Methodological advances in consumer behavior are increasing rapidly. We can characterize these advances by work in two logically separate but functionally related areas: (a) the philosophical underpinnings of our methods, and (b) the analytic strategies for examining the phenomena of interest in the field. An important aspect in communicating these advances is the demonstration of their use on focal problems in consumer behavior. Current research strategies and analytic techniques in the field of consumer research reflect the dominant logical empiricist epistemology. The develop ment of new epistemologies (e.g., scientific relativism, hypothetical realism), however, is likely to modify the dominant logical empiricist approach and is also likely to influence the analytic strategies used to conduct research. For instance, with the increased awareness of scientific relativism and hypothet ical realism, greater emphasis is anticipated for idiographic rather than nomo thetic designs, for observational rather than experimental designs, for process rather than static analyses, and for more sophisticated techniques for summariz ing findings across studies. The major theme underlying this volume is that conceptual, analytic, and sub stantive diversity are essential for consumer behavior research to advance. Col lectively, the chapters we present in this volume are a diverse set of perspectives for the study of consumer behavior. This volume is organized into three parts: (1) philosophical orientations toward consumer behavior research, (2) analytic strategies for consumer behavior research, and (3) applications of these orientations and strategies to current research areas.
Without arguing that behaviorist explanations are better than those of cognitivism, Foxall (psychology, Cardiff U., Wales) explores the contribution to consumer research of the experimental analysis of behavior, in which the causation of behavior is attributed to factors external to the individual. Cognitive explanations, which ascribe observed act
A rare and much needed compilation of some thought-provoking papers in the area of qualitative research in marketing, this book is a must have for anyone pursuing the discipline of marketing research, scholars intent on the pursuit of qualitative inquiry as well as practising professionals looking for innovative approaches to research. Global Business Review Belk has compiled an exhaustive collection of contributions from scholars and practitioners throughout North America and Europe. . . . This extremely informative volume spans the full array of qualitative research areas. . . . Highly recommended. S.D. Clark, Choice The Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods in Marketing offers both basic and advanced treatments intended to serve academics, students, and marketing research professionals. The 42 chapters begin with a history of qualitative methods in marketing by Sidney Levy and continue with detailed discussions of current thought and practice in: research paradigms such as grounded theory and semiotics research contexts such as advertising and brands data collection methods such as projectives and netnography data analysis methods such as metaphoric and visual analyses presentation topics such as videography and reflexivity applications such as ZMET applied to Broadway plays and depth interviews with executives special issues such as multi-sited ethnography and research on sensitive topics. Authors include leading scholars and practitioners from North America and Europe. They draw on a wealth of experience using well-established as well as emerging qualitative research methods. The result is a thorough, timely, and useful Handbook that will educate, inspire, and serve as standard reference for marketing academics and practitioners alike.
This book presents both theoretical research methods and practical uses of qualitative consumer and marketing research in Asia, as well as approaches to research with extended viewpoints and case studies on the specific research practices, identifying the distinctive characteristics and conditions of the Asian market. Starting with an introduction and a rationale for qualitative consumer and marketing research, which discuss interpretive research perspectives and key qualitative research traditions underlying the research, it then elaborates on research design, formulating research directions, research questions, research methods, research validity and reliability, as well as research ethics. The book goes on to cover various key data-collection techniques, such as interviews, focus groups, observation and ethnography, online observation and netnography, and other alternative tools like projective techniques, autodriving and diaries. These include design of research setting (samples and sampling strategy, context, time) and research procedures (from entry to access and completion of the research project) with resources planning. In addition, the book also addresses data analysis and interpretation as well as presentation, dissemination, and sharing of research results through both academic and practical courses. Lastly, it derives key concepts by reviewing classic research traditions and methods together with academic and practical studies.
Bringing together the latest debates concerning the development of marketing theory, featuring original contributions from a selection of leading international authors, this collection aims to give greater conceptual cohesion to the field, by drawing together the many disparate perspectives and presenting them in one volume. The contributors are all leading international scholars, chosen to represent the intellectual diversity within marketing theory. Divided into six parts, the Handbook covers the historical development of marketing theory; its philosophical underpinnings; major theoretical debates; the impact of theory on representations of the consumer; the impact of theory on representations of the marketing organisation and contemporary issues in marketing theory.
