Urban
Average exchange rate for August 2022: 4.8953 RON = 1 Euro [ 77 ].
The two factors resulting from the PCA have been detailed in Table 2 , together with their corresponding items. The first component has been labeled “Intrinsic cues” and consists of factors depending on the biological products. The factor consisted of 10 variables and explained 68.120% of the total variance and had a reliability coefficient of 0.895, with a mean of 4.07 ± 1.098. Thus, the consumers took most into account whether the organic products had a superior quality compared to other products (4.23 ± 1.211), were fresh (4.22 ± 1.187), healthy (4.15 ± 1.238), or natural (4.07 ± 1.237), while also considering their shelf life (4.17 ± 1.197). Out of the variables belonging to this component, the nutritional value of the product was ranked as the least important according to our respondents (3.74 ± 1.245).
The two factors resulting from the PCA analysis with the corresponding items.
Eigenvalue | Variance % | Factor | Item | Factor Loading | Mean | SD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11.814 | 62.180 | Intrinsic cues α = 0.895 mean = 4.07 ± 1.098 | Fresh | 0.895 | 4.22 | 1.187 |
Healthy | 0.890 | 4.15 | 1.238 | |||
Natural | 0.877 | 4.07 | 1.237 | |||
Without additives | 0.864 | 4.02 | 1.204 | |||
Superior Quality | 0.858 | 4.23 | 1.211 | |||
Tasty | 0.853 | 4.03 | 1.232 | |||
Non-Polluting | 0.843 | 4.02 | 1.188 | |||
Without GMOs | 0.832 | 4.02 | 1.274 | |||
With a shelf life | 0.816 | 4.17 | 1.197 | |||
Nutritional value | 0.710 | 3.74 | 1.245 | |||
2.117 | 11.143 | Extrinsic cues α = 0.922 mean = 3.32 ± 1.048 | Producer’s logo | 0.839 | 3.18 | 1.350 |
Brand | 0.834 | 3.06 | 1.302 | |||
Packaging | 0.772 | 2.95 | 1.344 | |||
Easy to cook | 0.757 | 3.44 | 1.323 | |||
Variety | 0.748 | 3.52 | 1.263 | |||
Available in supermarket | 0.686 | 3.51 | 1.383 | |||
Friends’ recommendation | 0.677 | 3.36 | 1.268 | |||
Price | 0.508 | 3.65 | 1.304 | |||
Country of origin | 0.462 | 3.51 | 1.352 | |||
Total variance % | 73.323, α = 0.964 |
The second component of our PCA analysis consisted of extrinsic characteristics of the organic products, and accounted for 11.143% of the total variance, and had a reliability coefficient of 0.922, with a mean of 3.32 and SD of 1.048. Out of the nine analyzed items, consumers paid the most attention to the price of the organic products (3.65 ± 1.304), their variety (3.52 ± 1.263), country of origin (3.51 ± 1.352), and whether they were available in a supermarket or not (3.51 ± 1.383). Moreover, the producer’s logo (3.18 ± 1.350), the brand of the product (3.06 ± 1.302), and the packaging (2.95 ± 1.344) were considered the least important aspects that determined the purchase of an organic product.
Furthermore, the Mann–Whitney-U and the Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed in order to identify and assess any significant differences between the socio-demographical characteristics of the respondents and the evaluated factors resulting from the PCA. Thus, we presented the detailed analysis and relationship between these characteristics and the two components from the PCA in Table 3 .
Relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and the PCA.
Characteristics Variables | Intrinsic Cues | Extrinsic Cues | |
---|---|---|---|
Gender | Female | 3.99 ± 1.201 | 3.23 ± 1.043 |
Male | 4.26 ± 0.765 | 3.53 ± 1.042 | |
-value | 0.815 | 0.067 | |
Education level | High school | 4.02 ± 1.084 | 3.27 ± 1.084 |
University degree | 4.12 ± 1.008 | 3.56 ± 1.043 | |
Post-University degree | 4.04 ± 1.206 | 3.10 ± 1.020 | |
-value | 0.708 | 0.031 * | |
Age | 18–25 years | 4.08 ± 1.012 | 3.14 ± 0.950 |
26–35 years | 4.34 ± 0.758 | 3.55 ± 0.901 | |
36–45 years | 4.01 ± 1.231 | 3.51 ± 1.123 | |
46–55 years | 3.98 ± 1.145 | 3.20 ± 1.129 | |
>55 years | 3.75 ± 1.408 | 2.97 ± 1.070 | |
-value | 0.648 | 0.112 | |
Monthly household income | <2000 RON | 3.95 ± 1.104 | 3.36 ± 1.101 |
2001–3000 RON | 4.17 ± 1.106 | 3.75 ± 1.112 | |
3001–4000 RON | 3.94 ± 0.967 | 3.45 ± 1.014 | |
4001–5000 RON | 3.93 ± 1.331 | 3.12 ± 0.949 | |
>5001 RON | 4.16 ± 1.072 | 3.08 ± 1.002 | |
-value | 0.342 | 0.011 * | |
Children in the house | Yes | 4.01 ± 1.114 | 3.35 ± 1.082 |
No | 4.10 ± 1.090 | 3.30 ± 1.030 | |
-value | 0.409 | 0.810 | |
Residency | Rural | 3.91 ± 1.157 | 3.37 ± 1.073 |
Urban | 4.15 ± 1.201 | 3.23 ± 1.043 | |
-value | 0.101 | 0.577 |
* p < 0.05
When it comes to factors influencing the decision to purchase a certain type of organic product, it is notable that our study did not find any significant differences between the intrinsic characteristics of the said product and the socio-demographical features of our respondents. It is apparent that, regardless of their social background, consumers tend to pay attention to and focus on the same characteristics of the product when choosing it. Thus, the only significant differences were recorded in relationship with the extrinsic characteristics of the organic products, in particular the education level ( p = 0.031; p < 0.05) and the monthly household income ( p = 0.011; p < 0.05). To this extent, the respondents who had a university degree were more likely to rely on extrinsic cues of the products (3.56 ± 1.043), followed by those who graduated high school (3.27 ± 1.084), while these characteristics were least influential on consumers with a postgraduate degree (3.1 ± 1.020).
Additionally, consumers with the highest income levels were least likely to rely on the extrinsic features of the product when deciding to purchase an organic product (3.08 ± 1.002). In comparison, respondents who earned between 2.001 and 3.000 RON monthly were the ones who took into account the most of these types of features (3.75 ± 1.112).
Furthermore, we investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of consumption of organic products among our respondents. These results showing how the pattern changed are detailed in Table 4 and Table 5 .
