ScienceDaily: Consumerism News

Smile's better to boost small businesses, says new research

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:21:21 EDT

A simple smile and a friendly greeting can make customers feel much more loyal towards small independent companies, according to new research.

Big movies and other cultural products have evolutionary roots

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Epic battles, whirlwind romances, family feuds, heroic attempts to save the lives of strangers: these are stories guaranteed to grace the silver screen. According to new research, that's not lazy scriptwriting, that's evolutionary consumerism.

'Lending circles' help low-income communities join the financial mainstream, study suggests

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:35:35 EDT

An innovative financial lending program is helping low-income individuals, particularly immigrants, build credit and enter the financial mainstream, according to a pair of new articles.

Passenger car drivers are more likely to die in crashes with SUVs, regardless of crash ratings

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:54:54 EDT

Most consumers who are shopping for a new car depend on good crash safety ratings as an indicator of how well the car will perform in a crash. But a new study of crashes involving cars and sport utility vehicles has found those crash ratings are a lot less relevant than vehicle type.

Learning to recycle: Does political ideology matter?

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Some targeted messages based on political orientation are more effective at persuading consumers to recycle according to a new study.

Illusion of control: Why sports fans prefer 'lucky' products

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Consumers engage in superstitious behavior when they want to achieve something but don’t have the power to make it happen, according to a new study.

Advertising product results? Put images closer together

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Consumers believe a product is more effective when images of the product and its desired outcome are placed closer together in advertisements, according to a new study.

Why we love it or hate it: Key to brand affinity and brand aversion for brands like Apple and Manchester United

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Why do brands such as Manchester United and Apple capture hearts and minds? How do marketers make consumers develop a strong attachment for a product or service? According to a recent study it is achieved by appealing to people's aesthetic needs (enticing/annoying to the self), functional needs (enabling/disabling for the self) and spiritual needs (whether something is enriching/impoverishing).

Benefit vs. risk of facial recognition technology

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:32:32 EDT

Law enforcement agencies are using facial recognition software as a crime-fighting tool. Now businesses are looking to use the technology to reach customers. But a professor questions whether customers are ready for it.

Credit card debt leads some to skip medical care

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

People with outstanding credit card or medical debt were more likely to delay or avoid medical or dental care, finds a new study.

Consumers almost always buy in the same shops, international study finds

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:53:53 EDT

In a new study, researchers in Spain attempted to identify just how predictable consumers are with respect to shopping patterns. As explained by one of its authors, "the main conclusion we have drawn is that people’s behavior is repetitive when it comes to visiting and spending in shops, and as such it is possible to have some success in predicting where we are going to buy in the future."

'Sequential' pricing can increase retail profits

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:14:14 EDT

An in-depth study of so-called “sequential” pricing of retail products in both online and “bricks-and-mortar” stores found that the ability to set prices based on real-time knowledge of customer preferences and purchase intentions can increase profits in some specific circumstances.

Common component strategy could improve profits

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

Manufacturing using common components can actually reduce product line cannibalization, a finding that could allow firms to improve profits, says new research.

U.S. health insurance survey: 84 million people were uninsured for a time or underinsured in 2012

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:38:38 EDT

84 million people -- nearly half of working-age US adults -- went without health insurance for a time last year or had out-of-pocket costs that were so high relative to income they were considered underinsured.

Do you get what you pay for? It depends on your culture

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Consumers from less individualistic cultures are more likely to judge the quality of a product by its price, according to a new study.

Does mixing eBay and Facebook reduce bidding prices?

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:12 EDT

In a competitive context, consumers are willing to pay significantly more to win when other bidders are unknown, according to a new study.

U.S. medical patients aren't bargain hunters

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:03:03 EDT

Despite the incentive to shop around, patients with increasingly popular Consumer-Directed Health Plans pay roughly the same amount as their traditionally insured counterparts.

Putting a human face on a product: When brand humanization goes wrong

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:12:12 EDT

When companies put a human face on their brand, the public usually responds positively. This advertising approach has brought us alarm clocks with sleepy faces and color-coated chocolate candies with legs and arms. But a new study finds there is a greater backlash by the public when a product branded with human characteristics fails.

Organic labels bias consumers perceptions through the 'health halo effect'

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:15:15 EDT

In a new study, researchers show that an organic label can influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labeled "organic". Certain people also appear to be more susceptible to this 'health halo' effect than others.

Why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Research into why Irish people feel they have no alternative but to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Bank card identifies cardholder

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:39:39 EST

From the gas station to the department store – paying for something without cash is commonplace. Now such payments become more secure: Scientists have engineered a solution for inspecting the handwritten signatures directly on the bank card. The biometric “on-card comparison” additionally makes payment transactions more convenient, and it works with any ordinary commercial credit card.

