Find the latest and most impactful research on consumer attitudes and behavior, including drivers and trends, here. All the research listed comes from the ARF or one of its subsidiaries: The Journal of Advertising Research (JAR), the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) or the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM). Feel free to bookmark this page, as it will be updated periodically.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the vulnerability appeal became prevalent among for-profit companies in distress and seeking ways to sustain their business. Facing the threat of shutting down, they shifted their messaging to asking customers to help them stay afloat by buying their products. New research explains the success behind these novel types of appeals.
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Previous research shows men under 30 care the least about the environment and taking steps to protect it, and are averse to traditionally feminine behaviors, which environmental appeals usually angle toward. A new study compares young men and women’s responses to a “take care of your planet” messages perceived as feminine, with other appeals emphasizing physical activity or “sweating” for the environment, seen as more masculine. Although “caring” is less effective, a gender-neutral-themed message resonates more broadly.
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Does closing brick-and-mortar stores mean losing business? Not necessarily. According to this Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper, retailers can retain most, if not all their sales, by helping consumers adapt to local closings. Maintaining sufficient density of locations and customer loyalty are paramount. Retailers who employ an omnichannel strategy can even shift in-store purchasing online or to their app.
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Chinese researchers have found that social media advertising can make a significant impact on people who are socially connected to the viewers of ads—even more so than on the targeted viewers. This effect is strongest among consumers with weaker rather than strong social ties, and it challenges targeting methods rooted in customer centricity models.
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Highly creative advertising is essential for lesser-known brands, but for familiar ones the effort may backfire, new research shows. If the highly creative ad is perceived as off-brand or forces too much information processing, it can damage consumers’ attitudes toward the familiar brand.
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During the last five years, we have seen an upswing and change in the inclusion of values in advertising, especially the increase in cause-related marketing (CRM) which includes messages about societal goals such as sustainability, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity/equality and inclusion). Given marketers’ interest in these issues—ranging from wanting to express support for causes to being concerned about a possible backlash—the ARF has reviewed the research on cause-related marketing as well as related issues, such as ads with more general pro-social and altruistic messages. ARF researchers conclude that ads with cause-related messages can be effective, but many are not. Future research should focus on which kinds of messages are most effective among different consumer groups.
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Is there bias in terms of remediating service complaints? Do customers in wealthier, more educated areas get their complaints resolved easier or more quickly? The researchers behind this Marketing Science Institute (MSI) working paper analyzed data from Boston’s 311 information system to find out. The paper finds that service complaints from highly educated census blocks are more likely to be resolved more quickly than those in less educated neighborhoods. However, mobile phone applications can reduce this gap by giving customers a standardized communication tool for filing complaints. Researchers used an instrumental variable approach to address endogeneity in mobile app use.
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Will an ad that makes fun of the very consumers it targets offend or appeal to them? So-called “audience-targeted negative advertisements” (ATNAs) are the subject of new research that examines ATNAs through the lens of empathy. It also tests their effectiveness for promoting low- and high-status products.
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Does direct persuasion still work in advertising? Two seasoned advertising research academics don’t think so. In an essay backed by empirical evidence, they argue—given the major changes in the ways consumers interact with brands today, such as online and through social media—that advertisers should shift from a direct persuasive strategy, to providing experiences that blend entertainment with more indirect persuasion.
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Consumers and retailers both face challenges in times of economic inflation. Whereas the Covid pandemic has plunged us into unprecedented times, previous research suggests that when prices rise, consumers tend to expect inflation to be high and persistent. They also tend to overestimate sellers’ profits and underestimate the effect inflation has on the seller. Some companies are equipped to weather such price increases. However, the long-term impact of the perception of “greedflation” is yet to be quantified.
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