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When Does Choice Reveal Preference? Moderators of Heuristic versus Goal-Based Choice

Author

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  • Aimee Drolet
  • Mary Frances Luce
  • Itamar Simonson

Abstract

Heuristic use is a central topic in consumer research, but the factors that determine when consumers will settle for shortcut solutions to choice problems (e.g., compromise) versus rely on "true" preferences (e.g., self-goals) remain unclear. We propose that both motivation to use self-goals, as indexed by need for cognition (NFC), and cognitive ability, manipulated through cognitive load, influence the use of the compromise heuristic. Three studies showed that NFC is associated with less compromise at baseline but not under load. Process measures and moderation tests suggest that load disrupts access to self-goals and that NFC relates to self-goal use. Thus, load differentially influences compromise choice across levels of NFC. (c) 2008 by JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH, Inc..

Suggested Citation

  • Aimee Drolet & Mary Frances Luce & Itamar Simonson, 2009. "When Does Choice Reveal Preference? Moderators of Heuristic versus Goal-Based Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(1), pages 137-147, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jconrs:v:36:y:2009:i:1:p:137-147
    DOI: 10.1086/596305
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Berg, Nathan & Kim, Jeong-Yoo, 2010. "Demand for Self Control: A model of Consumer Response to Programs and Products that Moderate Consumption," MPRA Paper 26593, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Christopher Hickey & Derek T. Tharp, 2021. "U.S. health insurance marketplace taxonomy and the influence of labeling on consumer perception of plan suitability," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 203-231, March.
    3. Homer, Pamela Miles, 2021. "When sadness and hope work to motivate charitable giving," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 420-431.
    4. Yin-Hui Cheng & Shin-Shin Chang & Shih-Chieh Chuang & Ming-Wei Yu, 2012. "The impact of purchase quantity on the compromise effect: The balance heuristic," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 7(4), pages 499-512, July.
    5. Hristina Nikolova & Cait Lamberton, 2016. "Men and the Middle: Gender Differences in Dyadic Compromise Effects," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(3), pages 355-371.
    6. repec:cup:judgdm:v:7:y:2012:i:4:p:499-512 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Anyuan Shen & Shuguang Liu, 2016. "Asymmetric dominance and the stability of constructed preferences," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 11(3), pages 213-222, May.
    8. Christopher K. Hsee & Yuval Rottenstreich & Alois Stutzer, 2012. "Suboptimal choices and the need for experienced individual well-being in economic analysis," International Journal of Happiness and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 1(1), pages 63-85.
    9. Frank Goedertier & Kristof Geskens & Maggie Geuens & Bert Weijters, 2012. "Increasing choice satisfaction through goal-based labeling," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 119-136, March.
    10. V. Kumar & Nita Umashankar & Kihyun Hannah Kim & Yashoda Bhagwat, 2014. "Assessing the Influence of Economic and Customer Experience Factors on Service Purchase Behaviors," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(5), pages 673-692, September.
    11. Chuang, Shih-Chieh & Cheng, Yin-Hui & Hsu, Chun-Ting, 2012. "The influence of suggestions of reference groups in the compromise effect," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 554-565.
    12. Steinhart, Yael & Kamins, Michael A. & Mazursky, David & Noy, Avraham, 2013. "Thinking or Feeling the Risk in Online Auctions: The Effects of Priming Auction Outcomes and the Dual System on Risk Perception and Amount Bid," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 47-61.
    13. repec:cup:judgdm:v:11:y:2016:i:3:p:213-222 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Katherine Burson & David Faro & Yuval Rottenstreich, 2013. "Multiple-Unit Holdings Yield Attenuated Endowment Effects," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(3), pages 545-555, November.
    15. Cheng, Yin-Hui & Chuang, Shih-Chieh & Pei-I Yu, Annie & Lai, Wan-Ting, 2019. "Change in your wallet, change your choice: The effect of the change-matching heuristic on choice," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 67-76.
    16. Voss, Kevin E. & Li, Ying Ying & Song, YoungOk Sunny, 2022. "Competing cues in brand alliance advertisements," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 476-493.

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