those responding had very limited disposable income, with 75% having less than £1.50 a day to spend and 50% less than £1.

Not surprisingly, 53% said price was the most important factor in their spending decisions, while 12% said big name brands were important - although shoppers generally under-report their reliance on brands in decision making.

The survey found 65% of the respondents said parents were the primary source of income, while 11% got their money mainly from work and 6% from educational maintenance allowance.

Young Scot said it would use the date to offer discounts that were better targeted at the needs and interests of their card holders.

The charity, which is backed by local councils and the Scottish Government, also offers a rewards scheme that allows children to earn points.

Rewards and entitlements ­director David McNeill said the level of disposable income reported by young people was not surprising and in line with other surveys of pocket money for children of school age. "Those who are working have slightly more money available, and the main difference with them was that they wanted discounts on travel ahead of things such as entertainment," he said.

In some cases disposable income did not have to cover clothing, which was seen as additional and supplied by parents or guardians, he added.

"Clothes and fashion was a key area all groups wanted discounts for and then entertainment, such as going out to the cinema. Young people also wanted discounts on shopping for films and music.

"The value young people place on shopping at real world retailers is interesting, and young people also told us 75% would prefer to shop with a retailer that offered them a discount, while 56% said they would feel a shop was more interested in them as a customer if it offered them a discount."

Young Scot cards are already used for some travel discounts, but the scheme is working with Transport Scotland and bus companies to negotiate a scheme to enable those taking part in employment programmes to travel free by presenting their card.