Changes in the frequency of consumption after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes in Consumption Frequency after the Pandemic | Number of Respondents | % of Respondents |
---|---|---|
Increased | 40 | 21.1 |
Decreased | 35 | 18.4 |
Remained the same | 115 | 60.5 |
Frequency of consuming organic food products before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frequency | Before the Pandemic | Changes in Frequency of Consumption after the Pandemic (%) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Respondents | % of Respondents | Increased | Decreased | Remained the Same | |
Daily | 26 | 13.7 | 26.9 | 3.8 | 69.2 |
More times a Week | 91 | 47.9 | 20.9 | 7.7 | 71.4 |
Once a Week | 31 | 16.3 | 32.3 | 22.6 | 45.2 |
2–3 Times a Month | 32 | 16.8 | 9.4 | 46.9 | 43.8 |
Once every 6 Months | 7 | 3.7 | 14.3 | 57.1 | 28.6 |
Less than once every 6 Months | 3 | 1.6 | 66.7 | 33.3 | 0 |
Overall, out of the total number of respondents, the majority reported no significant differences regarding the consumption frequency of organic food products before and after the pandemic (60.5%). Moreover, the percentage of consumers who affirmed an increased (21.1%) or a decreased interest (18.4%) in these types of products was rather similar.
Performing a more detailed analysis, most of the respondents reported buying these types of products at least once a week (16.3%), with the majority consuming them more times a week (47.9%), while some preferred them daily (13.7%). It is notable that only a small percentage of the respondents consumed organic food products once every 6 months (3.7%) or even more seldom (1.6%).
Additionally, most of the investigated consumers reported no changes in terms of frequency of buying organic products during the pandemic. This is more evident among the respondents who reported consuming these products daily (69.2%), more times a week (71.4%), or weekly (45.2%). The small percentage of respondents (3.8% and 7.7%, respectively) who reported a decrease in the frequency of consumption among the two categories who consumed organic food products most frequently is also notable.
In comparison, people who did not have a habit of consuming these types of products (once every 6 months or even more rarely than that) reported a significant decrease in terms of frequency- 57.1% and 33.3%, respectively. 46.9% of the respondents who belonged to the “2–3 times a month” category reported decreased consumption of organic products after the pandemic, slightly more than those who revealed no significant changes in their pattern of consumption (43.8%), while only 9.4% started consuming organic products more frequently. A more detailed analysis regarding how the frequency of consumption of the main types of organic products investigated is presented in Table 6 .
Frequency of consumption of the main categories of organic products investigated after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Type of Product (N = Number of Consumers) | Increased (%) | Remained the Same (%) | Decreased (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Dairy (N = 143) | 25.2 | 55.2 | 19.6 |
Meat (N = 125) | 22.4 | 53.6 | 24 |
Fresh vegetables (N = 175) | 20.6 | 60.6 | 18.8 |
Fresh Fruits (N = 179) | 20.1 | 60.3 | 19.6 |
Canned Vegetables and Fruits (N = 89) | 22.5 | 46.1 | 31.4 |
Cereals (N = 109) | 20.1 | 56 | 23.9 |
Eggs (N = 159) | 20.7 | 58.6 | 20.7 |
Sweets (N = 83) | 19.3 | 53 | 27.7 |
Thus, it can be observed that the frequency of consumption remained the same among all types of organic products preferred by the respondents. It is noteworthy that some classes have recorded a more significant decrease in consumption than an increase, such as meat (24% vs. 22.4%), canned vegetables and fruits (31.4% vs. 22.5%), cereals (23.9% vs. 20.1%), and sweets (27.7% vs. 19.3%). Additionally, more consumers have increased the purchase of several types of organic products rather than reducing the frequency of consumption, in the cases of dairy (25.2% vs. 19.6%), fresh vegetables (20.6% vs. 18.8%), and fruits (20.1% vs. 19.6%).
Increased interest regarding food safety, balanced nutrition, and sustainability has become ever clearer during the past years, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating this growth [ 7 , 8 ]. Consumers began to inform themselves more regarding the types of products they purchase, thus leading to an increase in organic food consumption [ 78 , 79 , 80 ] due to the well-established superior quality, nutritional value, and being more environmentally friendly compared to other products [ 5 , 6 ].
When it comes to the main attributes consumers pay attention to when purchasing organic products, the current research confirmed previous findings in this domain, with the intrinsic characteristics of the product being the most important ones when deciding to buy a certain organic product, such as superior quality, being fresh and healthier than other available products [ 81 , 82 ]. Notably, we recorded no differences in the socio-demographical characteristics of the respondents and the intrinsic determinants of organic food purchase.
Moreover, research has also confirmed that the more educated consumers are, the more likely they are to purchase organic products and value sustainability and the environment [ 48 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ], findings backed by the current research. Nevertheless, the price of organic products still remains the main barrier for many consumers and potential consumers, as research suggests [ 45 , 46 ]. Compared with existing data, the results revealed that the higher the income and education level of the respondents, the less likely they were to rely on the extrinsic characteristics of the products. Studies also suggest that increased knowledge and a more affordable price are elements that would, in turn, lead to even more significant growth in popularity and purchase of organic products [ 69 ].
The study also aimed to assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption frequency of organic products. To this extent, the findings are similar to those obtained by other studies in other countries [ 68 , 69 ]. More specifically, the majority of the respondents reported no significant changes in the consumption frequency of organic products (60.5%). It is worth mentioning that 18.4% of the respondents reported lower consumption of organic food, which could be explained by financial insecurities due to the pandemic, food markets being closed, as well as lockdowns which further reduced the mobility and sources of purchasing these types of products.
Nevertheless, respondents who reported frequent consumption of organic products have either increased their consumption frequency or maintained it at the same level, possibly due to clearly established habits. With consumers belonging to the “Once a week” category, the proportions were rather similar regarding the changes in frequency during the pandemic, and responders who consumed organic products more seldom had preponderantly decreased their consumption of these products.
In a more detailed analysis regarding the consumption frequency of various types of organic products after the pandemic, our study has confirmed previous findings, which suggested that the consumption of organic fresh fruits and vegetables has likely remained the same or increased rather than decreased [ 69 ]. Moreover, other studies have reported that consumers were more likely to decrease than increase the frequency of meat purchasing, similar to our findings [ 55 , 68 ]. Although at the beginning of the pandemic, the purchase of canned goods has generally increased due to a tendency towards stockpiling [ 83 ], our findings reported that, regarding the consumption frequency of organic fruits and vegetables, it has rather remained the same or was more likely to decrease after the pandemic.
When it comes to the limitations of the study, it is worth mentioning that the consumption of organic products, in general, was analyzed rather than focusing on a particular category. Additionally, the consumption behaviors were measured using a questionnaire rather than direct measurements. The sample size does not allow making assumptions about the Romanian consumer in general and how the pandemic has influenced organic food consumption in the whole country. Due to the relatively low number of organic consumers in Romania, compared with other European countries, restrictions of the study could be represented by way of applying the questionnaire and misrepresentation of the targeted consumers. Nevertheless, the results of this pilot study indicate the need for further research into the field of organic products, both in the Northwestern region of Romania as well as countrywide.
Significant research regarding organic food consumption has identified the main factors influencing consumer behavior when it comes to food purchases. Superior quality, healthy, fresh, without GMOs, and environmentally friendly are some of the most important qualities of organic factors being ranked as the most important ones when purchasing these types of products.
