IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ems/eureri/117409.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Product Set Granularity and Consumer Response to Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • Tsekouras, D.
  • Dellaert, B.G.C.
  • Donkers, A.C.D.
  • Häubl, G.

Abstract

Many consumer decisions are assisted by product recommendations. When providing such recommendations, there is an inherent tension between (1) presenting a set of products that are close in attractiveness (fine product set granularity) and (2) presenting a wider range of products that are more different in attractiveness (coarse product set granularity). While the former can maximize the attractiveness of the recommended set of products, the latter makes it easier for consumers to determine which of the recommended products is most attractive, thus boosting consumer response. Evidence from a large-scale field study (with naturally occurring variation in the granularity of recommendation sets) provides strong support for this tension and shows that less fine-grained product recommendation sets promote consumer response. We also find that, in line with our theorizing, coarser set granularity increases the time consumers spend processing detailed information about individual products relative to time they spend comparing products at the set level. These effects are less pronounced when consumer engagement in the decision process is low. The key insights from the field study are replicated in a tightly controlled experiment (using a different product domain). The findings of this research have important implications for how best to integrate large online assortments and product recommendations to stimulate consumer response.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsekouras, D. & Dellaert, B.G.C. & Donkers, A.C.D. & Häubl, G., 2019. "Product Set Granularity and Consumer Response to Recommendations," ERIM Report Series Research in Management 117409, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
  • Handle: RePEc:ems:eureri:117409
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/117409/JAMS-Tsekouras_2019_ProductSetGranularity.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alexander Chernev, 2005. "Feature Complementarity and Assortment in Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 31(4), pages 748-759, March.
    2. Dhar, Ravi, 1997. "Consumer Preference for a No-Choice Option," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(2), pages 215-231, September.
    3. Dennis F. Galletta & Raymond M. Henry & Scott McCoy & Peter Polak, 2006. "When the Wait Isn’t So Bad: The Interacting Effects of Website Delay, Familiarity, and Breadth," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 20-37, March.
    4. Kar Yan Tam & Shuk Ying Ho, 2005. "Web Personalization as a Persuasion Strategy: An Elaboration Likelihood Model Perspective," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 271-291, September.
    5. Rik Pieters, 2017. "Meaningful Mediation Analysis: Plausible Causal Inference and Informative Communication," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 44(3), pages 692-716.
    6. Jacoby, Jacob & Szybillo, George J & Berning, Carol Kohn, 1976. "Time and Consumer Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Overview," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 2(4), pages 320-339, March.
    7. Gregory W. Fischer & Mary Frances Luce & Jianmin Jia, 2000. "Attribute Conflict and Preference Uncertainty: Effects on Judgment Time and Error," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(1), pages 88-103, January.
    8. Terza, Joseph V. & Basu, Anirban & Rathouz, Paul J., 2008. "Two-stage residual inclusion estimation: Addressing endogeneity in health econometric modeling," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 531-543, May.
    9. Bettman, James R & Luce, Mary Frances & Payne, John W, 1998. "Constructive Consumer Choice Processes," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 25(3), pages 187-217, December.
    10. Qiaowei Shen & Ping Xiao, 2014. "McDonald's and KFC in China: Competitors or Companions?," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(2), pages 287-307, March.
    11. Shugan, Steven M, 1980. "The Cost of Thinking," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 7(2), pages 99-111, Se.
    12. Ordonez, Lisa D., 1998. "The Effect of Correlation between Price and Quality on Consumer Choice," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 75(3), pages 258-273, September.
    13. Kristin Diehl & Gal Zauberman, 2005. "Searching Ordered Sets: Evaluations from Sequences under Search," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 31(4), pages 824-832, March.
    14. Gregory W. Fischer & Jianmin Jia & Mary Frances Luce, 2000. "Attribute Conflict and Preference Uncertainty: The RandMAU Model," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(5), pages 669-684, May.
    15. Robert J. Meyer, 1982. "A Descriptive Model of Consumer Information Search Behavior," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 1(1), pages 93-121.
    16. Alexander Chernev, 2006. "Differentiation and Parity in Assortment Pricing," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 33(2), pages 199-210, July.
    17. Xu, Yunjie (Calvin) & Kim, Hee-Woong, 2008. "Order Effect and Vendor Inspection in Online Comparison Shopping," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 84(4), pages 477-486.
    18. John T. Gourville & Dilip Soman, 2005. "Overchoice and Assortment Type: When and Why Variety Backfires," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 382-395, July.
    19. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    20. Subimal Chatterjee & Timothy B. Heath, 1996. "Conflict and Loss Aversion in Multiattribute Choice: The Effects of Trade-Off Size and Reference Dependence on Decision Difficulty," Post-Print hal-00670460, HAL.
    21. Mantel, Susan Powell & Kardes, Frank R, 1999. "The Role of Direction of Comparison, Attribute-Based Processing, and Attitude-Based Processing in Consumer Preference," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 25(4), pages 335-352, March.
    22. Gerald Häubl & Benedict G. C. Dellaert & Bas Donkers, 2010. "Tunnel Vision: Local Behavioral Influences on Consumer Decisions in Product Search," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 438-455, 05-06.
    23. Diehl, Kristin & Kornish, Laura J & Lynch, John G, Jr, 2003. "Smart Agents: When Lower Search Costs for Quality Information Increase Price Sensitivity," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 30(1), pages 56-71, June.
