The interplay of social responsibility consciousness and evaluation mode in consumers’ response toward cause-related marketing-enhanced product

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1651-1674
Author(s):  
Eun Young Park ◽  
Jung Min Jang
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Presentation Mode ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Price Fairness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause Related Marketing ◽  
Evaluation Mode ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper demonstrate that purchase intention toward a cause-related marketing (CRM)-enhanced product can be positively correlated with consumers’ social responsibility consciousness (SRC) and can be increased or decreased merely by changing the evaluation mode. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct three experimental studies with two levels of SRC (high vs low) × two evaluation modes (joint evaluation (JE) vs separate evaluation (SE)) between-subjects design. The dependent variable is purchase intent toward the CRM-enhanced product. Findings The results indicate that consumers with high SRC are more likely than those with low SRC to purchase a CRM-enhanced product when two products are presented side by side (JE). However, consumers’ SRC level does not impact purchase intention when they see only one product (SE) independently (Study 1). The authors confirm that the proposed effect is mediated by perceived price fairness toward the product (Studies 2 and 3). Research limitations/implications Future research on CRM-enhanced products should carefully consider that the impact of individuals’ SRC level was in very different directions depending on the evaluation mode. In addition, further investigation is needed to address generalizability issues regarding samples and hypothetical stimuli. Practical implications These findings offer recommendations to help practitioners design effective marketing communications about CRM practice for target markets. Originality/value To the authors best knowledge, the current study is the first attempt to explore the crucial role of SRC, presentation mode and their interaction on purchase intention toward CRM-enhanced products.

Shopping online? The role of imagination and gender

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 2604-2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manveer K. Mann ◽  
Yuping Liu-Thompkins
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Product Evaluation ◽  
Brand Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Consumers ◽  
Product Use ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine gender differences in the impact of imagining product use on purchase decisions. The authors argue that while imagination can enhance purchase intention for female consumers, it can be detrimental to male consumers. This study explores the conditions under which imagination can be turned into a positive device for male consumers. Design/methodology/approach Three experimental studies were conducted. The first two studies illustrate the differential effects of imagination on males vs females. Given the negative effect found among males, the third study focused exclusively on male consumers to identify conditions under which the negative impact of imagination on these consumers can be alleviated. Findings Studies 1 and 2 show that while an imagination tactic has positive or no effect on female consumers, a generic imagination request lowers male consumers’ purchase intention. Focusing on potential ways of alleviating this negative effect, Study 3 shows that for males without prior brand ownership experience, imagining product use in a less-typical context can increase purchase intention. Research limitations/implications The results provide evidence that gender impacts the effectiveness of imagination in improving product evaluation. Furthermore, the context of imagination and previous brand experience can be used together to determine how male consumers respond to imagination. Practical implications The study’s findings warn against the blind use of imagination tactics. Instead, retailers need to customize imagination tactics based on gender, previous brand experience and product usage context. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first papers to examine the impact of gender on the influence of imagination on product evaluation.

Effects of cause-related marketing campaigns on consumer purchase behavior among French millennials

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 923-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Partouche ◽  
Saeedeh Vessal ◽  
Insaf Khelladi ◽  
Sylvaine Castellano ◽  
Georgia Sakka
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Product Type ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause Related Marketing ◽  
Behavior Study ◽  
Hedonic Products

