A scientist suggests an alternative approach to calculating microbial growth thermodynamics, citing discrepancies between theoretical and experimental results. The Battley free energy equation offers a more realistic representation of real-world conditions.
A study by Eric J. Hamerman and Gita V. Johar found that sports fans' superstitious behavior is driven by a desire for control and lower perceived ability to influence outcomes. Consumers may become conditioned to associate products with success or failure, creating an illusion of control over future events.
A new study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that the proximity of product images to their desired outcomes affects consumer judgments. When products promise immediate results, companies should place images closer together in advertisements to optimize effectiveness.
A new study reveals that targeted messages based on political orientation can significantly influence consumers' recycling intentions. Consumers who identify as liberals respond better to appeals focused on fairness and reducing harm, while conservatives are more likely to recycle when appeals emphasize group membership or authority. T...
A recent study reveals that individuals experiencing relationship problems tend to prefer aesthetic experiences that match their negative mood. Consumers seek out music and other art forms that reflect their emotions as a substitute for lost relationships.
A new study found that consumers are more likely to endorse certain responses on agreement scales when labels are familiar to them. This can lead to biased survey results if the labels are not equivalent across languages. Researchers recommend paying closer attention to response category labels to avoid such biases.
A new study finds that international child sponsorship programs result in higher rates of schooling completion and improved adult employment outcomes. The research, conducted by Compassion International, estimates causal effects on areas such as educational completion, type of employment, and community leadership.
In free-ranging Daubenton's bats, resting metabolic rate decreases during autumn to accommodate high energy demands of reproduction while minimizing food intake. During spring, the bats use daily torpor to balance energy budgets.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that subtle physical acts of closure can trigger choice closure and increase consumer satisfaction. Consumers who closed lids or menus on their selected items liked what they ate more than those who didn't perform an act of closure.
A new study found that consumers from less individualistic cultures are more likely to use price as a signal for product quality, whereas individualists focus on separate attributes. This insight can help companies target higher-priced brands towards collectivistic markets.
In a competitive context, consumers bid more when unknown bidders are involved. However, mixing eBay and Facebook reduces bidding prices by assuming competitors' traits, leading to lower aggressiveness. This study reveals the impact of interpersonal ambiguity on bidding behavior in auctions.
A new study reveals how social class influences men's attitudes towards DIY home improvement. Upper-class men use DIY to experience physical labor and feel fulfilled, while lower-class men treat it as a chore to assert their masculinity and provide for their families.
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that sellers tend to focus on a product's desirability, while buyers consider both its desirability and usability. This difference in focus leads to price discrepancies between what sellers ask for tickets and what buyers are willing to pay.
A recent study published in the Journal of Political Economy suggests that intellectual property rights on existing technologies can discourage subsequent scientific research. Researchers found a persistent 20-30% reduction in subsequent scientific research and product development for genes held by Celera's intellectual property.
A new study suggests that emotional appeals can be more effective than celebrity endorsements when promoting products related to a consumer's identity. By matching emotions with identities, companies can create more personalized and persuasive marketing campaigns.
A study found that consumers are willing to pay more for faster service with delayed installation and prefer riskier investments with higher expected returns when compared to safe options. This preference reversal highlights the importance of product comparison in consumer decision-making.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that the horizontal location of advertising images influences consumer evaluations of products. Products placed on the left tend to be favored by those living in cultures reading from left to right, while those on the right are preferred by right-to-left readers.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers' perception of products they don't own can influence their judgments. When made aware of not owning a product, consumers who perceive themselves as uncreative may actually see the product as more creative.
A new study suggests that more independent consumers are better at delaying gratification and perceive future events as happening in the distant future. This is because they think of the future in abstract terms, whereas less independent consumers perceive it in concrete terms.
A study published in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology found that birds with pheomelanin-based plumage coloration had higher survival rates than those without it. The researchers suggest that the production of this pigment may help sequester excess amino acids, providing a beneficial effect under certain conditions.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research finds that creative and skilled viewers can overturn and personalize commercial advertising meanings for family benefit. Researchers placed cameras in suburban homes to study viewer behavior during TV ad breaks, revealing the impact of family interaction on advertising response.
Fashion bloggers succeed by providing taste leadership, attracting a mass audience and gaining social and economic resources. This study marks a shift in understanding consumer behavior online, highlighting the horizontal operation of taste and the accumulation of cultural capital.
A study found that consumers feeling socially isolated are more likely to pursue riskier financial opportunities. This effect is mediated by the perceived instrumentality of money, as excluded consumers seek to value money as an alternative means to secure their desired outcomes.
A study by Marsha L. Richins reveals that wanting a product can boost happiness for materialistic individuals, but the emotions are short-lived. Materialists tend to believe that acquiring new items will transform their lives, leading them to overspend and accumulate debt.
A new study found that consumers systematically underestimate the selling price of others' items and overestimate their own willingness to pay. This bias can lead to reduced satisfaction in transactions and economic losses for both buyers and sellers.
