scholarly journals The impact of product assortment size and attribute quantity on information searches

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krisztina Rita Dörnyei ◽  
Athanasios Krystallis ◽  
Polymeros Chrysochou
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Product Attributes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Display ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Product Assortment ◽  
Information Searches ◽  
Consumer Information Search ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of assortment size and attribute quantity on the depth and content of consumer information searches. Design/methodology/approach For a computer-aided experiment using an information display board, participants (n = 393) were placed in a simulated shopping situation that involved choosing a product among three sets of frequently purchased, low-involvement, FMCG alternatives. Findings The findings show that when the assortment size increases, consumers acquire information from more products and cues but sacrifice product attributes. In particular, this sacrifice comes at the expense of secondary product attributes (e.g. nutrition information, country of origin), whereas primary product attributes (e.g. brand name, price) remain constant. Attribute quantity does not have a significant effect on information search. Practical implications Provided that several strategies rely on providing more information to consumers with the aim of making more deliberate and better choices, the findings suggest that they may have a limited effect in product categories in which the assortment size is wide. The authors discuss the implications for category management and public policy. Originality/value Information searches are measured by means of three different variables (searched cues, searched products and searched attributes), which enable a more complex exploration of the consumer information search process.

scholarly journals Influence of Price Level and Perceived Price Dispersion on Consumer Information Search Behaviour: Moderating Effect of Durables and Consumables

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2105
Author(s):  
Weiqing Li ◽  
Qianyi Dan ◽  
Maomao Chi ◽  
Weijun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Price Level ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Perceived Price ◽  
Consumer Information Search ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The methods consumers use to reduce their perceived risk and make reasonable purchase decisions can be synthesized under the umbrella term “consumer information search behavior” (CISB). As one key factor that conveys a product’s value and quality, price has a significant impact on CISB. There are few studies that comprehensively consider the impact of price level (PL) and perceived price dispersion (PPD) on CISB, and there is a certain disagreement about the impact of PPD specific to the online shopping environment. To address this research gap, we construct a model using the data from 5515 consumers’ purchasing and browsing behavior on a B2C e-commerce website, selecting six products as our research objects. We use a hierarchical regression analysis method to study the influence of product PL and PPD on CISB, and to explore the moderating effect of product categories (durables and consumables) on the relationship between PL, PPD and CISB. The results show that PL significantly affects CISB, and that product categories have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between PL and CISB. For durable goods, when the PL is high, consumers tend to increase their search behavior, both in depth and in breadth, and for consumables with low PL but higher purchase frequency, consumers likewise tend to increase their search behavior. In the B2C online shopping environment, PPD has a significant positive effect on CISB, and product category has a moderating effect on the relationship between PPD and CISB. When consumers purchase consumables, the higher the PPD, the higher the depth of CISB. The findings have several implications for marketing practitioners and enterprises advertising, also can help customers save time and energy in their search behaviors.

Looking for info? Understanding ethical consumer information management using a diary approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-662
Author(s):  
Eleni Papaoikonomou ◽  
Carmen Valor ◽  
Matias Ginieis
Keyword(s):  
Information Management ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Ethical Consumption ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Consumers ◽  
Ethical Consumer ◽  
Information Searches

Purpose Although the role of information has been previously studied in the ethical consumer literature, practices related to information searches and interpretation have not been fully examined in relation to ethical consumption. The purpose of this paper is to explore the search and use of information by ethically oriented consumers in order to understand the problems involved in this process, and how ethical consumers address them by adopting a number of practices. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach and diaries, the paper explores how consumers carry out their informational search and interpretation over an 11-week period. Findings First, insights are provided about the specifics of information search and the contexts, timing and use of information. Second, the information management practices used by participants to navigate the problems they encounter are identified. These practices are discussed in relation to the maximizing vs optimizing approach adopted by the participants. Practical implications New technologies, such as mobile applications and geo-localization, could overcome some of the problems inherent to information searches identified in this study. The use of social networks may also prove particularly interesting for companies and NGOs that target ethically oriented consumers. Originality/value Information search and the use and interpretation of information are part of the efforts undertaken by ethical consumers, but they have not been the focus of past research. This study provides empirical evidence on consumer practices employed to circumvent the problems found in a context of information asymmetries, and the gradual development of consumer skills in relation to ethical information searches and management. It shows how information search and management shapes the practice of ethical consumption.

scholarly journals The effect of perceived risk on information search for innovative products and services: the moderating role of innate consumer innovativeness