Thus, the study revealed that consumers tend to pay attention to roughly the same intrinsic qualities of organic products, regardless of their socio-demographical background. Moreover, factors such as education level and income influence the process of decision-making when it comes to extrinsic characteristics of the products, such as price, brand, and labels.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased health, environmental, and sustainability concerns, with more and more people paying attention when it comes to the food they purchase. To this extent, in light of changing market behavior, promoting the consumption of organic products is also of great importance. With many people having internet access and a social media presence, this could be done by online sales through e-commerce platforms, as well as online shopping, together with Facebook pages and Youtube channels interacting with many potential customers, allowing placing orders with pick-up at fixed points. Additionally, the pack-your-own type of direct sale can further create a long-lasting collaboration between producers and customers, leading to sustainable and responsible consumption.
With organic products becoming more and more popular, these behavioral changes are likely here to stay, prompting the producers to adapt to a rapidly growing market, all while maintaining the quality of their products.
This research received no external funding.
Conceptualization, A.M.B. and A.A.M.; methodology, I.C.M. and V.D.B.; software, I.C.M.; validation, F.H.A., A.P. and L.I.B.; formal analysis, V.D.B. and I.C.M.; investigation, D.P. and I.C.; data curation, I.C.M. and F.H.A.; writing—original draft preparation, A.I.C., A.M.B., V.D.B. and O.P.T.; writing—review and editing, A.I.C. and V.D.B.; visualization, A.A.M.; supervision, A.M.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Ethical review and approval were waived for this study due to the fact that participation was voluntary, and all data were anonymous.
Informed consent was obtained from all respondents involved in the study.
Conflicts of interest.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Impact of pricing and product information on consumer buying behavior with customer satisfaction in a mediating role.
The relationship between product pricing and product packaging plays an important role in the buying behavior of consumers, whereas customer satisfaction plays a mediating role. To test these hypotheses, research was conducted on university students in China. Questionnaire-based convenience sampling was conducted on 500 students for data collection using online and offline sources. A total of 367 (73%) students responded, and 17 questionnaires were rejected due to missing information. SPSS and AMOS software were used for the data analysis. Product pricing and product information were independent variables in this study, whereas consumer buying behavior was a dependent variable. Customer satisfaction is mediated by one dependent and two independent variables. Confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and discriminant validity in structural equation modeling revealed that product pricing and packaging had a statistically significant relationship with the buyer decision process. The introduction of satisfaction as a mediating variable led to the observation of full mediation in the case of product pricing and partial mediation in product packaging. Given the results of this research, product managers should adopt pricing tactics along with product packaging to influence the buying intentions of consumers.
In the competitive market of commodities, products, varieties, consumers, ethnicities, and preferences, product pricing and product packaging information descriptions have a considerable influence on the buying behavior of consumers. To explore the cumulative effects of product pricing and packaging on the buying behavior of consumers of different ethnicities, it is essential to research these aspects of marketing. It is worth mentioning that consumer satisfaction also plays a decisive and mediating role in the development and molding of buying behavior of consumers ( Larsen et al., 2017 ). It is believed that pricing has a significant effect on the buying behavior of consumers because the higher a product is priced, the fewer units are sold. By contrast, products selling at prices lower than the market rate are assumed to sell at a higher volume ( Sadiq M. W. et al., 2020 ). Several studies have shown that pricing is more critical and relevant to consumer buying behavior ( Huo et al., 2021 ).
When discussing the combined effect of product pricing and packaging relationships on consumer buying behavior, pricing alone plays a more critical role than packaging, which has a partial role in buying behavior ( Jabarzare and Rasti-Barzoki, 2020 ). Thus, using this analogy, products can be sold, surprisingly, at a much higher volume. One can increase the prices of the products if the competitor products are scarce in the market or if the manufacturers are low in number. This behavior may not affect the number of sales or the attitude of the consumer toward buying. If the product is already in abundance in the market, then pricing will definitely play an important role because the increase in price will discourage customers from buying it. Similarly, if prices are lowered under such market conditions, then consumers will increase the amount that they purchase significantly.
Even though product pricing has a greater influence than product packaging on the decision process of a buyer ( Pratama and Suprapto, 2017 ; Abdullah et al., 2021 ), high prices in a highly competitive market can lose customers permanently due to the effect of increased pricing ( Kotler et al., 2012 ). While talking about the packaging of products, it should be kept in mind that packaging has a significant relationship on consumers and their decision making about product purchases ( Sadiq M. W. et al., 2020 ). For example, quality, color, and material can have a positive effect on consumers ( Rambabu and Porika, 2020 ). Most consumers desire a range of product choices when purchasing, in terms of packaging. Thus, marketers should place a premium on creative and exclusive packaging that is distinctive in scale, instruction, convenience, product design, and form when compared with rivals in the market segment ( Li et al., 2021 ). Marking a product with accurate information adds to its value. Consumers are attracted to detailed labels, content, and packaging. Many people are influenced by the way a product is packaged and presented in the market. While the product itself may be of any quality, the relationship it produces through its packaging has a strong influence on the purchasing attitude of the consumer. Nowadays, eco-friendly packaging is essential. Thus, advertisers should prioritize this factor and employ best practices to the maximum degree possible, including eco-friendly recyclable packaging ( Abdullah et al., 2021 ). Consumer buying behavior also has a lot to do with product selling and buying ( Brun et al., 2014 ), although some customers are not influenced by the packaging or labeling of products, buying is demand-driven or need-oriented by most consumers.
However, super packaging or labeling of products may not attract the consumer for several reasons. One of the primary reasons may be the high price and packaging, announcing the excellent quality of the product. In such cases, there may be a lack of interest by the consumer toward attractive packaging; instead, they may prefer to buy local products that are cheap and readily available in the market. According to Tu and Chih (2013) , consumer satisfaction is another aspect of product selling and consumer buying behavior. It also plays a mediating role in product buying behavior, pricing, and packaging ( Rambabu and Porika, 2020 ). Even though a price might be negotiable and the product is provided with helpful information and good, decent packaging, there is a lot to do to satisfy a consumer. All of these factors are correlated with consumer satisfaction. If the consumer is satisfied with all these, they may buy the product, but there is no guarantee of this. Thus, consumer buying behavior is also influenced by satisfaction ( Brun et al., 2014 ). This study seeks to answer several questions to explain consumer buying behavior in relation to product pricing and packaging, with consumer satisfaction as a mediating factor. In this work, we first present a brief review of this research, which differs from the current literature in various respects. The research has generated several findings.
• Product prices significantly correlate with consumer buying behavior.
• The product information available on packaging influences the consumer’s buying behavior.
• Satisfaction plays a mediating role in consumer buying behavior.
• Pricing of the product plays an essential role in customer satisfaction.
• Product information available on labels plays a significant role in customer satisfaction.
The remainder of this work is structured as follows: Section “Review of Literature and Hypothesis Development” presents a review of previous studies supporting different theoretical frameworks. Section “Research Methodology” presents the methodology adopted for the empirical analysis. Section “Data Analysis and Results” presents the results of this analysis. Section “Conclusion and Recommendations” concludes the present study, limitations and future directions.