    24. Klein, Noreen M & Yadav, Manjit S, 1989. "Context Effects on Effort and Accuracy in Choice: An Enquiry into Adaptive Decision Making," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(4), pages 411-421, March.
    25. Chatterjee, Subimal & Heath, Timothy B., 1996. "Conflict and Loss Aversion in Multiattribute Choice: The Effects of Trade-Off Size and Reference Dependence on Decision Difficulty," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 144-155, August.
    26. Bettman, James R & Park, C Whan, 1980. "Effects of Prior Knowledge and Experience and Phase of the Choice Process on Consumer Decision Processes: A Protocol Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 7(3), pages 234-248, December.
    27. Tyebjee, Tyzoon T, 1979. "Response Time, Conflict, and Involvement in Brand Choice," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 6(3), pages 295-304, December.
    28. Ratneshwar, Srinivasan & Shocker, Allan D & Stewart, David W, 1987. "Toward Understanding the Attraction Effect: The Implications of Product Stimulus Meaningfulness and Familiarity," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 13(4), pages 520-533, March.
    29. Janiszewski, Chris & Lichtenstein, Donald R, 1999. "A Range Theory Account of Price Perception," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 25(4), pages 353-368, March.
    30. Gerald Häubl & Valerie Trifts, 2000. "Consumer Decision Making in Online Shopping Environments: The Effects of Interactive Decision Aids," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 4-21, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cloarec, Julien, 2020. "The personalization–privacy paradox in the attention economy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    2. Navid Bahmani & Amit Bhatnagar & Dinesh Gauri, 2022. "Hey, Alexa! What attributes of Skills affect firm value?," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 50(6), pages 1219-1235, November.
    3. Stefan F. Bernritter & Paul E. Ketelaar & Francesca Sotgiu, 2021. "Behaviorally targeted location-based mobile marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 677-702, July.
    4. Marlene Vock, 2022. "Luxurious and responsible? Consumer perceptions of corporate social responsibility efforts by luxury versus mass-market brands," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(6), pages 569-583, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Scholten, Marc, 2002. "Conflict-mediated choice," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 683-718, July.
    2. 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.
    3. Mark Heitmann & Andreas Herrmann, 2007. "Die Zufriedenheit mit dem Entscheidungsprozess als Determinante der Kundenbindung," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 530-566, August.
    4. Christina Schamp & Mark Heitmann & Robin Katzenstein, 2019. "Consideration of ethical attributes along the consumer decision-making journey," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 328-348, March.
    5. Cervi, Cleber & Brei, Vinicius Andrade, 2022. "Choice deferral: The interaction effects of visual boundaries and consumer knowledge," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Jonah Berger & Michaela Draganska & Itamar Simonson, 2007. "The Influence of Product Variety on Brand Perception and Choice," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 460-472, 07-08.
    7. Mark Heitmann & Andreas Herrmann & Christian Kaiser, 2007. "The effect of product variety on purchase probability," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 111-131, August.
    8. Timothy J. Gilbride & Greg M. Allenby, 2004. "A Choice Model with Conjunctive, Disjunctive, and Compensatory Screening Rules," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 391-406, October.
    9. Philippe Delquié, 2003. "Optimal Conflict in Preference Assessment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(1), pages 102-115, January.
    10. Nagler Matthew G., 2007. "Understanding the Internet's Relevance to Media Ownership Policy: A Model of Too Many Choices," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-28, June.
    11. Gavan J. Fitzsimons & Donald R. Lehmann, 2004. "Reactance to Recommendations: When Unsolicited Advice Yields Contrary Responses," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 82-94, September.
    12. Aby Abraham & Sanjay Patro, 2014. "‘Country-of-Origin’ Effect and Consumer Decision-making," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 39(3), pages 309-318, August.
    13. Maltz, Amnon & Rachmilevitch, Shiran, 2021. "A model of menu-dependent evaluations and comparison-aversion," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    14. Benedict G. C. Dellaert & Suzanne B. Shu & Theo A. Arentze & Tom Baker & Kristin Diehl & Bas Donkers & Nathanael J. Fast & Gerald Häubl & Heidi Johnson & Uma R. Karmarkar & Harmen Oppewal & Bernd H. S, 2020. "Consumer decisions with artificially intelligent voice assistants," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 31(4), pages 335-347, December.
    15. Eric Johnson & Suzanne Shu & Benedict Dellaert & Craig Fox & Daniel Goldstein & Gerald Häubl & Richard Larrick & John Payne & Ellen Peters & David Schkade & Brian Wansink & Elke Weber, 2012. "Beyond nudges: Tools of a choice architecture," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 487-504, June.
    16. Hauser, John R., 2014. "Consideration-set heuristics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1688-1699.
    17. Lurie, Nicholas H. & Wen, Na, 2014. "Simple Decision Aids and Consumer Decision Making," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 90(4), pages 511-523.
    18. Parthasarathy Krishnamurthy & Anish Nagpal, 2010. "Making choices under conflict: The impact of decision frames," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 37-51, March.
    19. Elie Ofek & Muhamet Yildiz & Ernan Haruvy, 2007. "The Impact of Prior Decisions on Subsequent Valuations in a Costly Contemplation Model," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(8), pages 1217-1233, August.
    20. Yan, Huan & Chang, En-Chung & Chou, Ting-Jui & Tang, Xiaofei, 2015. "The over-categorization effect: How the number of categorizations influences shoppers' perceptions of variety and satisfaction," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 631-638.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    product recommendations; product set granularity; online assortments; consumer response; consumer decision-making;
    All these keywords.

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ems:eureri:117409. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: RePub (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/erimanl.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.