Targeting diet products: Why are more independent consumers better at delaying gratification?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Product benefits that occur later in time are more likely to appeal to more independent consumers than to those who are more group or family oriented, according to a new study.

Product promotion: When do emotional appeals trump celebrity spokespeople?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Emotional appeals could be more effective than celebrities when promoting products related to a consumer’s identity, according to a new study.

Is the iPad creative? It depends on who's buying it

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Encouraging consumers to feel ownership of products they haven’t yet purchased can backfire because consumers tend to see themselves in the products they own, according to a new study.

Bankruptcy judges influenced by apologies

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 EST

Debtors who apologized were seen as more remorseful and were expected to manage their finances more carefully in the future compared to debtors who did not offer an apology, finds a new study.

New insight into how people choose insurance plans

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:19:19 EST

A new paper suggests that forecasting the likely spending reduction associated with high deductibles requires a fine-grained approach, to account for the differing ways consumers respond to incentives in the health-care market. The research indicates that consumers select insurance plans based not only on their overall wellness level -- with people in worse health opting for more robust coverage -- but also on their own anticipated response to having insurance.

Do thin models and celebrities really help sell to women?

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:58:58 EST

Advertisers who put images of female celebrities and models next to their products spark scorn rather than shopping, according to new research.

Student loans help women more than men in reaching graduation

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:42:42 EST

Student loans provide more help to women than they do for men in encouraging graduation from college, a new nationwide study reveals.

In rich and poor nations, giving makes people feel better than getting, research finds

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:43:43 EST

Feeling good about spending money on someone else rather than for personal benefit may be a universal response among people in both impoverished countries and rich nations, according to new research.

Health risks were not consumers' first concern over horse meat contamination

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:47:47 EST

Days after the initial announcement by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on the 15th January that horse and pig DNA were found in beef burgers, researchers conducted an online consumer study, as part of the EU-funded project FoodRisC. This study took place before the latest developments about the widespread presence of horsemeat in certain beef products within some European countries.

'Foodie' movement gains momentum

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:21:21 EST

The line between specialty and mainstream foods continues to blur due to the escalating foodie movement. In the February issue of Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Contributing Editor A. Elizabeth Sloan highlights the latest statistics on the foodie phenomenon in the United States.

Marketing technique: Activating gender stereotypes just to knock 'em down

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:10:10 EST

A new study looks at the issue of product perception of consumers through the lens of gender stereotypes. The researchers conclude that while traditional gender stereotypes can still have a significant influence on consumer behavior in the 21st century, there are ways that firms can activate these stereotypes solely to transcend them.

Buying luxury: Hedonistic or French?

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:15:15 EST

Why do consumers around the world buy luxury goods? In the U.S. it's about hedonism. Meanwhile Germans focused on function, placing emphasis on quality standards over prestige, as did the Italians, Hungarians and Slovakians.

Consumers need better protection from chemicals in products, experts urge

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:14:14 EST

European Union policy falls short of protecting consumers – and the environment – from the hazards of chemicals in textiles, building materials and other everyday products, according to a new study.

Security protocol for online banking and Facebook has ‘serious weaknesses,’ say researchers

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:24:24 EST

The protocol that provides security for online banking, credit card data and Facebook has major weaknesses, according to researchers.

Policy, enforcement may stop employees from wasting time online at work

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:07:07 EST

Researchers studied cyberloafing -- wasting time at work on the Internet -- and the effects of Internet use policies and punishment on reducing cyberloafing.

Can changes in nutrition labeling help consumers make better food choices?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:47:47 EST

The Nutrition Facts label was introduced 20 years ago and provides consumers with important information, including: the serving size, the number of servings in the package, the number of calories per serving, and the amount of nutrients for each serving of a packaged food. However, research has shown that consumers often miscalculate the number of calories and the nutritional content of products that have two or more servings per container but are usually consumed in a single eating occasion.

The housing market: Consumers struggle to get the price right

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:43:43 EST

Consumers systematically mispredict both the selling and purchase prices of other consumers due to a lack of cognitive and emotional connection, according to a new study.

When wanting is more important than having: Will that new car really make you happy?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:43:43 EST

Materialistic consumers may derive more pleasure from desiring products than they do from actually owning them, and are willing to overspend and go into debt because they believe that future purchases will transform their lives, according to a new study.

Price cap regulations for UK tobacco would raise £500 million every year

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:27:27 EST

If tobacco products sold in the UK were subject to price cap regulation, the system would generate around £500 million (US$750 million) for the government every year, without affecting the price consumers pay, reveals a feasibility study.