Product pricing and consumer buying behavior.
Product pricing seems to be the only direct element that generates revenue and indicates the success or failure of a product or service. As a result, the researchers in this study chose to emphasize this aspect. Manali (2015) carried out research into the theoretical dimensions of consumer purchasing behavior and the factors that affect it. He analyzed the relationship between consumer buying behavior and factors affecting the buying process and decisions of the consumers. His research provides enough evidence to show that the internal and external influences of a consumer have a major relationship with their purchasing behavior.
According to Al-Salamin et al. (2015) , good prices of well-known brands negatively affect the purchasing process. Young people are eager to buy brands, but their low income hinders them from doing so. The only aspect of the marketing mix that generates revenue is price, whereas the others generate costs. The authors also noted that the purchasing decisions of consumers focus on their price perception and what they think about the actual price of a product. The main goal of marketing is to understand how customers move toward their price perception. We are all customers, no matter how old, educated, wealthy, or talented. Understanding customer behavior thus becomes a critical challenge for advertisers, distributors, and salespeople. Therefore, we hypothesized the following:
H 1 : Product pricing is significantly correlated with consumer buying behavior.
Packaging a product with relevant product details contributes positively to consumer buying behavior. Names, features, and product packaging attract consumers. Many people are influenced by the packaging and marketing of items. While a product may be of any quality, the impact on customer purchasing is essential ( Rundh, 2009 ; Li et al., 2021 ; Naseem et al., 2021 ). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of product pricing and information about product packaging on the buying behavior of consumers. Innovation in product labeling and packing often has a major relationship with demand, which is why there are many methods for this type of action plan if a company wants to pursue this strategy with regard to its product packaging. When it comes to packaging, many buyers want a range of product choices. Therefore, marketers should pay high prices for innovative and exclusive packaging that differentiate their products from the competition in terms of size, guidance, functionality, product innovation, and shape ( Rundh, 2009 ; Li et al., 2021 ; Sarfraz et al., 2021 ). For the target consumer, product packaging acts as an outstanding networking tool, ultimately increasing their awareness levels. Packaging must highlight key aspects of the product and brand, such as material composition, purpose, and quality. To show respect for customers, packaging should include all of this information in regional languages. Not only is efficient packaging important for storing and preserving products, but it is also important for creating an interest in and generating actions toward purchasing the product. Packaging that is environmentally friendly has become increasingly important. As a result, marketers should place a high priority on this aspect and use best practices to the greatest possible extent, including the use of environmentally friendly recycled materials ( Deliza and MacFie, 2001 ; Abdullah et al., 2021 ; Mohsin et al., 2021 ).
H 2 : Product information on packaging is significantly related to consumer purchasing behavior.
Customer value and customer satisfaction are considered important parameters for the relationship between customer value and the willingness to sacrifice ( Zechmeister et al., 1997 ). This sacrifice is made in accordance with an exchange mechanism that includes transaction costs and the risk of the goods of the company. According to Larsen et al. (2017) , customers will be disappointed in the future if the ratio value considered by the economic sacrifice of customers with the goods sold by the company does not meet their expectations. Customers will be satisfied if the ratio value is sufficient or exceeds their expectations. Another analysis of consumer value examines the understanding of customers of the quality and benefits of toothpaste in relation to price sacrifice. Social, emotional, and functional values are all aspects of customer value ( Keller and Kotler, 2012 ).
Customer satisfaction is evaluated by obtaining feedback from customers after purchasing products or services, and then comparing it with their expectations. Customer satisfaction is calculated using the performance requirements of products or services that are capable of satisfying the needs and desires of customers. A satisfied consumer is a consumer who believes that the products or services were worth purchasing, which would encourage them to buy the products again. On the other hand, a frustrated consumer will persuade other consumers not to buy the same brand, which ultimately causes switching to rival brands. According to Tu and Chih (2013) , “customer satisfaction is perceived as affecting repurchasing intentions and actions, which, in turn, contributes to an organization’s potential sales and income.”
H 3 : Satisfaction plays a mediating role in consumer buying behavior.
Price is regarded as something that can be calculated according to several measures, such as a reasonable price, a competitive price, a discounted price, a retailer’s price, and price suitability. Value is a higher-level definition than quality and price because it is more individualistic and personal. A satisfied consumer believes that the value of goods and services is comparable with the price, which will encourage them to repurchase the products. According to Zeithaml (1988) , “quality can be characterized as superiority or excellence in a broad sense.” From the customer’s perspective, “The price is given up or sacrificed to get the product or service” ( Zeithaml, 1988 ). According to Bei and Chiao (2001) , “[P]rice is described as giving or sacrificing for the acquisition of a service or product,” while Kotler et al. (2012) proposed that “the price is the amount paid for a product or service and the sum of the value exchanged by consumers for the advantages of a product or service available or being used.” The perceptions of customers of a given price can have a direct relationship with the their decision to buy a product ( Zechmeister et al., 1997 ). Customers will pay attention to the prices paid by their peers, and no one wants to spend more money than their peers do. The fairness of a price can affect the perception of consumers of the product, and ultimately their desire to become a consumer.
H 4 : The pricing of a product plays a significant role in customer satisfaction.
Packaging and labeling can be considered one of the most important tools in marketing and communication, which means that a thorough examination of their components and their relationships with consumer buying behavior is necessary. According to Joewono and Kubota (2007) , consumer satisfaction results from product and service reviews based on customer perceptions and a broad assessment of the overall consumption experience. It is suggested that customer satisfaction affects repurchase intentions and actions, which, in turn, determine potential sales and revenue for a company. According to Zeithaml (2000) , consumer satisfaction is measured on a multidimensional scale that includes service quality, product quality, scenario factors, personal factors, and price factors.
Product packaging plays a variety of roles. It provides information about the product and the company, connects them with customers, and ensures product quality ( Naseem et al., 2020 ; Rambabu and Porika, 2020 ). It is important to remember that packaging has a significant influence on customers and their purchasing decisions. Consumers react positively to quality, color, and content. Similarly, if a product is labeled with accurate information about the product, it increases the value of the product. Consumers respond to a product’s specific name, ingredients, and packaging. Many consumers are concerned about the way a product is designed and advertised. Although the quality of the product itself may vary, the effect of packaging on customer purchasing decisions is important.
H 5 : Product information available on labels plays a significant role toward customer satisfaction.
The following research was conducted to investigate underlying issues. This study is a continuation of expectancy disconfirmation theory (EDT) and social cognitive theory (SCT). Both theories provide a strong background for conducting this research. According to EDT, the satisfaction of consumers is linked to the expectation and perception of product quality. A consumer sets an expectation before examining a product in real time. This comparison of preset expectations with real-sense performance is the basis of EDT. In this study, consumer satisfaction plays a mediating role between product pricing, product packaging, and consumer buying behavior. The expectations of consumers are based on the price of the product, information on product packaging, and perceived quality.
