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COMPARATIVE PRODUCT TESTS IN THE CONSUMER DECISION PROCESS: CORRELATES OF USE AND IMPACT ON SATISFACTION *
Author(s) -
Engledow Jack L.,
Anderson Ronald D.,
Becker Helmut
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
decision sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.238
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1540-5915
pISSN - 0011-7315
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1978.tb00750.x
Subject(s) - product (mathematics) , marketing , quality (philosophy) , test (biology) , business , sample (material) , consumer satisfaction , exploratory research , decision quality , consumer behaviour , decision process , advertising , patient satisfaction , process management , mathematics , paleontology , philosophy , chemistry , geometry , epistemology , chromatography , sociology , anthropology , biology
Information inputs are an important determinant of the quality of outcomes in the consumer decision process. This paper reports on an exploratory study that examines the perceived use of Consumer Reports product tests in a specific durable‐product purchase in a nationwide sample of Consumer Reports subscribers. Perceived use of Consumer Reports is found to be related to performance‐oriented shopping, but other situation‐related variables are less likely to be associated with use than the shopper's general confidence in the test reports as an information source. Perceived use of the test reports in this study is associated with higher satisfaction with the products purchased.