Jodie L. Ferguson

Transparency in pricing and its effect on perceived price fairness

Purpose – This research aims to examine the effects of transparency in pricing (i.e. disclosure of a price increase and extent of explanation) on perceived price fairness when a firm increases price. Design/methodology/approach – US adult consumer panelists participated in two online experiments. Findings – Consumers perceive a firms price increase as more fair when the firm discloses the increase itself as compared to an outside source disclosing it. For a small price increase, a limited explanation was perceived as more fair; for a larger price increase, a more detailed aligned cost explanation was perceived as more fair. Research limitations/implications – Firms who must raise prices may increase consumer perceptions of price fairness by disclosing the price increase and providing an appropriate explanation matched to the size of the increase. Originality/value – This research focuses on the effects of being more transparent about pricing in the case of a price increase. Perceived price fairness is af...

Using a class blog for student experiential learning reflection in business courses

ABSTRACT Reflective observation is an important component of experiential learning that allows students to draw meaning from their experiences and incorporate that meaning into new learning conceptualizations. However, the present study indicates that business educators rarely incorporate reflection after concrete experiences into curricula. This research explores the use of a class blog as a medium for students to engage in social reflective observation. The authors include a case study of two marketing classes that used class blogs for reflective observation after semester-long group projects. Results from a survey of student attitudes toward the blog assignment indicate positive affective responses and perceived effectiveness of the blog task as a tool for reflection.

From trait to state: understanding privacy concerns

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance our understanding of how information privacy concerns are derived from the combination effects of individual traits, compound traits, situational traits and surface traits that ultimately influence the consumer’s attitude toward data collection programs. The study investigates a hierarchical model of individual traits, information privacy orientation and consumer privacy concerns. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical research utilizes structural equation modeling to analyze the responses from 964 respondents. Findings – The results suggest that consumer attitudes toward data collection programs associated with personal shopping information (e.g. retail loyalty card programs) are determined through a hierarchical model of personal traits and contextual-dependent variables. Specifically, the authors find that the compound traits of risk orientation and need for cognition influence the situational trait of information privacy orientation which leads to...