The other central backbone of this research is SCT, developed by Bandura (2012) , which explains that learning takes place in a social context with a complex and reciprocal relationship between the individual, their environment, and their actions. The emphasis on social relationships, and also external and internal social reinforcement, is a distinctive feature of SCT. SCT considers the specific ways in which people maintain their behavior and interact with others. It also considers the specific ways in which people learn and sustain behaviors and the social context in which they do so. According to this theory, past experiences strengthen ideas and expectations, all of which affect whether a person maintains his/her attitudes. Many behavioral models that are used in studies related to health do not include behavior maintenance; instead, they focus on behavior initiation. This is a shame because the real purpose of public health is to maintain conduct rather than initiate it. SCT aims to illustrate how people monitor and reinforce their actions to achieve goal-directed behavior that can be managed. Thus, the product pricing and packaging of a product with useful information on labels will surely correlate with consumer buying behavior that will persist. The customer will buy or not buy in the future on the basis of the expectations and perceptions of the product once his behavior about the product has already been initiated. A conceptual framework was developed to focus on the specific variables. The framework consists of the hypotheses shown in Figure 1 .
Figure 1. Theoretical framework.
The research methodology of a study represents an essential and integral part of the entire process and explains how science contributes to aims. The behavioral approach of respondents, i.e., expectations, evidence, observations, knowledge of reality, and individual point of view, can be summarized by analytical parameters. According to James and Vinnicombe (2002) , the assurance of objectivity in the scientific procession is compulsory. Furthermore, a perspective emphasizing social variable is considered essential by the society for practical implications ( Blaikie, 2007 ). Their innovative discoveries and interpretation are leading activities of label research.
In this research, the structure of behavior science by Zechmeister et al. (1997) is followed with mediation and description for the problem-solving process. The main focus of this research is the state of mind, mood swings, variations in feelings, and behavior toward the specific situation of the respondents. In addition, the organizational performance in the market and consumer buying behavior can solve many problems by approaching the cooperative feedback process with peers and accumulating knowledge. The analysis of buying behavior may be categorized as “co-oriented” or “comparative.” According to behavioral science, these two factors have real meaning. This study seeks to understand the effect of product pricing and packaging on the buying behavior of consumers. At the same time, satisfaction plays its role as a mediating variable ( Zechmeister et al., 1997 ; Bollen and Pearl, 2013 ). For data collection, self-administered questionnaires were used for quantitative analysis.
The sample of this study comprises students from different universities in China. The main reason for choosing university students is that recent research concentrates on product pricing with consumer buying behavior while considering university students as their population. The population selection is based on the area of interest and importance, which covers the objectivity of this research. Divergent online and offline sources were used to collect analytical data. The questionnaires were circulated among 500 students, and the 367 replied to us regarding that, and so the aggregate received response was 73%. Seventeen answers received from respondents were rejected due to incomplete information, and 350 were finalized for the analytical process. This study used convenience sampling for data collection. Bonds-Raacke and Raacke (2012) suggested that field examinations should use a questionnaire. The researcher used a questionnaire to collect the data in this study. SPSS software was used to check the quality, validity, and scale reliability of the instrument.
SPSS and AMOS software were used for the data analysis. Table 1 presents the reliability analysis results. Product pricing and product information are independent variables in this study, whereas consumer buying behavior is a dependent variable. In this study, satisfaction is mediated between two independent variables and one dependent variable. All variables have acceptable reliability alpha values.
Table 1. Reliability analysis.
Table 2 shows the descriptive statistics. The mean value of product pricing is 3.4, where product information has a mean value of 3.9, satisfaction has a mean value 3.6, and consumer buying behavior has a mean value of 3.8.
Table 2. Descriptive statistics.
The product price measuring scale was introduced by Lichtenstein et al. (1993) . The Likert scale ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree, and this scale was used in this research with slight modifications. The Lichtenstein et al. (1993) ranking was further verified by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) analysis to meet the requirements of this research. The measuring scales of Brun et al. (2014) and Zekiri and Hasani (2015) were used to measure the product packaging and customer satisfaction. The behavior of consumers toward buying decisions, the measurement scale of Bagga and Bhatt (2013) is used with slight modification to fit the scale for scope and broaden the view of this research. All predefined models/scales were rated on 5-point Likert scale, with higher numerical values indicating greater satisfaction.
The pooled CFA is more reliable than other versions and the most up-to-date approach. The AMOS 24 is used to check the relationship among variables ( Afthanorhan et al., 2014 ; Chong et al., 2014 ).
The results of Table 3 declare the structural fitness of the model by meeting all criterion requirements. The reliability values or factor loading of individual items are presented in Figure 2 . The findings of Table 4 have also covered the composite reliability of a wide scale. The composite reliability is indicated by the reliability of the measurement scales while reporting reliability ( Netemeyer et al., 2003 ).
Table 3. Pooled CFA model fitness tests.
Figure 2. Pooled confirmatory factor analysis.
Table 4. Factor loading of items.
Discriminant validity was measured using HTMT analysis by considering two determinants, i.e., supposed to be related or unrelated. The value of cut-off criteria for strict discriminant validity was 0.850, and for liberal discriminant validity it was 0.900 ( Henseler et al., 2015 ), obtained by employing discriminant validity. The following discriminant validity criteria have provided the results of Table 5 .
Table 5. HTMT analysis.
In this study, structural equation modeling was used to determine the proposed relationships. Exogenous variables were included in this analysis to allow for the study of endogenous variables using AMOS 24. Here, we can see whether the independent and dependent variables are linearly related to each other. The analytical observations and their mean values are tabulated and linked with the collected information. The results of Table 6 declare the structural fitness of the model by meeting all criterion requirements.
Table 6. SEM, model fitness tests.
Figure 3 shows the direct effects of the independent variables on the dependent variable. In this figure, the mediator variable is missing from this path analysis diagram to capture the direct correlation of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
Figure 3. Direct effects of path analysis.
Table 7 shows that H 1 , H 3 , and H 5 are statistically significant, and their P-value is less than 0.05, which shows the 95% confidence interval. The structural equation modeling with the path analysis is presented in Figure 4 . The path analysis declared the nature of variables, i.e., two variables are independent: one is the mediator and the other one is dependent.
Table 7. Results of indirect effects.
Figure 4. Indirect direct effects of path analysis.
The findings of Table 8 indicate that both hypotheses are statistically significant, but the observed mediation values for these hypotheses differ. H 2 is statistically significant but has a full mediation effect, whereas H 4 is statistically significant and has a partial mediation effect.
Table 8. Results of indirect effects.
The results of the hypothesis are shown in Table 9 in a more detailed and comprehensive manner. To calculate the standard error with T and P-values and the significance of the path coefficient, bootstrapping (1,000 subsamples) was used, which provided direct evidence of the hypotheses being accepted or rejected. The structural model analysis results show the path coefficients and their significance levels, as presented in Table 9 . The findings confirmed that all five relationships were significant, and it can be concluded that H 1 , H 2 , H 3 , H 4 , and H 5 were supported.
