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I'm a believer: Some product claims work better than others

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research identifies four product claim structures that can be more effective in different situations. Consumers employ different logical strategies to counteract pitches, with alternative causes and disabling conditions affecting believability.

Slippery slope: 1 tiny truffle can trigger desire for more treats

A new study found that consuming a single chocolate truffle can induce cravings for fatty foods and awaken desires for luxury items. Researchers discovered that people who were allowed to eat the truffle unconsciously activated a goal of indulgence, leading them to desire more treats.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Success of anti-meth ads questioned by study

A recent review found that Montana Meth Project's graphic anti-methamphetamine ads were associated with negative outcomes, including increased meth use among teenagers. The study suggests that the campaign's focus on exaggerating risks may have had unintended consequences.

Study reveals effects of unconscious exposure to advertisements

A recent study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute suggests that non-conscious exposure to advertisements can increase consumer preference for promoted products. The research, led by cognitive scientist Mark Changizi, reveals how advertising tactics like apparel branding and product placement in movies and TV shows tap into our brain's...

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Sweepstakes are for the lucky, not every customer

A belief in luck was not sufficient to entice consumers to a lucky draw over other sales strategies, according to researchers Gerard Prendergast and Edmund Thompson. Consumers who personally feel lucky are more likely to participate in lucky draws.

DVR fast-forwarding may not be fatal to TV advertising

Despite fast-forwarding, consumers can focus on a product logo or brand for just a fraction of a second, later influencing their preferences. Ads with central brand information can even have a positive effect on consumer attitude and choice behavior.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Comrades to consumers

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals how Chinese advertising co-opted communist symbols and messages to promote consumption. The research found that advertisers transformed socialist economic goals into consumer messages, contributing to China's rapid materialistic shift.

Personal information in E-mail marketing can backfire, study indicates

A recent study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that personalized e-mails can have an unintended boomerang effect on businesses, making customers feel threatened or over-pitched. The study suggests that firms should use personalization to convey value rather than just trying to 'wow' prospective buyers.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Counting every thought: What consumers see when looking at ads

Researchers found that traditional thought-listing exercises can introduce bias and fail to capture specific cognitive responses. Instead, implicit measures of cognitive responses are likely to perform better when people are unable to access their thoughts directly.

Coke or Pepsi? Being distracted can make you more susceptible to ads

A study by Bryan Gibson found that people are more likely to choose a brand they associate with positive images when distracted. Even if participants couldn't remember the pairing, this effect occurred. The findings suggest implicit product attitudes play a significant role in impulse purchases.

Advertisers, neuroscientists trace source of emotions in brain

Researchers used fMRI scans to analyze how subjects' brains responded to TV ads, while also collecting their reported impressions. They found specific locations in the brain associated with familiar emotions like pleasure and excitement. The study aims to gauge human emotions directly through brain-scanning technology.

Young voters influenced by negative political ads, says study

A field study of registered voters aged 18-23 found that negative 'attack' ads provoke more voter migration than positive ads. The researchers also discovered that young voters are more likely to weaken their support for a candidate after viewing an ad attacking their preferred candidate.

Study finds simple recipe for ad success: Just add art

A University of Georgia study found that even brief exposure to art makes consumers evaluate products more positively, due to the 'art infusion effect'. The study revealed that art can increase perceived luxury and sophistication in everyday items, making it a powerful marketing tool.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

A company's good reputation can be a bad thing

A study by Michelle L. Roehm and Michael K. Brady found that high-equity brands initially face a disadvantage after failure, but may fare better when the issue is severe. This phenomenon can be attributed to a reduction in cognitive resources, allowing customers to focus on resolving the problem rather than re-evaluating the brand.

Optimism isn't always healthy

A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that optimistic thinking about future goals can lead to detrimental decisions, such as overindulging in unhealthy snacks. In contrast, focusing on commitment to a goal results in more consistent actions with its attainment.

Study explores distinction between 'different' and 'uncool'

Researchers Katherine White and Darren W. Dahl found that consumers actively avoid products associated with groups they want to distance themselves from, but not those of outgroups they don't belong to or aren't motivated to avoid. The study highlights the role of social pressure in shaping consumer choices.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Got calcium? UWM researcher finds that food labels confuse consumers

A recent study found that current food labeling leads to under-consumption of calcium, a crucial nutrient for osteoporosis prevention. Researchers discovered that consumers struggle to translate %DV to milligrams, and even doctors often make incorrect calculations. However, providing simple guidelines can help individuals better naviga...

When taking a long time is seen as a good thing

A study reveals consumers misjudge situations where longer duration isn't necessarily better, such as in exercise programs or lock-picking services. Consumers tend to believe a positive correlation between duration and quality, leading them to prefer longer sessions even when they're not more effective.

