Study debunks idea of a “sweet spot” in menus
From the San Francisco State University press release via Physorg: When you sit down to read a restaurant menu, do you read it like a book? Or do your eyes flit from place to place…
Study examines links between personality traits and a preference for buying experiences instead of things
From the San Francisco State University press release: Psychologists have found that buying life experiences makes people happier than buying possessions, but who spends more of their spare cash on experiences? New findings published this…
Study looks at effects of humanizing a brand
From the University of Chicago Press Journals press release via EurekAlert!: Humanizing a brand can influence consumer behavior in a healthy or unhealthy direction – depending on how they envision the brand, according to a…
Study looks at why the wealthy may still cut down on luxuries during recession
From the University of Chicago Press Journals press release via EurekAlert!: During an economic downturn, even people who are not directly affected spend less on goods and services that signal social status, according to a…
Study suggests consumer perceptions of product promises depend on phrasing, source
From the University of Chicago Press Journals press release via EurekAlert!: How long it will take to bake a cake? Twenty-eight minutes or half an hour? According to a new study in the Journal of…
Study examines how presentation can affect consumer reactions to same package deal
From the University of Chicago Press Journals press release via EurekAlert!: Consumers can have vastly different reactions to the same package deal, depending on the order the price and quantity are listed, according to a…
Study looks at the psychology of debt management
From the Washington University in St. Louis press release by Neil Schoenherr: The presents have been opened. The tree has been put away. Now come the bills. What is the best way to tackle holiday…
Study suggests crowds in stores may backfire for retailers
From the University of Chicago press release via EurekAlert!: Although holiday sales and events try to drive as many customers to retail stores as possible, a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows…
Study suggests people typically overestimate what others are willing to pay for products
From the University of Chicago Press Journals via EurekAlert!: Compared to what they would pay themselves, most consumers overestimate what others are willing to pay for products, according to a new study in the Journal…
Study looks at why stating an intention makes consumers more likely to buy their preferred brands
From the University of Chicago Press Journals via EurekAlert!: If you say you’re going to buy something, you’re more likely to do it. But why is that? According to a new study in the Journal…