Realism has been one of the most powerful new developments in philosophy and the social sciences and is now making an increasing impact in business and management studies. This is the first book-length treatment of critical realism in business and management. It pulls together a wide range of material which is all explicitly or implicitly rooted in philosophical realism, and combines theoretical writing with substantive contributions addressing issues such as the nature of the firm and the labour process which together demonstrates that realism is a powerful alternative to postmodernism and positivism.
Adopting a variety of theoretical approaches, this text challenges the prevailing orthodoxies within consumer research methodology by examining representation and constructions of truth.
What impact can various research methods have on consumer psychology? How can they help us understand the workings of the consumer mind? And how can the field of consumer psychology best utilize these methods? In the Handbook of Research Methods in Consumer Psychology, leading consumer psychologists summarize key aspects of the research process and explain how different methods enrich understanding of how consumers process information to form judgments and opinions and to make consumption-related decisions. Kardes, Herr, and Schwarz provide an in-depth analysis of the scientific research methods needed to understand consumption-related judgments and decisions. The book is split into five parts, demonstrating the breadth of the volume: classic approaches, contemporary approaches, online research methods, data analysis, and philosophy of science. A variety of leading researchers give insight into a wide range of topics, reflecting both long-standing debate and more recent developments in the field to encourage discussion and the advancement of consumer research. The Handbook of Research Methods in Consumer Psychology is essential reading for researchers, students, and professionals interested in consumer psychology and behavior.
How can managers design and manage excellent customer experiences that will develop long-term relationships with their customers? This book addresses this key question and explores both the theory developed over the past 20 years and tools to create truly engaging brands. Taking a broad holistic approach, this book brings together current thinking on experiential marketing, brand management, customer engagement, customer well-being and happiness, customer loyalty and emotions, the customer journey map, and big data and combines it into a practical and clear roadmap for brand managers. By integrating these modern perspectives, concepts, research techniques, and operative tools, this book provides a new perspective of marketing management to design and build engaging branding. Using extensive examples from a variety of industries, this book offers a global perspective that will appeal to both advanced students and experienced marketing managers.
Changing Views of Business Marketing This book aims to provide an in-depth understanding of long-term busi in industrial markets. During the late 1980s our view ness relationships on business marketing changed remarkably. From a single-transaction oriented, market mechanism-based description of marketing and purchas ing, we are moving into domestic and international buyer-seller relation ships. In academic terms, we are experiencing a broadening of the para digms that describe how companies interact. This change in focus has its roots in the recognition that business marketing is frequently characterized by long-term interaction, coopera tion, and coalitions between participant firms. The forces of quality, total cost management, and the need to decrease response times in new prod uct/service development all are combining to accelerate the trend to wards strategic relationships. In increasingly global markets, different forms of strategic alliances provide ways of joining forces in attempts to reach goals beyond any single firm's resources. Also, our way of seeing the corporate environment is changing. In stead of the traditional view of markets or industries as constituted by independent companies operating mainly through market competition, we are starting to realize that markets can be more realistically defined and described as networks of interlinked organizations. The network view offers a highly promising tool for describing and analyzing the rapidly integrating global marketplace. For instance, strategic alliances can be seen as moves of establishing positions in a network or as ways of changing the whole network.
Expanding on the editors' award-winning article "Evolving to a New Dominant Logic for Marketing," this book presents a challenging new paradigm for the marketing discipline. This new paradigm is service-oriented, customer-oriented, relationship-focused, and knowledge-based, and places marketing, once viewed as a support function, central to overall business strategy. Service-dominant logic defines service as the application of competencies for the benefit of another entity and sees mutual service provision, rather than the exchange of goods, as the proper subject of marketing. It moves the orientation of marketing from a "market to" philosophy where customers are promoted to, targeted, and captured, to a "market with" philosophy where the customer and supply chain partners are collaborators in the entire marketing process. The editors elaborate on this model through an historical analysis, clarification, and extension of service-dominant logic, and distinguished marketing thinkers then provide further insight and commentary. The result is a more comprehensive and inclusive marketing theory that will challenge both current thinking and marketing practice.