UGA study: Youth exposed to smokeless tobacco ads despite settlement

A recent University of Georgia study reveals that youth exposure to smokeless tobacco advertising has been significant and stable over the past decade, defying a 1998 settlement aimed at limiting such marketing. The study found that smokeless tobacco companies have largely avoided scrutiny, despite research showing its health risks.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Grocery retailers need not fear 'cherry pickers'

A new study by University at Buffalo researchers found that extreme cherry pickers barely affected retailer profits, with only 1.2% of grocery store customers engaged in this behavior. These 'extreme' shoppers saved an average of 76% of potential savings through their shopping strategies.

Exposure to smoking-cessation product ads helps smokers quit

A new study from Cornell University found that exposure to smoking-cessation product ads increases the likelihood of quitting, even without purchasing products. The study suggests that 'spillover effects' from advertising may play a significant role in this phenomenon.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Threats to hope -- Desperation affects reasoning about product information

A new study by USC researchers found that when hopes are threatened, consumers turn to the marketplace for help, relying on favorable sources of information. This leads to 'motivated reasoning,' where consumers believe what they want to believe about products promising to help, even if the arguments aren't credible.

'Stealth advertising' sliding under radar into TV newscasts

Researchers found that 90% of monitored newscasts included at least one instance of stealth advertising, with an average of 2.5 individual slots per newscast. The study aimed to gauge the extent of material with commercializing effects on newscasts and viewers.

'Less is more' online

A study by MU researchers found that people pay more attention to pictures selected from a small array of choices than from a large array. Participants who chose from six thumbnail pictures remembered the pictures with 99 percent accuracy, while those who chose from 24 only remembered with 89 percent accuracy.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Fame sells

A study by Erik Hunter and Per Davidsson found that celebrity involvement is key to a product's success compared to traditional endorsement marketing. Celebrity entrepreneurs add value to products, making them more appealing to consumers.

Candy cigarettes: Bringing the candy man home

A new study in Preventive Medicine reveals that candy cigarettes can favorably set the minds of some children towards becoming future cigarette smokers. Children who played with candy cigarettes were more likely to become adult smokers than those who never consumed them.

Annals of Internal Medicine Tip Sheet for May 15, 2007

Prescription data sale to marketing firms is linked to lower death rates among those with depression, a study of 1,226 older adults found. Fibromyalgia patients have a lower pain threshold than healthy individuals, according to a literature review.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Are you ready for professional-grade golf clubs?

A recent study explores how consumers' self-assessment of skill level influences their purchasing decisions for professional-grade golf clubs. Participants who had attempted a shorter putt perceived themselves as better golfers and chose higher-end equipment.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Banner ads work -- even if you don't notice them at all

A new study by Xiang Fang, Surendra Singh, and Rohini Ahluwalia reveals that repeated exposure to web-based banner ads can create a favorable attitude toward the ad despite minimal conscious attention. The researchers found that even if participants couldn

When cookies catch the cooties

A study by Duke University researchers found that products in clear packaging are vulnerable to negative properties being transferred from nearby products. This phenomenon, called 'product contagion,' can lead consumers to perceive affected products as less appealing.

Drug reps use friendship to influence doctors

A former drug rep reveals how sales forces use tactics like finely-tuned doses of friendship, free samples, and lavish gifts to manipulate physicians into selling their drugs. This manipulation can lead to increased prescribing of targeted medications, often at the expense of more effective alternatives.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Nothing to do with it

Research suggests that superfluous choices at early stages of purchase can lead to increased customer satisfaction, as consumers perceive greater deliberation and fluency in decision-making. This results in higher repeat business rates and brand loyalty.

MU newspaper study: Investing in the newsroom is good for business

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that investing in news quality directly impacts a newspaper's profitability. The study, which analyzed financial data from small- to medium-sized newspapers, revealed that spending more on news content leads to increased circulation and advertising revenues.

Being around friends can impair your memory

A group setting exposes individuals to brand information, making them forget competitors and their own preferences. The study found a stronger effect on familiar brands, where the exposure to other group members' mentions amplifies the disruption.

Happy endings aren't always best

A new study by Aparna A. Labroo and Suresh Ramanathan challenges the common assumption that happy endings in advertising are always better. Emotionally involved viewers actually prefer narratives with a negative-to-positive arc, as it allows them to cope with subsequent negativity.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Disclosure of advertising tactics reduces odds kids will drink

A weeklong intervention in schools reduced adolescents' inclination to drink by teaching them critical thinking skills and strategies to question alcohol ads. The program, led by Penn State's Marvin E. Goldberg, equipped students with persuasion knowledge and processed advertising messages.