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of cause-related marketing (CRM) campaigns on consumer purchase behavior among French millennials contrasted with their international counterparts. Based on the regulatory-focus theory, the influence of the types of arguments and products is tested on French millennials’ attitudes, intentions and behaviors in the context of CRM campaigns. Design/methodology/approach Three experimental studies among French millennials examine the effects of a CRM campaign vs non-CRM one on purchase behavior (study 1) through varying the formulation of the argument (promotion or prevention – study 2) and the nature of the advertised product (utilitarian or hedonic – study 3). Findings The results reveal French millennials’ favorable attitude and greater purchase intention for products carrying CRM messages, displaying similarities with American and Dutch millennials. When exposed to CRM advertising with promotion messages for hedonic products, French millennials, similarly to their South African and American counterparts, show greater purchase intentions, exhibiting cause sensitivity with hedonic products to reach aspirational goals. Research limitations/implications Inconsistent findings related to French millennials’ willingness to pay are linked to possible message formulation and product nature biases. The study contributes to the CRM literature by bridging regulatory focus and product type in a CRM campaign context, while contrasting millennials’ perceptions from diverse countries. Practical implications To improve CRM effectiveness toward millennials, firms must ensure the consistency between the causes, types of messages and products. Social implications CRM campaign efficiency is enhanced when promoted by brands, thereby increasing millennials’ engagement toward the causes. Originality/value This paper is the first to explore, in a single study, CRM campaign regulatory focus and product type among French millennials compared with their international counterparts.

scholarly journals Impact of corporate social responsibility practices on employee commitment

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshara Manindri De Silva ◽  
Chitra Sriyani De Silva Lokuwaduge
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Employee Commitment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Staff Turnover ◽  
Employee Attraction ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically review the existing literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) to develop a framework to analyse the impact of CSR on employee commitment to the organisation. Design/methodology/approach Using the scoping review, this paper reviewed the published articles on CSR and employee commitment and how CSR and employee commitment were defined, theoretically supported and conceptualised for a comprehensive understanding of current and future research directions in the field. Findings This paper presents a framework developed through the analysis of existing literature on the impact of CSR) on employee commitment to the organisation. This framework aims to explore the impact of internal CSR and external CSR on employee commitment while using the contractual position of employees as an intervening variable. Originality/value During a time where employee attraction and retention is widely discussed as a competitive advantage, this framework could be used by any industry, especially those with high staff turnover such as mining. The researchers propose to use this framework to explore how perception towards external CSR (directed towards external stakeholders) and perception towards internal CSR (directed towards the own employees) can influence organisational identification and commitment levels. To address several gaps in the literature, this model is based on the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Social-Identity Theory.

Can vague brand slogans promote desirable consumer responses?

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 282-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Strutton ◽  
Widyarso Roswinanto
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Brand Attitude ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Word Count ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Responses ◽  
Brand Recall ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the effects associated with the strategic use of vague, as opposed to precise, advertised brand slogans on various consumer responses. Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis study was conducted to explore the pattern of vagueness in advertising slogans from 1,441 consumer-oriented brands. Based on the resultant delineation/definition of vagueness, two experimental studies followed. Vignette advertising slogans were manipulated to achieve different level of vagueness. The initial 2 × 2 factorial between subjects design engaged vagueness level of brand slogans and consumers’ need for cognition as factors. Brand recall functioned as the dependent variable. The second experiment featured another 2 × 2 factorial design that used vagueness level and length of brand slogan as factors. Brand attitude, persuasiveness and purchase intention functioned as dependent variables. Findings – Vagueness level of advertising/branding slogans did not significantly affect brand recall. Interactions between vagueness level and length of advertisement slogans exercised significant effects on evoked thought, brand attitude and persuasiveness but not on purchase intention. At net, this study generated original theoretical and managerial insights about how and why desirable branding outcomes can be generated by managing the vagueness and word count of brand slogans, and a platform from which future research on this topic could be based. Research limitations/implications – First, the sample was limited to the southwestern USA. Second, in the slogan vignettes that were used, other cues were deliberately eliminated. A brand slogan essentially devoid of other cues may have been perceived as less realistic by respondents, thus reducing the relevance of their responses. However, a similar tradeoff always exists between more realistic states and controlled conditions. Practical implications – This study produces original theoretical and managerial insights about how and why several desirable branding outcomes are likely to result when vague, rather than precise, advertising slogans are deployed under certain manageable conditions. Each insight just referenced ensues from a study that itself was grounded in an extensive content analysis of contemporary print advertising slogans. This content analysis generated a substantial amount of practical and actionable insight about the treatment and use and management of slogans. This study demonstrates that the vagueness, precision and/or word count of slogans can be manipulated in ways that yield three communication outcomes that redound directly to the marketing interests of brand and advertising managers. Originality/value – The findings provide unique insight into how vagueness level of advertising slogans can be managed and how such a level can affect consumers’ perceptions.