Research shows using text, color makes food labels easier to understand

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:34:34 EST

As the spotlight on healthy eating and nutrition grows ever-brighter, new research suggests that including colorful and graphic nutrition information on product packages helps consumers better understand the information.

States aiming to promote healthy eating through sales taxes often miss the target

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:30:30 EST

Increasing sales taxes on sugary foods to promote healthier food choices among grocery store shoppers is unlikely to be effective because many consumers are unaware of the tax differences on food items sold in grocery stores, according to a new study.

Who likes bling? The answer relates to social status

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:13:13 EST

A desire for expensive, high-status goods is related to feelings of social status -- which helps explain why minorities are often attracted to bling, a new study suggests. Previous research had shown that racial minorities spend a larger portion of their incomes than do whites on conspicuous consumption -- buying products that suggest high status. But a new study showed that whites could be induced to crave expensive, high-status products if they imagined themselves in a low-status position. These findings cast doubt on the notion that urban minorities have developed a corrosive "bling culture" that is unique to them.

Eating or spending too much? Blame it on social networking sites

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:03:03 EST

Participating in online social networks can have a detrimental effect on consumer well-being by lowering self-control among certain users, according to a new study.

Consumers develop complex relationships with celebrities to construct identity: Identity formed by relationships influences purchasing decisions

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:30:30 EST

A new study suggests that consumers take an active role in using celebrities to construct identity and self-image.

How to buy an ethical diamond

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:30:30 EST

The holidays are a busy time for engagements, and an expert in corporate responsibility, says socially minded consumers have a lot to think about when it comes to finding the right rock.

Heavily indebted med students choosing primary care face greater financial challenges

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:42:42 EST

Researchers have determined that heavily indebted medical students choosing primary care careers will experience difficulty paying their student debt unless they consider alternative strategies to support repayment.

Study links improved consumer welfare to increased prescription drug advertising efforts

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:44:44 EST

More people are better off thanks to the impact of an influx of direct-to-consumer advertising spending than they would be without those marketing efforts, according to a new study.

'Dirty money' affects spending habits, new study finds

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:38:38 EST

Looks matter -- even when it comes to money. A new study has found that currency's physical appearance dramatically affects consumer behavior.

Do consumers evaluate cell phones differently if the warranty is expressed in years or days?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:33:33 EST

Different units can be used to describe product features, but what may seem a rather arbitrary choice may have profound consequences for consumer product evaluations, according to a new study.

Product choice: When are consumers most satisfied?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:33:33 EST

Consumers may be less satisfied with the choices they make if their options are presented one at a time rather than all at once, according to a new study.

Novice or expert: How do consumers increase their knowledge about products?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:33:33 EST

Consumers seek out novel consumption experiences to increase their knowledge about products but do so selectively based on their level of expertise, according to a new study.

Matching brands: Why do consumers prefer Tostitos salsa with Tostitos tortilla chips?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:32:32 EST

Consumers prefer matching brands for products that are consumed together because they believe products from the same brand have been designed to go together, according to a new study.

Loser-pays-all rule in criminal cases could work for wealthy defendants

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:04:04 EST

Adopting a loser-pays-all rule for criminal litigation would likely be feasible only if the rule applied to defendants who are wealthy, says a study.

American consumers overvalue US-produced apparel, study finds

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:05:05 EDT

Researchers have found that American consumers place a much higher value on apparel produced entirely in the U.S. with U.S. raw materials as opposed to products produced partially or entirely overseas. The value is so high, in fact, that experts worry it could be damaging to U.S. apparel manufacturing businesses and the overall economy.

Rewards programs: When do consumers compare experience over value?

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:52:52 EDT

Consumers are often less satisfied when they buy or receive products that are easily counted because this makes them focus on value instead of experience, according to a new study.

High quality or poor value: When do consumers make different conclusions about the same product?

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:19:19 EDT

Depending on which naive theory consumers use, a low price can indicate either good value or low quality, whereas a high price may imply either poor value or high quality, according to a new study.

In the blink of an eye: Distracted consumers are most likely to remember ads with subtle variations

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:19:19 EDT

Consumers are more likely to remember an ad they’ve seen repeatedly if one element in the ad changes location from one exposure to the next, according to a new study.

Would you buy a product endorsed by Lance Armstrong?

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:19:19 EDT

It’s much easier for consumers to justify continued support of a celebrity or politician disgraced by scandal when they separate moral judgments about a public figure from assessments of their professional performance, according to a new study.

College students and credit card debt: Parents have a powerful influence on their children's financial behaviors

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:30:30 EDT

Parents need to be good role models to help their children make sensible financial decisions, according to researchers whose work highlights that parents who argue about finances contribute to increasing credit card debt among their children during their student years.