Table 9. Hypothesis results.
According to Sisodiya and Sharma (2018) , the marketing mix has a significant influence on the buying behavior of consumers. In this study, the main principle in packaging is to “reach a greater height of opportunity.” It is often regarded as a critical component of purchase decision making, and has often been shown to be a way of building market awareness and connecting with consumers outside the product itself and across several channels ( Rambabu and Porika, 2020 ; Sadiq W. et al., 2020 ). Packaging performs multidimensional functions. It can not only offer knowledge about products and business entities, but it is also a technique for communicating with consumers and safeguarding product quality ( Silayoi and Speece, 2007 ). Pricing can be considered one of the most vital and essential elements that can influence consumer buying behavior or the buyer decision process ( Dhurup et al., 2014 ; Sadiq W. et al., 2020 ).
According to Kotler et al. (2012) , customer satisfaction “is the extent to which a product’s perceived performance matches the buyer’s expectations.” Aslam et al. (2018) stated that price has a positive and significant correlation with customer satisfaction. Furthermore, they believed that the success of the sector was based on price fairness and customer satisfaction. Previous studies have also discussed this phenomenon in connection with other geographical locations. The price factor is more relatable to consumer buying behavior than product packaging ( Jabarzare and Rasti-Barzoki, 2020 ; Huo et al., 2021 ). Product pricing has a greater influence than product packaging on the buyers’ decision processes ( Pratama and Suprapto, 2017 ; Abdullah et al., 2021 ). Innovation in product packaging also has a significant relationship with the consumer; however, if any organization wants to follow a strategy that is relevant to its product packaging, then there are several strategies for this kind of plan of action. Most consumers desire a range of product choices when purchasing, in terms of packaging. Thus, the marketer should place a premium on creative and exclusive packaging that is distinctive in terms of scale, instruction, convenience, product design, and form when compared to rivals in market segmentation ( Rundh, 2009 ; Bollen and Pearl, 2013 ). Product packaging serves as an excellent networking medium for target customers, eventually increasing their knowledge levels. Packaging must convey pertinent details about the product and brand, including ingredient composition, intent, and consistency. In addition, packaging should provide all of this material in regional languages to demonstrate respect for consumers. Efficient packaging is critical not only for storing and protecting goods but also for generating interest in and action toward buying the commodity. Currently, eco-friendly packaging is essential. Thus, advertisers should prioritize this factor and employ best practices to the maximum degree possible, including eco-friendly recyclable packaging ( Deliza and MacFie, 2001 ; Abdullah et al., 2021 ).
The study results clearly show that both product pricing and packaging have a statistically significant relationship with the buyer’s decision process. At the same time, the introduction of satisfaction leads to the observation of full mediation in the case of product pricing and partial mediation in product packaging. Despite knowing that both the variables have a statistically significant relationship with the consumer buying behavior, it is essential to understand the managerial implications. Suppose, we would like to report and recommend these findings to different organizations looking to cut their operational costs in any possible way without compromising product quality, we suggest in such cases that they focus on pricing strategies for a better consumer response. A focus on the product packaging design process, packaging material, or the information available on product packaging positively influences consumer buying behavior. However, its effect is lower than product pricing. Therefore, it is recommended for managers that if they want to connect with their target customers more efficiently and effectively, they should focus on both product pricing and packaging options. However, if they can afford only one option from the product’s operational cost perspective, they must focus on product pricing strategies.
In future studies, it must be kept in mind that these findings pertain directly to the individuals listed as respondents. To make it more accurate, other demographic, psychographic, and geographic samples should be used. It is likely that when data are thus obtained, the findings will differ. To ensure more lasting and repeatable corporate outcomes, several studies are required to obtain results that are more accurate and reliable.
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
HZ, XY, and ZL contributed to conception and design of the study. HZ organized the database, performed the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. XY, ZL, and QY wrote sections of the manuscript. All authors contributed to manuscript revision, read, and approved the submitted version.
This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52065010), Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education (GZUAMT2021KF[07] and GZUAMT2021KF[08]), Natural Science Research Project supported by the Education Department of Guizhou Province [Grant Nos. (2018)152 and (2017)239], Humanities and Social Science Research Project of Guizhou Provincial Department of Education (Grant No. 2018qn46), and the Guiyang University Teaching Research Project (Grant No. JT2019520206).
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
CFA, Confirmatory Factor Analysis; RMSEA, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation; CFI, Comparative fit index; EDT, Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory; SCT, Social Cognitive Theory.
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Keywords : product pricing, product packaging, consumer buying behavior, consumer satisfaction, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling
Citation: Zhao H, Yao X, Liu Z and Yang Q (2021) Impact of Pricing and Product Information on Consumer Buying Behavior With Customer Satisfaction in a Mediating Role. Front. Psychol. 12:720151. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720151
Received: 03 June 2021; Accepted: 08 October 2021; Published: 13 December 2021.
Reviewed by:
Copyright © 2021 Zhao, Yao, Liu and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Huiliang Zhao, [email protected]
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Research quality of clinical trials reported for foods with function claims in japan, 2023–2024: evaluation based on a revised tool to assess risk of bias in randomized trials, 1. introduction, 2.1. eligibility and exclusion criteria (target article), 2.2. data extraction source, 2.3. data item and evaluation of methodological quality (rob score), 2.4. summary scale, 2.5. statistical analysis, 2.6. protocol registration, 3.1. study selection and characteristics, 3.2. feature of rob 2 score and each domain score, 3.3. elements correlated with rob, 3.3.1. rob 2 score, 3.3.2. each domain score, 4. discussion, 4.1. features of rob on cts, 4.2. elements correlated with rob, 4.3. impact on srs, 4.4. future research challenges to improve the quality of ct on the ffc, 4.5. challenges in building a bridge with end users (consumers), 5. limitations, 6. conclusions, supplementary materials, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest, abbreviations.