I am ugly, but I am tender: the dominance of moral character and warmth

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-176
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Moral Character ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Thinking Styles ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Moral Intuitions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Evaluations ◽  
Culture Characteristics ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dominance of athlete endorser characteristics (i.e. moral character vs warmth) on athlete endorser perception and the influence of tarnished athlete endorsers (i.e. immoral character vs coldness) on brand evaluations from the perspectives of perceiver characteristics, including dispositional tendency, innate moral intuitions, and self-location (SL). Design/methodology/approach This research consists of three experimental studies with 135, 72, and 91 participants, respectively. Study 1 compared the dominance of moral character and warmth on athlete endorser perception. Study 2 examined the impact of perceiver characteristics on the cause-and-effect relationship between tarnished athlete endorsers (i.e. immoral character vs coldness) and brand evaluations. Study 3 investigated the cross-cultural generalizability of the US-based research findings in Study 2 for Indians. Findings Moral character is more influential than warmth on athlete endorser evaluations. Tarnished athlete endorsers with immoral character exert more negative influence than tarnished athlete endorsers with coldness characteristic on brand evaluations. Except for dispositional tendency, innate moral intuitions and SL moderate brand evaluations. Endorser and perceiver characteristics yield asymmetric patterns of influence on Americans’ and Indians’ brand evaluations. Research limitations/implications Future research is needed to verify the causal effects of thinking styles on the relationship between tarnished athlete endorsers and brand evaluations. Practical implications The determination of endorsement continuity has to jointly consider the characteristics of endorsers, perceivers, and cultures. Originality/value This research contributes to the endorsement research by advancing the research scopes of athlete endorser, perceiver, and culture characteristics.

Conspicuous consumption: impact of narcissism and need for uniqueness on self-brand and communal-brand connection with public vs private use brands

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Fazli-Salehi ◽  
Ivonne M. Torres ◽  
Rozbeh Madadi ◽  
Miguel Ángel Zúñiga
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Brand Names ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Need For Uniqueness ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of self-related traits on consumer self-brand connection (SBC) and communal-brand connection (CBC) in public vs private consumption. Marketing practitioners will benefit by understanding the consumer traits that can be triggered and focused on in advertising campaigns. Moreover, it is important to know which traits have a significant impact on each product category section (i.e. public vs private use). Design/methodology/approach An experiment used a between-subjects design with two randomized blocks of publicly used brands and privately used brands. Within each block, the relationship between independent variables (narcissism and need for uniqueness [NFU]) and dependent variables (SBC, CBC and purchase intention) were analyzed using SmartPLS. Findings The results showed that narcissism has a significant positive impact on consumers’ SBC for publicly consumed products, no effect was found for CBC. NFU shows a significant positive impact on SBC and CBC for both categories. The results also showed a positive impact for SBC on purchase intention, no effect was found for CBC. Research limitations/implications Future research can examine brand names that people favor the most and test whether individuals’ narcissism and NFU is influential on their SBC and CBC with the brands, regardless of the exposure to the visual cues provided in this paper. Moreover, there are more behavioral outcomes that need examination. For example, it would be fruitful to see whether attitude toward the ad, or brand attitude are affected by consumers’ narcissism and NFU. Practical implications The results contribute to the effectiveness of advertising in different industries. For instance, brand managers and marketing practitioners can benefit by understanding which product types are more attractive to consumers based on their tendency toward uniqueness. Moreover, narcissism is another common trait that can be used to target consumers. Thus, certain product types may be more attractive to consumers based on their narcissism tendencies. Originality/value Despite the popularity of SBC and CBC research, there is limited knowledge about the consumer traits which can stimulate and enhance these concepts. As such, an important question that needs to be addressed is: “What consumer personality traits lead to higher SBC and CBC?” When it comes to self-concept, a limited number of studies exist that explore the actual types of personality or self-concept that generate a desired connection between the “self” and brands.

The impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) priming on consumers’ consumption and lifestyle choices with intertemporal tradeoffs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajar Fatemi ◽  
Laurette Dube
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to study the unexplored possibility that priming firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity in consumers’ minds may impact consumers’ preference for non-firm related consumption and lifestyle choice options with intertemporal trade-offs. Design/methodology/approach Across four experimental studies, the authors looked at the impact of CSR priming on the preference of participants for later larger versus sooner smaller money (Study 1), saving versus spending (Study 2) and healthy versus unhealthy food choices (Studies 3 and 4). These choice options were not related to the focal firm that practiced CSR. The authors measured the changes in participants’ consideration of future consequences (CFC) as a potential mediator for the results. Findings The participants in the CSR condition showed a higher CFC and a higher preference for the options with long-term benefits and immediate costs over the ones with long-term costs and immediate benefits, i.e. later larger over sooner smaller money, saving over spending and healthy over unhealthy food. The authors documented a mediation role for CFC. Research limitations/implications All the participants in the studies were from the USA. Looking at the cultural differences can enrich the understanding of the impact of CSR on preference for the options with intertemporal trade-offs. Furthermore, this paper builds its theoretical justification based on the assumption of individuals’ acceptance of CSR activities. Nevertheless, consumers may have skepticism about these activities. Future studies may investigate the effect of CSR skepticism of individuals on the proposed effects. Additionally, investigating the moderating roles of individuals’ characteristics like their prosocial concern or their knowledge about choice options might be an avenue for future research. Practical implications The findings highlight the benefits of CSR priming on consumers’ welfare and normative behavior. Firms may use the findings to understand and manage the impact of other firms’ CSR communications on the evaluation of their own products. Originality/value This research is the first to highlight the impact of CSR priming on consumers’ non-firm-related consumption and lifestyle choices with intertemporal trade-offs. The results showed the positive effect of priming firms’ CSR activities on consumers’ CFC and the mediating role of CFC.

The impact of diverse corporate social responsibility practices on consumer product evaluations

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 701-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoye Chen ◽  
Rong Huang
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Consumer Product ◽  
Shared Value ◽  
Product Evaluations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Ability ◽  
Csr Image ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts that are oriented toward shared value creation generate any perceptual advantages in terms of consumer product attributes evaluations compared with other types of CSR. The study also uncovers consumers’ pathways that channel the impacts of corporate associations on corporate and product evaluations and purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a between-subjects experimental design. In all, 274 undergraduate students from a North American university participated in the 2 (low versus high corporate ability levels) × 4 (CSR types) study. The data were analyzed using the methodologies of path analysis and multiple group analysis in the context of structural equation modeling procedure. Findings The findings show that in the context of shared-value CSR, CSR image (i.e. consumer judgments on the moral aspect of the company) can spill over to product attributes evaluations, including perceptions of “product innovativeness” and “product social responsibility,” which, in turn, translate to purchase willingness. Meanwhile, perceived corporate trustworthiness mediates the effects of CSR image and corporate ability (CA) image on the overall corporate evaluation, which subsequently influences consumer product evaluation and purchase intention. Research limitations/implications The research provides direct evidence showing that companies have the potential to improve their corporate brand and, in turn, their product evaluations by putting a stronger emphasis on the social responsibility components of their image and placing this at the core of their strategic agenda. Importantly, a contribution to the literature by identifying differential effects of CA image versus CSR image on consumer perception of product innovativeness within different CSR categories is made. The limitations of the research are discussed, which include the usage of a fictitious company and brand and a convenience sample. Practical implications The study offers guidance to managers in regard to their choice of different CSR practices to fulfill their company’s product-related strategic goals. Originality/value The present study takes a critical stance to show that previous experimental work investigating the impact of CSR image on product evaluations relied predominantly on bipolar manipulations of CSR practices (bad versus good) rather than bringing many shades of CSR into consideration. By incorporating a wide array of CSR formats, especially value-creating CSR, current research generates potential implications based on differential effects of various CSR focuses, which have not been captured by previous studies.

