Research Details

Abstract

Four studies support the conclusion that the evaluation of a target brand is influenced by its presentation in the context of advertising for brands from a different category. The specific effect of context depends on the decision makes expertise in the target category and the accessibility of contextual information. In a base condition, experts exhibited an assimilation effect and novices a comparison contrast. Increasing the accessibility of the contextual information prompted a correction contrast effect among experts and an assimilation effect among novices. A reduction in the resources available for processing the highly accessible contextual information resulted in experts engaging in assimilation and in novices exhibiting a comparison contrast. These findings are explained in terms of an interpretation and a comparison judgment process.

Type

Article

Author(s)

Myungwoo Nam, Brian Sternthal

Date Published

2008

Citations

Nam, Myungwoo, and Brian Sternthal. 2008. The Effects of a Different Category Context on Target Brand Evaluations. Journal of Consumer Research.: 668-679.