A study on Arabidopsis thaliana reveals its genetic diversity can help crops adapt to environmental stresses. Dr. Sarah Assmann explores the plant's ability to tolerate climate change, drought, and poor soils.
Elderly consumers use shopping, meal preparation, and caregiving to assert their identity and resist being labeled old. They employ various strategies, including joint activities and covert exclusion of younger caregivers, to challenge perceived stereotypes.
Consumers believe that life-saving products like vaccines and cancer medications are priced based on need rather than profit. This perception can lead to an increased perceived health risk when prices are low, even if the product is still necessary.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers make emotional assessments when making decisions closer to their future. The study suggests that companies should tailor their messages to appeal to feelings or objective assessments based on the proximity of the decision outcome.
A new study reveals that consumers seek to punish fellow shoppers who break rules, yet make exceptions depending on the situation. Consumers are less likely to punish someone if they've been punished by a store employee or have experienced adversity themselves.
Stay-at-home fathers are mobilizing to build greater legitimacy for their marginalized gender identity by aggressively pursuing recognition from mainstream institutions. They attempt to avoid feminizing associations by masculinizing domesticity, instead enacting a rebel dad persona and portraying themselves as a gender vanguard.
A study by Keith Wilcox and Andrew T. Stephen found that Facebook usage can lead to reduced self-control, resulting in unhealthy snacking, increased body mass index, and higher credit card debt among users with many close friends. The research highlights the potential negative impact of social media on consumer well-being.
A study found that consumers are more likely to buy a product they previously focused on, while ignoring a product decreases its purchasing chances. Companies can exploit this by drawing attention through advertising or packaging to gain long-term advantages.
The latest volume of Crime and Justice series explores how prosecutors exercise discretion, with a focus on equality, justice, and rationality. It presents case studies from the US and abroad to identify best practices in prosecutor behavior.
The study finds that Jewish-Israeli children of Holocaust survivors and Cambodian-Canadians reject the idea of inherited trauma, instead embracing their parents' memory as a source of empowerment. Cultural values and worldviews play a significant role in shaping responses to trauma.
A new investigation into cooperative behavior suggests that humans developed skills to work with others due to mutual interdependence. This study proposes a two-step process where cooperation began in small groups and became more complex as societies grew.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers enjoy Tostitos salsa with Tostitos tortilla chips more when told they come from the same brand. The authors conclude that matching brands can enhance joint consumption experiences and provide an advantage for companies offering complementary products.
A new study by Fabrizio Di Muro and Theodore J. Noseworthy found that consumers tend to spend more on worn bills due to feelings of disgust, but are more likely to hold onto crisp currency for social reasons. The researchers suggest that money's physical appearance can influence spending behavior, making it a vehicle for social utility.
A study by Clarkson et al. found that novice consumers seek out novel experiences to expand their existing knowledge, whereas expert consumers prefer deeper knowledge through familiar but unique products. This selective approach to consumption drives consumer behavior.
A new study reveals that consumers presented with options one at a time tend to be less satisfied and committed to their choices. The authors found that this is due to the uncertainty of future alternatives, leading to a feeling of hope that undermines satisfaction levels.
A recent study found that consumers tend to favor warranties expressed in standard units, such as years. When presented with alternative units, like days, consumers' evaluations of cell phone warranties were negatively impacted. This shift in perception occurred mainly when individual products were shown in isolation.
A study found that plus-sized consumers create a collective identity as 'fatshionistas' and mobilize for greater inclusion by identifying influential designers and retailers. The authors identify institutional entrepreneurs like Beth Ditto who inspire the movement.
A new study reveals that consumers are less satisfied when they receive products with easily countable rewards, focusing instead on the value. In contrast, rewards that are harder to quantify, such as free products or vacation packages, lead to more satisfying experiences as consumers focus on the unique aspects of their own experience.
A new study reveals that consumers use different naive theories to interpret the same information, influencing their perceptions of product quality and value. The findings suggest that subtle tactics used by companies can backfire if they assume a single naive theory is driving consumer evaluation.
Some consumers prefer detailed explanations to understand a product's mechanics, while others prefer abstract knowledge and are satisfied with less information. This study reveals that the strength of intuitions plays a crucial role in determining understanding and preference.
Researchers found that making small changes to an ad over repeated exposures can increase its effectiveness. Subtle location changes in brand logos or product depictions can make a significant impact even with limited consumer attention.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers justify continued support for a celebrity or politician disgraced by scandal by separating moral judgments from professional performance. This allows them to avoid condoning immoral behavior and continue buying products endorsed by the public figure.
A study finds that nature worship can harm the environment due to consumers' tendency to prioritize romantic escapes from culture. Eco-friendly products offer an opportunity for outdoor equipment manufacturers and tourism service providers to help reduce environmental damage.
Consumers with poor self-control can establish greater control when monitoring unhealthy food quantities, leading to quicker satisfaction and reduced unhealthy eating. The study suggests dieters focus on quantity of unhealthy foods rather than healthy ones.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that reminders of money cause consumers to focus on primary features and brand name. This can lead to overlooking certain product attributes when making purchasing decisions.