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The Effect of Attribute Alignability on Service Evaluation: The Moderating Role of Uncertainty

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  • Jin Sun
  • Hean Tat Keh
  • Angela Y. Lee

Abstract

Prior research suggests that consumers make trade-offs between two products by focusing more on alignable differences (i.e., the values of the options on the same attributes are different) than on nonalignable differences (i.e., the options have different attributes). The present research applies the structural alignment model to examine how uncertainty associated with the evaluation of services may lead to greater reliance on nonalignable attributes, especially for credence services. The results of three studies provide support for the uncertainty hypothesis. Specifically, study 1 showed that consumers rely more on alignable attributes when evaluating experience services, but shift their focus to nonalignable attributes when evaluating credence services that are associated with greater uncertainty. Using different operationalizations of uncertainty, studies 2 and 3 provided further support for the uncertainty hypothesis by systematically varying the ambiguity of consumer reviews (study 2) and consumer confidence in their judgment (study 3).

Suggested Citation

  • Jin Sun & Hean Tat Keh & Angela Y. Lee, 2012. "The Effect of Attribute Alignability on Service Evaluation: The Moderating Role of Uncertainty," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 39(4), pages 831-847.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jconrs:doi:10.1086/665983
    DOI: 10.1086/665983
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    Cited by:

    1. Gerrit Antonides & Lies Hovestadt, 2021. "Product Attributes, Evaluability, and Consumer Satisfaction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Wang, Xuehua & Keh, Hean Tat, 2017. "Consumer susceptibility to cross-selling persuasion: The roles of self-construal and interpersonal harmony," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 177-184.
    3. Ying Ding & Hean Tat Keh, 2017. "Consumer reliance on intangible versus tangible attributes in service evaluation: the role of construal level," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 848-865, November.
    4. Nita Umashankar & Yashoda Bhagwat & V. Kumar, 2017. "Do loyal customers really pay more for services?," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 807-826, November.
    5. Thomas J. Maronick, 2016. "The Role of Board Certification as a Cue to Competence of Eye Care Providers: An Empirical Analysis," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, January.
    6. Yao, Qi & Hu, Chao & Zhou, Wenkai, 2024. "The impact of customer privacy concerns on service robot adoption intentions: A credence/experience service typology perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. V. Kumar & Nita Umashankar & Kihyun Hannah Kim & Yashoda Bhagwat, 2014. "Assessing the Influence of Economic and Customer Experience Factors on Service Purchase Behaviors," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(5), pages 673-692, September.
    8. Sharlene He & Derek D. Rucker, 2023. "How uncertainty affects information search among consumers: a curvilinear perspective," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 415-428, September.
    9. Matthews, Lynn & Eilert, Meike & Carlson, Les & Gentry, Jim, 2020. "When and how frontline service employee authenticity influences purchase intentions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 111-123.
    10. Liu, Yun & Wang, Xingyuan & Wang, Shuyang, 2022. "Research on service robot adoption under different service scenarios," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    11. Sun, Jin & Keh, Hean Tat & Lee, Angela Y., 2019. "Shaping consumer preference using alignable attributes: The roles of regulatory orientation and construal level," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 151-168.
    12. Thomas J. Maronick, 2016. "The Role of Board Certification as a Cue to Competence of Eye Care Providers: An Empirical Analysis," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, January.
    13. Zhang, Jin & Xu, Xiaobing & Keh, Hean Tat, 2022. "I implement, they deliberate: The matching effects of point of view and mindset on consumer attitudes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 397-410.

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