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Journal Name | N |
---|---|
Japanese Pharmacological and Therapeutics/薬理と治療 | 20 (53%) |
Functional Foods in Health and Disease | 4 (11%) |
Medical Consultation and New Remedies/診療と新薬 | 3 (8%) |
Common to all of the following journals: 1 (3%) | |
Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin | |
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology | |
Food Science & Nutrition Research | |
Frontiers in Nutrition | |
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry | |
Integrative Molecular Medicine | |
Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition | |
Journal of Functional Foods | |
Journal of Fungi | |
Nutrients | |
Progress in Medicine | |
Published year | |
2000–2019 | 12 (32%) |
2020–2024 | 26 (68%) |
Language | |
English | 21 (55%) |
Japanese | 17 (45%) |
Category of first author’s organization | |
For-profit | 32 (84%) |
Academic | 6 (16%) |
Journal’s impact factor in 2022 | |
None (0) | 28 (73%) |
1.999> | 3 (8%) |
2.000–3.999 | 3 (8%) |
>4.000 | 4 (11%) |
Value: n (%) |
Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk | p-Value * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 11% (N = 4) | 13% (N = 5) | 76% (N = 29) | - | |
Author’s affiliation | |||||
For-profit | 12.5% (N = 4) | 15.6% (N = 5) | 71.9% (N = 23) | 0.785 | |
Academic | 0.0% (N = 0) | 0.0% (N = 0) | 100.0% (N = 6) | ||
Year of publication | |||||
-2019 | 0.0% (N = 0) | 16.7% (N = 2) | 83.3% (N = 10) | 0.498 | |
2020–2024 | 15.4% (N = 4) | 11.5% (N = 3) | 73.1% (N = 19) | ||
Language | |||||
English | 14.3% (N = 3) | 9.5% (N = 2) | 76.2% (N = 16) | 0.643 | |
Japanese | 5.9% (N = 1) | 17.6% (N = 3) | 76.5% (N = 13) | ||
Impact factor ** | 1.0 (0.3–1.0) (N = 4) | 0.0 (0.0–0.5) (N = 5) | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 29) | 0.312 |
Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk | p-Value * | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domain 1: Bias resulting from the randomization process | ||||||
Author’s affiliation | For-profit | 59.4% (N = 19) | 9.4% (N = 3) | 31.3% (N = 10) | 0.018 | |
Academic | 0.0% (N = 0) | 16.7% (N = 1) | 83.3% (N = 5) | |||
Year of publication | -2019 | 16.7% (N = 2) | 8.3% (N = 1) | 75.0% (N = 9) | 0.006 | |
2020–2024 | 65.4% (N = 17) | 11.5% (N = 3) | 23.1% (N = 6) | |||
Language | English | 38.1% (N = 8) | 4.8% (N = 1) | 57.1% (N = 12) | 0.031 | |
Japanese | 64.7% (N = 11) | 17.6% (N = 3) | 17.6% (N = 3) | |||
Impact factor ** | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 19) | 0.0 (0.0–4.4) (N = 4) | 0.0 (0.0–2.0) (N = 15) | 0.989 | ||
Domain 2: Bias due to deviation from the intended intervention | ||||||
Author’s affiliation | For-profit | 68.8% (N = 22) | 21.9% (N = 7) | 9.4% (N = 3) | 0.002 | |
Academic | 0.0% (N = 0) | 50.0% (N = 3) | 50.0% (N = 3) | |||
Year of publication | -2019 | 33.3% (N = 4) | 41.7% (N = 5) | 25.0% (N = 3) | 0.100 | |
2020–2024 | 69.2% (N = 18) | 19.2% (N = 5) | 11.5% (N = 3) | |||
Language | English | 42.9% (N = 9) | 38.1% (N = 8) | 19.0% (N = 4) | 0.084 | |
Japanese | 76.5% (N = 13) | 11.8% (N = 2) | 11.8% (N = 2) | |||
Impact factor ** | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 22) | 0.0 (0.0–1.3) (N = 10) | 1.0 (0.0–4.9) (N = 6) | 0.349 | ||
Domain 3: Bias due to missing outcomes | ||||||
Author’s affiliation | For-profit | 37.5% (N = 12) | 37.5% (N = 12) | 25.0% (N = 8) | 0.388 | |
Academic | 33.3% (N = 2) | 66.7% (N = 4) | 0.0% (N = 0) | |||
Year of publication | -2019 | 41.7% (N = 5) | 41.7% (N = 5) | 16.7% (N = 2) | 1.000 | |
2020–2024 | 34.6% (N = 9) | 42.3% (N = 11) | 23.1% (N = 6) | |||
Language | English | 33.3% (N = 7) | 52.4% (N = 11) | 14.3% (N = 3) | 0.311 | |
Japanese | 41.2% (N = 7) | 29.4% (N = 5) | 29.4% (N = 5) | |||
Impact factor ** | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 14) | 0.0 (0.0–2.1) (N = 16) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) (N = 8) | 0.530 | ||
Domain 4: Bias in measurement/evaluation | ||||||
Author’s affiliation | For-profit | 71.9% (N = 23) | 15.6% (N = 5) | 12.5% (N = 4) | 0.200 | |
Academic | 50.0% (N = 3) | 50.0% (N = 3) | 0.0% (N = 0) | |||
Year of publication | -2019 | 75.0% (N = 9) | 16.7% (N = 2) | 8.3% (N = 1) | 1.000 | |
2020–2024 | 65.4% (N = 17) | 23.1% (N = 6) | 11.5% (N = 3) | |||
Language | English | 66.7% (N = 14) | 23.8% (N = 5) | 9.5% (N = 2) | 1.000 | |
Japanese | 70.6% (N = 12) | 17.6% (N = 3) | 11.8% (N = 2) | |||
Impact factor ** | 0.0 (0.0–0.3) (N = 26) | 1.0 (0.0–4.9) (N = 8) | 0.0 (0.0–1.8) (N = 4) | 0.198 | ||
Domain 5: Bias in the selection of reported results | ||||||
Author’s affiliation | For-profit | 37.5% (N = 12) | 12.5% (N = 4) | 50.0% (N = 16) | 0.584 | |
Academic | 16.7% (N = 1) | 16.7% (N = 1) | 66.7% (N = 4) | |||
Year of publication | -2019 | 41.7% (N = 5) | 25.0% (N = 3) | 33.3% (N = 4) | 0.164 | |
2020–2024 | 30.8% (N = 8) | 7.7% (N = 2) | 61.5% (N = 16) | |||
Language | English | 47.6% (N = 10) | 9.5% (N = 2) | 42.9% (N = 9) | 0.163 | |
Japanese | 17.6% (N = 3) | 17.6% (N = 3) | 64.7% (N = 11) | |||
Impact factor ** | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 13) | 0.0 (0.0–1.0) (N = 5) | 0.0 (0.0–1.7) (N = 20) | 0.836 |
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Kamioka, H.; Kitayuguchi, J.; Origasa, H.; Tsutani, K. Research Quality of Clinical Trials Reported for Foods with Function Claims in Japan, 2023–2024: Evaluation Based on a Revised Tool to Assess Risk of Bias in Randomized Trials. Nutrients 2024 , 16 , 2744. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162744
Kamioka H, Kitayuguchi J, Origasa H, Tsutani K. Research Quality of Clinical Trials Reported for Foods with Function Claims in Japan, 2023–2024: Evaluation Based on a Revised Tool to Assess Risk of Bias in Randomized Trials. Nutrients . 2024; 16(16):2744. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162744
Kamioka, Hiroharu, Jun Kitayuguchi, Hideki Origasa, and Kiichiro Tsutani. 2024. "Research Quality of Clinical Trials Reported for Foods with Function Claims in Japan, 2023–2024: Evaluation Based on a Revised Tool to Assess Risk of Bias in Randomized Trials" Nutrients 16, no. 16: 2744. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162744
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Consumer spending has powered the economic recovery from the pandemic shock. Now wallets are thinner, and some businesses are feeling the difference.
