Psychological Indicators of Innovation Adoption: Cross‐Classification Based on Need for Cognition and Need for Change

Predicting how and when consumers will switch from a current familiar brand to a new option is a matter of concern for every level of new product introduction—from brand extensions to “really new” discontinuous innovations. In this article, we build on the innovativeness literature by investigating the degree to which 2 consumer characteristics, the need for cognition (N_cog) and the need for change (N_change), help explain individuals’ propensity to choose new innovations versus status quo options. We demonstrate that by separating N_cog and N_change and cross‐classifying individuals based on these attributes, 4 unique patterns of change behavior emerge. A large‐scale choice study was conducted by surveying metropolitan residents about changes in telecommunication services (local, long distance, and cellular). We use a latent class model to uncover the segmentation structure in the choice data, using the constructs as concommitant variables in the segment classification portion of the econometric model. The results show that the predicted theoretical structure explains observed data and can be used to significantly increase the predictive power of models of change behavior.     

Dimensions of brand purchasing behaviour: consumers in the 18–24 age group

This paper reports the results of a study of brand selection and loyalty within the 18–24 age group. The study explores brand loyalty behaviour across different product categories, and investigates the dimensions that drive loyalty behaviour within this age group. First, the construct of brand loyalty is defined, followed by an overview of key research in the area. Finally, the study itself is detailed. The study concludes that there is a significant difference in the degree of brand loyalty exhibited by the 18–24‐year‐old respondents across product categories. The dimensions of brand selection also vary by product type. Brand heritage in terms of parental influence was evident in coffee and toothpaste purchase, with brand as a reflection of self‐image being something that is important to clothing brands. Value and variety are important attributes of cereal brand selection. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.     

A sad thumbs up: incongruent gestures and disrupted sensorimotor activity both slow processing of facial expressions

Recognising a facial expression is more difficult when the expresser's body conveys incongruent affect. Existing research has documented such interference for universally recognisable bodily expressions. However, it remains unknown whether learned, conventional gestures can interfere with facial expression processing. Study 1 participants (N?=?62) viewed videos of people simultaneously producing facial expressions and hand gestures and reported the valence of either the face or hand. Responses were slower and less accurate when the face-hand pairing was incongruent compared to congruent. We hypothesised that hand gestures might exert an even stronger influence on facial expression processing when other routes to understanding the meaning of a facial expression, such as with sensorimotor simulation, are disrupted. Participants in Study 2 (N?=?127) completed the same task, but the facial mobility of some participants was restricted, which disrupted face processing in prior work. The hand-face congruency effect from Study 1 was replicated. The facial mobility manipulation affected males only, and it did not moderate the congruency effect. The present work suggests the affective meaning of conventional gestures is processed automatically and can interfere with face perception, but does not suggest that perceivers rely more on gestures when sensorimotor face processing is disrupted.     

Upper- and lower-limb amputees show reduced levels of eeriness for images of prosthetic hands

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review - The “uncanny phenomenon” describes the feeling of unease associated with seeing an image that is close to appearing human. Prosthetic hands in...     

New Frontiers for Self-Regulation Research in IO Psychology

Vancouver et Day (2005) font une analyse critique de l’état d’avancement des recherches sur l’autorégulation en psychologie industrielle/organisationnelle (IO). Ils soulèvent des problèmes de validité interne et de construction pour certains concepts clés, tels que le nivcau du but, l’efficacité personnelle, le feedback et la divergence; ils mentionnent aussi qu’il est difficile de préciser quelles sont les facteurs à l’origine des résultats obtenus par les interventions relevant des principes de l’autorégulation. Leurs suggestions concernant les élaborations théoriques, la mesure et la structuration des études sont pertinentes et, si on les met en ?uvre, elles permettront à la psychologie IO d’échapper aux problèmes qu’est susceptible de soulever l’élaboration, sur des bases insuffisantes, d’un corpus de connaissances appliquées. A travers leur approche critique, Vancouver et Day font nécessairement un choix dans la littérature qu’ils analysent et ils ne proposent pas de schéma d’ensemble des recherches sur l’autorégulation en psychologie IO. Vancouver and Day (2005 ) present a critical analysis of the current state of self‐regulation research within IO psychology. Their analysis identifies problems of construct and internal validity for certain key constructs, including goal level, self‐efficacy and feedback discrepancy, and difficulties in detecting the sources of effects in studies of interventions based on self‐regulatory principles. Their suggestions regarding theory development, measurement, and study design are timely and, if implemented, will help IO psychology avoid the potential problems of building a body of applied knowledge based on weak foundations. In their critical approach, Vancouver and Day are necessarily selective in the literature they discuss and they do not provide a comprehensive framework of self‐regulation research in IO psychology.     

Do response time limitations counteract the effect of faking on personality inventory validity?

Different models of lying on personality scales make discrepant predictions on the association between faking and item response time. The current research investigated response time restriction as a method for reducing the influence of faking on personality scale validity. In 3 assessment simulations involving 540 university undergraduates responding to 2 common, psychometrically strong personality inventories, no evidence emerged to indicate that limiting respondents' answering time can attenuate the effects of faking on validity. Results were interpreted as failing to support a simple model of personality test item response dissimulation that predicts that lying takes time. Findings were consistent with models implying that lying involves primitive cognitive processing or that lying may be associated with complex processing that includes both primitive responding and cognitive overrides.     

Advancing scientific discourse in the controversy surrounding the Comprehensive System for the Rorschach: a rejoinder to Meyer (2000)

A recent commentary by Meyer (2000) in the Journal of Personality Assessment alleged that Rorschach critic Wood and his colleagues had intentionally published information that they knew to be in error. To substantiate this contention, Meyer's commentary published information that was part of the peer review process at another journal. In this rejoinder, we present factual information that shows we have consistently acted in good faith. This rejoinder suggests that the scientific debate regarding the Comprehensive System for the Rorschach is unlikely to be advanced by speculating about the intentions of Rorschach critics, or by publishing information from the peer review process that is usually kept confidential.