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The creation of identities in immersive online digital environments has become commonplace in consumer behavior. Consumers frequently enter into socially networked, computer mediated environments (CME’s) as avatars. A user can design his or her avatar by choosing typologies of facial features, body types and clothing styles. The chapter concerns Avatar analysis as a system for generating and analyzing consumer information of practical value to marketers. Avatar analysis enhances understanding of brand perceptions and meanings, discovers new ways of positioning and differentiating brands, and provides insights for improving the effectiveness of brand communications. Using websites such as Second Life to draw avatars, consumer identity projections are elicited based on consumers’ perceptions and interpretations of their own digital figure drawings i.e., virtual social identities of consumers and brands. These identity projections disclose their real and ideal selves, brand-as-a-person, and imagery of a typical brand user.

This study investigates biases affecting domestic products willingness to buy (WTB). An interdisciplinary perspective uses the cognitive consistency theory as the framework for the development of a new model. The model includes domestic product involvement (DPI). The impact on WTB is predicted by consumer ethnocentrism, and product judgment, driven by DPI are tested with survey data from an adult sample of 255 UK consumers. The study concludes with observations about the value of research findings for marketing practice. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Cosmopolitans are individuals with a distinctive kind of extended national and international orientation, a global vision, and sense of belonging to the world. These people are sophisticated and importantly engaged in the cultures outside of local geographical boundaries. But what do we know about them as consumers—their origins, values, media usage, and buyer behavior? This unique book details much about this group, and fills a knowledge gap that has long been overlooked largely because other related marketing areas have overshadowed and overlooked the notion of cosmopolitan consumers. Until this book, in fact, there has been no single authoritative source that directly and comprehensively covers the field of consumer cosmopolitanism. This book also includes original essays by an all-star cast of contributors, giving you an introduction to a powerful new approach to marketing, eclectically packed with novel ideas and insights that noticeably advance the marketing field and bring it more fully into the age of globalization.

Purpose: The literature on consumer morality and consumption is spread widely across many research streams and would benefit from grouping under selected themes so that scholars’ work can be guided by the compass of these themes. It is also important to add studies to each of these themes to serve as gateways that will guide new research. The aim of this special issue of the Journal of Consumer Marketing was to achieve precisely this purpose. The purpose of this paper is to open the gate to the exploration of the themes that today describe this landscape. Design/methodology/approach: The paper assesses the contributions made in each of several domains to better understand, why and how moral consumption works, what its ingredients are and how it may grow in the future. There are at least four domains of morality and moral consumption studies as follows: the formation of the moral self and moral identity; moral identity and ethical consumption; moral reasoning (cognitive processes) and moral choice; and the moral self and marketing. Each of these domains of work provides insight into the moral consumption phenomenon. Findings: The authors highlight the development of the moral self and underscore the significance of the relationship between identity development and the individual’s moral actions and by extension the significance of that relationship in moral consumption. Also, the paper adds to the current discussion on morality and ethical consumption by underscoring their interlinked nature and how that linkage can drive consumption behavior, highlight the cognitive processes involved in moral choices and how consumers reason to arrive at those choices. Finally, the authors provide examples of the workings of moral identity and reasoning in consumption contexts more directly. Originality/value: Each of these morality and moral consumption domains of work provides unique insights into the moral consumption phenomenon; thus, it is important to disseminate the contributions made in each domain to better understand, why and how moral consumption works, what its ingredients are and how it may grow in the future. In this paper, the authors offer contemporary original samples of key contributions to each of these domains. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.

A model of switching costs is applied to ad agency-client relationships using agency theory. Switching costs are comprised of set-up costs that create barriers to switching to new agencies and exit costs that are barriers to severing relationships with current agencies. Switching cost theory offers insights into why large clients can maintain agency relationships. A survey of American clients shows how client size is associated with set-up and exit costs. These relationships are explained through diversity and scope of services, the creative risk associated with major brands, and the need for more sophisticated monitoring, each acting as switching barriers, extending longevity. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

