2 Consumer Behavior Free Online FlashCards

What does consumer behavior study?

Consumer behavior is how people choose, buy, use, and evaluate products and services for personal use.

What are the five stages in the consumer decision process?

Need recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase, and post-purchase evaluation.

What broad factors influence buying behavior?

Cultural, social, personal, psychological, and situational factors interact with marketing stimuli to influence buying behavior.

What research methods help organizations understand consumers?

Organizations can use interviews, surveys, observation, reviews, and purchasing data to understand customer needs, barriers, and decision patterns.

What ethical responsibilities apply when organizations use behavioral data or design choices?

Organizations should be transparent about relevant data practices, protect customer information, and avoid misleading or coercive interfaces that obscure costs or make meaningful choices difficult.

What is need recognition?

Need recognition occurs when someone notices a difference between their current situation and a desired one.

What shapes a consumer’s information search?

Consumers may use memory or seek information from friends, reviews, advertising, product pages, or sales staff. Search depends partly on purchase importance and perceived risk.

How do consumers evaluate alternatives?

Consumers compare options using relevant criteria such as price, quality, convenience, or features; different buyers may weigh them differently.

Why might a consumer not buy their preferred option?

A preferred option may not be purchased if it is unavailable, too expensive, or less convenient than expected.

What can follow post-purchase evaluation?

Consumers judge whether the experience met expectations. Satisfaction can encourage repeat purchases and recommendations; disappointment may lead to complaints, returns, or switching.

What is cognitive dissonance after a purchase?

Cognitive dissonance, also called buyer’s remorse, is doubt after a consequential purchase.

How can social influences affect a purchase?

Social influences include family, friends, reference groups, social roles, and recommendations. A family member may affect an appliance choice even if someone else buys it.