Evolution and trends in consumer behaviour: Insights from Journal of Consumer Behaviour

The way consumers behave is fundamental to marketing. Journal of Consumer Behaviour (JCB) is an international journal dedicated to publishing the latest developments of consumer behaviour. To gain an understanding of the evolution and trends in consumer behaviour, this study presents a retrospective review of JCB using bibliometric analysis. Using bibliographic records of JCB from Scopus, this study finds that consumer behaviour research in JCB has grown substantially in terms of collaboration (co-authorships), global reach (countries), productivity (publications), and impact (citations). The major themes explored by consumer behaviour research in JCB include consumer information processing, consumption communities, consumption value, sustainable consumption, intergenerational consumer behaviour, consumer-brand relationship, consumer ethics, and conditional relationships in consumer behaviour. The most recent consumer behaviour research in JCB has considered externalities such as the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on themes such as consumer ethics and sustainable consumption in line with the global movement toward environmental social governance (ESG) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).     

The Measurement of Behavioral Complexity

A number of measurement techniques designed to assess cognitive and behavioral complexity are considered. While early measures limit their focus to interpersonal differentiation, later measures consider differentiation, integration, and, in one case, various other aspects of information processing structure. Objective paper-and-pencil measures, subjective response assessment, and simulation technology are briefly described.     

Differences in Recall of Adolescent Socialization Among High and Low Achievers in Business1

The study traces out the adolescence experience of high and low achievers of an organization. The high achievers were those who had joined the organization as clerks and risen to senior managerial positions, whereas low achievers were those who joined with “highs” as clerks and remained clerks even after 15 years of service. A life history questionnaire method was used for the study, and 150 respondents (75 “highs” and 75 “lows”) were extensively interviewed about various aspects of their adolescence. The findings in this paper indicate that high achievers were encouraged to have their independent opinions and had achievement oriented future plans during their adolescence.     

Real-world implications of high-performance competencies and strategic management simulation technology

The construct and criterion-related validity of 11 High-Performance Competencies (H-PC) are explored through data collected by three highly reliable methods: work shadowing, assessment centres, and Strategic Management Simulation Technology. A large international managerial sample indicates that some H-PC are more highly developed than others. This suggests that managers may have a restricted capacity to co-operatively address the multidimensional issues that loom large today. Strategic Management Simulation Technology is discussed as a way of developing a more balanced leadership capability profile and enhancing desirable real-world outcomes.     

Aphasia type and aging in Hindi-speaking stroke patients

In this study, the clinical profile of Hindi-speaking stroke patients with aphasia from northern India has been investigated. We examined the interactional effect between age and gender with aphasia type in 97 Hindi-speaking right-handed individuals, the majority of them with a confirmed diagnosis of a cerebrovascular accident. The subjects included in the study ranged from 3 weeks to two years post-onset with a diagnosis of a common classical aphasia (Broca's, Wernicke's, anomic, global, conduction, and transcortical) types involving both males and females. Also examined was the interaction between literacy and aphasia type since the subjects had varied exposures to education (total illiteracy to professional/university education). While the data reported here about Hindi-speaking aphasics are relatively in agreement with the age-aphasia type patterns discussed in western countries, nonetheless some differences were also observed. The mean age of Indian patients with aphasia was significantly lower. Also, in addition to some gender and literacy related differences, an outstanding difference was that many clinical symptoms that are known to co-occur with aphasia were not readily reported by subjects with stroke.     

Impact of Allergic Rhinitis on Simulated Real‐World Performance1

A few studies have shown that untreated seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) may have unfavorable effects on performance. However, prior research has employed tasks of limited or moderate difficulty (e.g., verbal learning) or has focused on visual‐motor efforts (e.g., driving a vehicle). The present research compared performance in the absence (asymptomatic) versus presence (symptomatic) of rhinitis, using the validated strategic management simulation (SMS). Obtained data indicated that whenever task‐demands were contextual (e.g., cued by the environment), no differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic conditions were obtained. Whenever task‐demands were more difficult, untreated seasonal allergic rhinitis decreased effectiveness. To avoid loss of productivity and limit decrements in quality of life, treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis with medications without sedating effects appears of value.     

Behavioral Complexity: A Review

The theoretical basis of behavioral complexity theory is reviewed. A selection of recent research data are considered under topics of interest to behavioral science and related disciplines.     

Initial Development and Validation of a Measure of Intercultural Development Scale

Intercultural development in global employees will aid organizations to function successfully in the current global work scene. However, there is a need for a psychometrically valid and reliable measure, which can be used by practitioners and academics to assess the capabilities of individuals. This vignette based intercultural development scale was conceived on the basis of Bennett’s developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. The content was generated using interviews with international employees and subject matter experts. Psychometric properties were established with both qualitative and quantitative analysis. A sample of 461 international employees was used to test the validity of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and construct validity was established with cosmopolitanism and openness to experience scales. The study confirms the scale’s dimensionality and established convergent, discriminant and nomological validity. The applications of this scale in building capabilities, talent management and strategic decisions in both practical and theoretical assessment are outlined.     

A new method for automated reconstruction of pre-transformation microstructures

A new method, referred to as the cluster method, is proposed and tested for the reconstruction of pre-transformation microstructure in Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The cluster method begins by constructing clusters of daughter grains (room-temperature hcp α-phase) that have a high probability of being transformed from the same parent grain (high-temperature bcc β-phase). These clusters are then grown, and back-transformed to the parent grain orientations using the ‘summation of mutual misorientation angle method’ (SMMA method). The cluster method is validated by comparing the obtained results with the results of the SMMA and triplet methods.     

Preface

Dr. Siegfried Streufert devoted a considerable part of his career to designing and developing assessment and training technologies based on his theory of Behavioral complexity. The underlying emphasis in the design of his methodology called the Strategic Management Simulations (SMS), was on understanding “real world” productivity in an objective manner. This methodology focuses on the demonstrated decision-making capacity of an individual in various situations and its impact on human productivity and well-being. The SMS methodology compliments other evaluation tools that focus on individual “preferences”, “aspirations” and basic problem-solving skill sets. The following commentary provides a brief overview of well-used methodologies and describes the SMS comprehensive assessment which is focused on real world productivity and is constructed using Behavioral complexity theoretical paradigms.