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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.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateApr 30, 2007

Journal operations research introduces new 'OR forum,' spotlight on leading new research

The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) has introduced a new bi-monthly feature called OR Forum, which highlights important research in operations research. The first article in OR Forum examines how auction theory fails in practice, specifically combinatorial auctions.

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.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateApr 23, 2007

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.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMar 7, 2007

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.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 12, 2007

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.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Public Policy & Marketing·DateNov 17, 2006

Effect of direct-to-consumer drug ads unexpected

A study found that direct-to-consumer advertising of Vioxx increased the proportion of osteoarthritis patient visits for which a prescription was written for Vioxx. However, Celebrex ads were associated with higher rates of Vioxx prescribing, but not significant changes in Celebrex prescriptions.

SourcePenn State·JournalHealth Affairs·DateSep 12, 2006

Fear of 'cooties' keeps shoppers from the till — study

A study found that consumers are less likely to buy a product if they believe it has been touched by someone else, with the value of the product being perceived as diminished. The researchers determined that disgust is the underlying reason for this phenomenon, and that its level increases with the perception of touch or use.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMay 2, 2006

Speaking Spanglish correctly

Researchers analyze structural constraints in codeswitched advertising to determine what makes a message linguistically correct. The study highlights the significance of grammatical accuracy and provides insights into the rules that govern mixed language marketing.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 14, 2005

Spaced out

The human brain employs complex responses for recollection, making it challenging to optimize advertising effectiveness. Research suggests that varying spacing repetitions can strengthen memory traces and improve recall.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Vanilla vs. rocky road

A study by Elizabeth Miller and Barbara Kahn found that consumers prefer atypical and unspecific names to common descriptives. The results suggest that color names can impact purchase propensity, with more ambiguous names leading to increased consumer appeal.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Consumer literacy

Research reveals that consumerism is a social practice of identity maintenance and management, driving low-literate individuals to employ coping strategies. The study identifies the importance of developing consumers' confidence and abilities to engage socially when needs are denied or thwarted.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 2, 2005

Dartmouth professor finds prescription drug advertising 'walks a communications tightrope'

A Dartmouth professor studied two US-air drug ads from 1999 to examine how effectively prescription drug ads convey their messages. The study found that de-integrating risk information improved recall of general information and led to a perception of greater informational content, but no increase in knowledge about the drug's risks.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalResearch in Social and Administrative Pharmacy·DateJun 1, 2005

Enticing the bilingual consumer

A recent study found that advertisers who switched from a majority to a minority language (typically English to Spanish) elicited more negative thoughts and lower product evaluations than those switching in reverse. This suggests that consumers perceive minority languages as having less prestige, affecting persuasion.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMar 29, 2005

Challenging the Venus and Mars theory

A study by Fisher and Dubé finds that men exhibit significant emotional responses to ads when alone, contrary to the stereotype of women being more 'emotional'. The research reveals that males are sensitive to specific types of emotions in social environments, leading to profound implications for advertisers approaching male customers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMar 29, 2005

How negative messages affect consumers

Research by Susan Jung Grant and colleagues found that consumers process negative messages more slowly than positive ones, focusing on the root of the message rather than the negation. This leads to a specific sequence of processing, where affirmations are elaborated first and then negators are incorporated in judgment.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJan 7, 2005

Food displays, food colors affect how much people eat

A study by Brian Wansink found that adults offered six colored flavors of jellybeans ate 69% more than when the colors were each placed in separate bowls. The perception of variety stimulates how much people consume. Consumers can curb overeating by avoiding multiple bowls of the same food and arranging foods into organized patterns.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMay 10, 2004

Ending at square 1: Does order of good & bad events matter to consumers?

Researchers found that consumers' psychological state changes even if their economic state doesn't, with the magnitude of this 'order effect' increasing over time. The study has practical implications for marketers and regulators, who can influence consumer perceptions by altering the sequence of information presentation.

Tobacco industry youth anti-smoking programs designed to promote the industry, study shows

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that tobacco industry youth anti-smoking programs were designed to serve the industry's political aims, rather than reducing smoking rates. The programs aimed to gather information on youth behavior and attitudes to inform marketing strategies.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMay 29, 2002

Link between common virus and heart failure discovered

A team of researchers at the University of Toronto has discovered a crucial link between coxsackievirus B and heart failure, identifying the key gene p56Ick as the trigger for this deadly disease. The finding may lead to new treatment strategies and more targeted predictions of who is at risk of developing heart disease.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 28, 2000