We develop a theory of advertising agency compensation, client evaluation and switching costs, with extensions to agency theory. When clients are exposed to high switching costs, they become more vulnerable to the risk of agency costs. In response, clients can select compensation and evaluation decisions that convey fairness, signal their commitment, and invite agency reciprocity. With high switching costs, outcome-based compensation and formal evaluation procedures are likely. High switching costs are associated with signifi'cant relationship investments, mature relationships, large clients, formal evaluation, and with clients that use their agencies as strategic partners. Clients surveyed in North America support the theory. © 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Alexander Josiassen (2011) initiated research on the consumer disidentification (CDI) concept and its impact on product purchase behavior. In his investigation, a predictive model that included CDI as an exogeneous factor in domestic product preference was tested on adult second-generation immigrants who were born in, and lived in, the Netherlands. The model also incorporated consumer ethnocentrism (CET) as a second predictor variable. Josiassen's study showed that CDI negatively affected the purchase of products made domestically or by domestic firms. Conversely, CET was found to have a positive effect on the purchase of these products. Furthermore, relationships of CDI and CET to purchase intentions were independent of each other. In the Netherlands model, both variables were hypothesized to explain domestic product preference directly and indirectly through domestic product judgment. This paper replicates and assesses the generalizability of the CDI construct and model. Replication of the Netherland CDI model in the U.S. results in an acceptable measurement fit, but a slightly below acceptable structural fit. © 2020, University of South Australia. All rights reserved.

Core constructs are necessary as a basis for scale development in brand prestige research. This study examines the theoretical rationale for two such concepts - brand excellence and status conferral - and uses latent class scaling in an empirical test as to whether they are both important independent dimensions of prestige brands. Based on the analysis, these concepts are shown to be consistently present for two brands in two diverse product categories. The research calls into question earlier work on the measurement of brand prestige that was premised on a one-dimensional concept of prestige. Further studies are needed to explore the dimensionality and substantive structure of the brand prestige concept, to confirm or disconfirm findings from this research. © 2009 IOS Press. All rights reserved.

This study presents an original model that features the emotion of fear of COVID-19 as a direct effect on vaccination intentions. A central research question addressed in the study is what roles do the emotion of fear of contracting COVID-19 and the threat posed by uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination play in levels of vaccination intention? The study used a structural equation model (SEM) and applied the SmartPLS 3.2.6 data analysis tool for model estimation and multivariate analysis variables. A key finding is that vaccination resistance is strongest when fear of COVID-19 is lower, and vaccination threat higher. Vaccination threat appraisal and vaccination intention were found to have a negative relationship. Response costs at higher levels lessen motivation for COVID-19 vaccination. Research implications include research-based targeting of differing segments by their primary fear, either fear of COVID-19 or of the preventative vaccine.

Past studies of academic dishonesty typically have been grounded in the theory of planned behaviour. Key predictors of academic dishonesty variables under this framework generally have been attitudes towards academic dishonesty, the impact of peer pressure to engage in such acts, and individual perceptions of related acts. However, planned behaviour theory is silent about the significant impact on academic dishonesty of past academic dishonesty behaviours. The objective of the present study is to analyse, through the lens of social learning theory, the effects of past behaviours that predispose academic dishonesty: differential association, i.e., the effects of individual learning, through interaction with others, of the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for deviant behaviour, on the prediction of academic dishonesty intentions. Additionally, the study tests the effects of Machiavellianism, or dishonest and deceptive behaviours on the relationship between past academic dishonesty acts and academic dishonesty attitudes. Results of the study reveal that differential association with cheating acceptors strengthens the relationship between academic dishonesty attitudes and intentions. Additionally, Machiavellianism at higher levels intensifies the relationships between past academic dishonesty behaviours and contemporary academic dishonesty attitudes.

The aim of the study is to investigate the motivational effects of tourist traits and risk appraisal on tourist destination risk perception. Risk appraisal involves subjective estimates of vulnerability to a threat and the threat’s consequential severity. Fear levels influence both of these elements of risk appraisal. Individual differences in reactance proneness and risk aversion are introduced into the study model to more fully account for differences in travel destination risk perceptions. The study design involves US adults, who have used their passports for international travel in the past 5 years. Travel risk assessments were studied for four destination sites: London, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. A general structural model is developed to test hypotheses about antecedents and consequents of risk appraisal and destination risk perception. © The Author(s) 2021.