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Yuansi Hou
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Consumer Innovativeness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
Emotional Risk ◽  
Consumer Information Search ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose The purpose of the study is to explore the effects of two dimensions of perceived risk (functional and emotional risk) on two types of consumer information search (ongoing and pre-purchase search) in the context of innovative products and services and examine the moderating effect of innate consumer innovativeness. Design/methodology/approach The findings in this study are generated with a quantitative design using a multiple linear regression model and a residual centering method on data-collected survey responses related to tablet PC adoption in an online community and laboratory experiment on online bike-renting services. Findings The results show that functional and emotional risks influence on-going and pre-purchase search differently in innovative products and services context. On the one hand, functional risk affects on-going search negatively, whereas emotional risk affects on-going search positively; on the other hand, the effect of functional risk on pre-purchase search is not significant, and the effect of emotional risk on pre-purchase search is positive. Furthermore, these relationships are moderated by innate consumer innovativeness. For on-going search, consumer innovativeness moderates the negative effect of functional risk negatively and moderates the positive effect of emotional risk positively; for pre-purchase search, consumer innovativeness moderates the positive effect of emotional risk negatively on pre-purchase search. Originality/value Unlike established products and services, innovative products and services possess some elements that are unfamiliar to consumers. Companies typically pre-release innovative products and services long before officially launching them in the market, enabling consumers to assess potential risks and seek information in advance, thereby priming the market. Since innovative products and services are becoming more ubiquitous, research on the impact of perceived risk on information search is crucial for marketers. The present work is designed to be the first to consider the effects of two dimensions of perceived risk (functional and emotional risk) on two types of consumer information search (ongoing and pre-purchase search) and the moderating effect of innate consumer innovativeness. The present research is, therefore, intended to make contributions to the literature on perceived risk, information search and innovation management.

Impact of consumer information acquisition confidence, social outcome confidence on information search and sharing

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-246
Author(s):  
Ahsan Zubair ◽  
Rizwan Shabbir ◽  
Muhammad Azeem Abro ◽  
Mahmood A. Husain Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Information Search ◽  
Information Acquisition ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Outcome ◽  
Information Share ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subjective Knowledge ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to highlight the impact of information acquisition confidence and social outcome confidence on information search and information share intention. Moreover, the role of subjective knowledge is analyzed as a mediating variable among these relations. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a survey which generated 233 valid responses. The data were analyzed using component factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Whereas, to examine the mediating effect, Hayes and Preacher (2008) model for statistical mediation analysis was used. Findings The results mainly supported the model by confirming that subjective knowledge, information acquisition confidence and social outcome confidence are positively related to information search intention. No association between information acquisition confidence and information sharing intention was found. The study's findings also suggested a positive association of social outcome confidence, subjective knowledge and information acquisition confidence with information share intention. Moreover, the results revealed that there is a significant and positive mediating effect of subjective knowledge between information acquisition confidence and information search intention. Subjective knowledge also acts as a mediator in the relationship between social outcome confidence and information sharing intention. Practical implications This study will be helpful for marketers and policymakers for designing marketing strategies which can enhance the flow of information. Moreover, this study will ensure the importance of information to marketers. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study the impact of consumer information acquisition confidence, social outcome confidence on information search and sharing with mediating role of subjective knowledge.

scholarly journals A systematic review of consumer information search in online and offline environments

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu C. Haridasan ◽  
Angeline Gautami Fernando ◽  
Saju B.
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Consumer Search ◽  
External Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Opportunities ◽  
Consumer Information Search

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify major themes and potential research opportunities in online and offline consumer search. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted based on 118 articles identified from prevalent journal databases. Keywords frequency analysis was carried out to identify the major themes. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out to verify the generated themes. Findings Results show that uncertainty, knowledge, perceived risk, price, experience and involvement are the major themes associated with consumer information search. Uncertainty, one of the major themes of offline search, has not been studied in the online search context. Similarly, the previous experience needs to be explored in the context of the offline search. Finally, potential research opportunities for future research has been summarized based on the retrieved themes. Research limitations/implications The systematic review provides an in-depth understanding on the current research on information search literature with future research directions. Practical implications This study helps retailers to understand the key elements that motivate consumers to perform external information searches from online and offline sources and to curate targeted information provision strategies to influence purchase decisions. Social implications Consumers with limited internet availability may access channels prior to decision-making. The themes identified in this study can aid policymakers to design affordable access to these channels. Originality/value This study adds to the sparse literature on systematic reviews on consumer search for online and offline channels.

scholarly journals Consumer Information Search Behavior for Experiential and Material Purchases

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asli Elif Aydin
Keyword(s):  
Direct Observation ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Material Purchases ◽  
Information Search Behavior ◽  
Consumer Information Search

The objective of this study is to determine whether sources of information consulted and the extent of information search differ between experiential and material purchases. For this purpose two experimental studies were conducted. It is demonstrated that moving along the experiential-material purchase continuum; consumers’ reliance on personal sources, especially personal independent sources intensifies towards experiential purchase pole and decreases towards material purchase pole. In addition, for material purchases; direct observation is preferred more compared to personal sources of information. Finally, it is revealed that the total amount of search is greater for experiential purchases than material purchases. The results suggest that experiential and material purchases require different types of search conduct due to their distinct natures.

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