Consumer ethics, religiosity, and consumer social responsibility: are they related?

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denni I. Arli ◽  
Fandy Tjiptono
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Consumer Ethics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Social Responsibilities ◽  
Ethical Beliefs ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Level Of Importance

Purpose In the past few years, companies have made significant contributions towards Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) as a strategy to improve business image. Nonetheless, many of these strategies have been unsuccessful because companies have failed to recognise the importance of consumers’ ethical beliefs and their religiosity in forming their perception towards CSR. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the level of importance of consumers’ ethical beliefs and social responsibilities (CnSR) and to examine the impact of consumers’ religiosity and ethical beliefs on CnSR. Design/methodology/approach Data were derived from a sample of undergraduate and postgraduate students at three large universities (i.e. one public and two private universities) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (N = 416). Indonesia is the largest Muslim population in the world. Findings 7The study found that consumers value social responsibilities differently and that not all dimensions are important. Moreover, consumer ethical beliefs and religiosity significantly influence CnSR. The results of this study will contribute to the debate on consumer ethics and social responsibility research. Research limitations/implications The current study has some limitations which, in turn, provide avenues for future research. The research context (one city in one country) may limit its generalizability. Future studies may focus on more cities and/or cross-country sections (developed versus developing countries) as well as use non-student populations. Practical implications Companies operating in Indonesia need to respect and value religiosity in Indonesia. Collaborating with a faith-based institution may help improve the effectiveness of CSR programmes launched by companies. Originality/value This is one of the first few studies exploring CSR in Indonesia.

The effects of donation amount and ad orientation of cause-related marketing on consumers’ response

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anran Zhang ◽  
Zhengliang Xu ◽  
Xin Yu
Keyword(s):  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Consumer Response ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause Related Marketing ◽  
Social Cause

Purpose Cause-related marketing (CRM) is an increasing popular marketing strategy in which a firm donates a specific amount to a designed cause when customers engage in revenue-providing exchanges. Based on balance and attribution theory, this paper aims to explore the interaction effect of donation amount and ad orientation, two important factors of formulation and communication of CRM, respectively, on consumer response and the mediating effect of consumers’ perceived company motives. Design/methodology/approach Two 2 (donation amount: small vs large) × 2 (ad orientation: product- vs cause-oriented) between-subjects experimental studies were conducted in marketing course with 284 and 157 Chinese undergraduate students participating in Studies 1 and 2, respectively. ANOVA and regression were used to test the hypotheses. Findings Study 1 shows the significant interaction effects of donation amount and ad orientation on consumers’ response. When CRM has a large donation amount, cause-oriented (vs product-oriented) ad leads to consumers’ more positive company attitude and higher purchase intention. The opposite is true for the small donation amount condition. Study 2 shows that the above interaction effect is mediated by consumer-attributed company motives. The attributed motive of sincerely caring about social cause has significant positive effect on consumer response, whereas the attributed motive of increasing sales or improving corporate image does not. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by empirically examining the interaction effect of donation amount and ad orientation on consumer-inferred motives and behavioral response. The findings are valuable because they indicate the importance of matching between factors at formulation and communication stage. In addition, this paper found that consumers are “tolerant” of companies using CRM to promote product sales and improve brand image.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document