By Sydney Ember Jordyn Holman and Julie Creswell
The economy’s resurgence from the pandemic shock has had a singular driving force: the consumer. Flush with savings and buoyed by a sizzling labor market, Americans have spent exuberantly, on goods such as furniture and electronics and then on services including air travel and restaurant meals.
How long this spending will hold up has become a crucial question.
Despite contortions in world markets, many economists are cautioning that there is no reason to panic — at least not yet. In July, there was a notable slowdown in hiring and a jump in the unemployment rate to its highest level since October 2021, but consumer spending has remained relatively robust. Wages are rising, though at a slower rate, and job cuts are still low.
“Overall, there isn’t evidence of a retrenchment in consumer spending,” said Gregory Daco, chief economist at the consulting firm EY-Parthenon. The strength of spending helped power greater-than-expected economic growth in the spring.
That could change if the labor market’s slowdown accelerates.
Already, some consumers, especially those with lower incomes, are feeling the dual pinch of higher prices and elevated interest rates that are weighing on their finances. Credit card delinquencies are rising, and household debt has swelled . Pandemic-era savings have dwindled . In June, Americans saved just 3.4 percent of their after-tax income, compared with 4.8 percent a year earlier.
On calls with investors and in boardrooms around the country, corporate executives are acknowledging that customers are no longer spending as freely as they used to. And they are bracing themselves for the slide to continue.
On Wednesday, Disney cited a “moderation of consumer demand” that “exceeded our previous expectations” for a newly challenging outlook at its theme parks, a key to its profitability. “The lower-income consumer is feeling a bit of stress,” with less to spend on amusements, Hugh F. Johnston, Disney’s chief financial officer, told analysts.
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COMMENTS
The papers were selected only if they featured research on consumer perceptions of green products. Using this search strategy, a literature analysis was performed based on papers extracted from Web of Science, Emerald Insights, Springer Link, and Science Direct.
2 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy. * Correspondence: [email protected]. Abstract: Due to the growing concern ...
To exclude articles, one researcher read their title, abstract, and keywords to check if they studied consumer behaviour and/or green products. A second researcher had to, separately, analyse the title, abstract, and keywords and decide that the paper did not fit our research objective. This reduced the subjectivity of article exclusion.
In this article, we document the evolution of research trends (concepts, methods, and aims) within the field of consumer behavior, from the time of its early development to the present day, as a multidisciplinary area of research within marketing. We describe current changes in retailing and real-world consumption and offer suggestions on how to use observations of consumption phenomena to ...
The first two categories include research papers focused on socio-demographic and psychological analysis. These studies aim to identify the factors antecedent to consumer behaviour, focusing on attitude and intentions. ... Roberto Mauriello, and Serena Strazzullo. 2023. "Consumer Perceptions of Sustainable Products: A Systematic Literature ...
A total of 37 studies were found and systematized using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The papers were selected only if they featured research on consumer perceptions of green products. Using this search strategy, a literature analysis was performed based on papers extracted from Web of Science, Emerald Insights, Springer Link, and Science ...
The research has contributed to the literature by offering a consumer decision map that depicts important factors that play a vital role in the purchase of non-certified organic food. The pragmatic insight offered in this study can assist growers, enterprises, and policy makers in developing consumer understanding especially in ninety two other ...
SCOPE OF THE STUDY. This study emphasizes on the need to study the significance. of th e environmental concern and explore the consumer's. perception of green products and strategies adopted by ...
Sustainable packaging is gaining increasing prominence as a factor in consumer decision-making. This research aims to review and synthesise the literature addressing sustainable attributes and eco-friendly cues of consumer goods packaging. A systematic literature review was performed: 52 scientific articles published between 2010 and 2020 in peer-reviewed academic journals were included ...
The International Journal of Consumer Studies is a leading international consumer research journal. ... an overview of green marketing and the gap between attitude and actual purchase behaviour of consumers towards green products. A total of 232 studies have been analysed using a systematic review to develop a green purchase decision-making model.
Objectives of the study: To find out the factors which affect awareness of eco-friendly products among. consumers. To find out that the high price of green products deters consumers to go for them ...
2. Consumers' Perception Regarding Organic Food Products—A Literature Review. Existing research has identified a series of factors influencing consumers' behavior regarding food consumption and has further classified them into intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of the products [22,23,24,25,26].To this extent, in the first category have been included factors related to the product ...
variables and consumer outcomes related to eco-friendly products has not been extensively explored in the current literature. This paper will add to the current research on product factors and consumer behavior, thus attempting to close a gap in the professional literature regarding eco-friendly products and consumer conservation behavior.
Consumer buying behavior also has a lot to do with product selling and buying (Brun et al., 2014), although some customers are not influenced by the packaging or labeling of products, buying is demand-driven or need-oriented by most consumers. However, super packaging or labeling of products may not attract the consumer for several reasons.
Ms M Padmaja Vani's (2022) research paper is an effort to learn more about Bangaloreans' opinions on eco-friendly advertising. 27 In total, 100 people filled out the survey. The respondents were selected using a convenient sampling method. ... Respondents' opinion on Need for change in consumer attitude towards green products classified ...
Bombas was started in 2013 with a dual mission: to deliver quality socks and donate much-needed footwear to people living in shelters. By 2021, it had become one of America's most visible buy-one-give-one companies, with over $250 million in annual revenue and 50 million pairs of socks donated.
Regarding the main reason for consuming organic products, 40% of the consumers surveyed. indicated that the reason was that organic products are healthier than other pr oducts, 19.5% that organic ...
Better-for-you (BFY) food products comprise the major share of 32 per cent of the health and wellness food basket of the consumer. Regression results clearly indicate that socio-demographic profile of the consumers, product attributes, market attributes and psychological factors are more likely to influence the consumers' health and wellness ...
IJCRT2005083 International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT) www.ijcrt.org 596 A STUDY ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ... products, Nail care products and skin care products. For the purpose of study, the selected leading manufactures ... (2013) in his paper "A Cross cultural comparative study of female consumer behaviour with regard to ...
To know the brand preference of the consumer towards lakme products. To find out the satisfaction level of consumers towards lakme products. To analyze the usage of lakme brand products. To examine the problem faced by the customer using lakme products. RESEARCH DESIGN The research design is the blueprint for the
ARTICLE INFO. Green Product and Consumer Behavior: An Analytical Study. Shamsi, M. S.* and Siddiqui, Z. S. Department of Commerce, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. ABSTRACT. With growing ...
Background: The Foods with Function Claim was introduced in Japan in April 2015 to make more products available that are labeled with health functions. A product's functionality of function claims must be explained by the scientific evidence presented in clinical trials (CTs) or systematic reviews, but the quality of recent CTs is unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk ...
Retailers are observing changes in consumer spending. A clearer picture will emerge in the coming weeks, when many, including Walmart, Target and Macy's, report their most recent quarterly earnings.
This paper presents an experimental implementation of consumer behavior analysis in this. project. In this paper, the promotion timing was analyzed or the best time to recommend a. product and the ...
The objective of thi s paper is. to investigate the Indian consumer attitude and their behavior towards the purchase of green. products. By using an integrative approach under a qualitative study ...