The concept and framework of market sensing was introduced by George Day more than 20 years ago into the strategic marketing literature and especially the philosophy of the market-driven organization. Market sensing can be considered an expression of a company's capabilities to scan the external environment. It does this by using real time data and intelligence to understand business or uncertain changes, to meet the current and future needs of the market, increase customer value, and outperform competitors. Market sensing enables managers to resist complacency, as well as to exploit opportunities and to design appropriate competitive strategies in order to remain successful in today's uncertain, rapidly changing, and hypercompetitive market. The present volume, Market Sensing Today, is essential reading in the marketing discipline, given the rapidly escalating innovative developments in market sensing techniques. This book of essays by acknowledged experts in the field fills an important knowledge gap and provides a realistic basis for strategy. It is replete with real-life examples of market sensing that illustrate actionable ideas for immediate impact that will improve organizational learning and accelerate growth. This book of contemporary tested and comprehensive concepts and methods grounded in diverse and rich experience is intended to stimulate creativity and insightful approaches for educators offering courses in strategy as well as for practitioners involved in crucial strategic decision making.

Today's practicing marketers and scholars are confronted with a wide array of conflicting and imprecise information about best practices by which to search, gather, consolidate and interpret market information. Consequently, the need has never been greater to optimize market sensing to generate managerial actions that efficiently and effectively utilize knowledge of emerging consumer needs and competitive threats. This book addresses these urgent concerns. In essence, Market Sensing Today will cover, in ground-breaking ways, the following marketing managerial areas: * marketing opportunities associated with conventional and progressive bases of segmentation. * trends in market segment size and growth affecting long-range planning. * strategic direction for reaching future goals. * managerial understanding of assumptions competitors make about themselves. * the direction of current market strategies. * adding to the knowledge of a firm's core competencies. * how new market knowledge is best integrated into a firm's market intelligence system. * best ways to ensure the quality of information underlying decisions. * how benchmarking improves with market sensing. * best approaches for translating business issues into projects. * ways that key information may be disseminated within firms. * how proposed strategic changes are promoted by market sensing. * roles customer satisfaction insights play in policy. This book will address these key issues and more, to advance theory, research and practice based on latest developments in this vital field. It will show how to re-formulate traditional models that no longer work.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a methodology by which qualitative analyses serve as rich source materials for discovery of theoretically cogent interrelations between latent variables. Design/methodology/approach: In an illustrative case, qualitative data are collected from US franchisee managers from a single branded franchise of automotive repair outlets. Qualitative analysis of franchisee experiences and attitudes is critical for construction of a causal model used to predict conflict intensity between franchisee managers and franchisors. Findings: The model is based on franchisees' normative expectations for resource allocation within the franchise; and their perceptions of franchisor normative violations, which are determinative of grievances, distrust, and hostility. This theoretical orientation serves to generate a system of interrelated empirically testable propositions. Research limitations/implications: In principle, the primary limitation of using qualitative analysis for the construction of causal models is the fruitfulness of the theoretical orientation shared by the qualitative analyst and the causal modeler. Practical implications: The methodological approach advanced in this paper advances qualitative research and causal modeling beyond the individual contributions. Qualitative analysis infuses variables and process imagery into causal modeling. In turn, causal modeling elaborates the qualitative analysis and makes explicit logical connections between variables. Originality/value: This paper advances a methodology by which qualitative analysis and causal model construction may be usefully integrated. Theory-based qualitative analysis may be formalized to map latent concepts and their interrelations. Further, operational measures of these concepts may be adduced from the analysis of textual data. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Purpose: This paper aims to develop a model that explains the moral bases of consumer ethnocentrism and consumer cosmopolitanism as purchase dispositions. The authors build their work on moral foundations theory and the social theories of Emile Durkheim. Design/methodology/approach: Theory-building from general theories of motivation is grounded in cultural norms, and empirical research is conducted to test theoretical propositions. Findings: The focus is on the theoretical implications of binding or individualism morals of consumers within social groups. Consequently, variables in the model relate to ethical themes of community, autonomy and divinity. This theory posits that, for a variety of considerations, loyalty has a direct and positive effect on consumer ethnocentrism and on consumer cosmopolitanism. Serendipitously, other moral foundations have negative effects. The authors theorize that negative relationships exist between authority and consumer cosmopolitanism, and between sanctity and consumer ethnocentrism. This model also illustrates that consumer ethnocentrism positively predisposes favorable domestic product judgments. Research limitations/implications: New ethical factors in consumer dispositions affecting product purchase decisions are explored. Hypotheses can be empirically replicated and moderated in future research. Practical implications: Marketers can use the variables of personal values, moral foundations and gender role identity to fashion marketing communications and to target selective consumer segments. Social implications: The persuasion process of social marketing will be enhanced by understanding relevant motives. Originality/value: The use of the fine-grained moral foundation antecedents to predict consumer predispositions of ethnocentrism and cosmopolitanism is without precedent. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.