The influence of consumers personal values on the country of origin effect: a study with chinese household products / A influência dos valores pessoais dos consumidores no efeito país de origem: um estudo com eletrodomésticos chineses

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

Stereotypes people tend to develop towards other people and countries and, consequently, towards the products made in these countries, can transcend specific brand or products evaluations and determine, to some extent, their purchase intentions and behavior. This is the so-called country-of-origin effect. The researches done on this subject indicate that the country-of-origin effect can be moderated by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic information about the product, and also by environmental and cultural factors. Since there are few academic papers on the influence that personal values exert on the evaluations of different countries and foreign products, a study that focuses this relation becomes relevant. In this context, the present thesis approaches the following research problem: what are the personal values that affect the consumers? evaluations of foreign products, based on these products? countries image? Specifically, it was verified if there were differences in the referred relation, depending on demographic characteristics such as gender, age, familiarity with the country and education background. The empirical research was predominantly exploratory, using the survey method for collecting the data. The target population was defined as post-graduation students and former students from three institutions located at São Paulo state, representing potential buyers of foreign products. The products under analysis were Chinese household appliances. As a result, it is worth mentioning that personal values are a multi-dimensional construct, with each dimension exerting a different influence on foreign products evaluation. The personal values that most affect foreign products evaluation are those related to the Civility dimension (Loving, Cheerful, Clean, Responsible, Polite, Helpful and Honest). Next, come the values from the Self-direction dimension (Logical, Intellectual, Capable, Imaginative, Independent, Courageous, Broad-minded and Ambitious). Last, there are the values from the Conformity dimension (Obedient, Self-controlled and Forgiving). It was concluded, moreover, that consumers? personal values differently affect the evaluation of foreign products, depending on consumers? demographic characteristics such as age, gender, familiarity with the country and education background. It was foreseen that, in younger consumers, there would be a more favorable influence of personal values in the country-of-origin effect than in the older ones. However, this hypothesis was not confirmed. Other hypothesis was that in male consumers, there would also be a more favorable influence of personal values in the country-of-origin effect than in the female ones. Nevertheless, such hypothesis was not confirmed either. There were also verified differences concerning the personal values that most influence the country-of-origin effect, depending on respondents? familiarity level with China and education background (Exact, Humanity and Biological Sciences). The results provide an additional understanding with regards to the influences consumers suffer during a purchase decision process. Therefore, it is considered that it was made an advance in the state of the art of researches about the country of origin theme, since aspects not measured in other works were investigated. With the results obtained, it is believed that marketing professionals and researchers can better manage the use of a products? country of origin as a marketing tool. Additionally, these research findings can help governmental agencies that are responsible for developing a country?s image to adjust the branding strategies to different groups of people in the world, depending on the personal values that predominate in each group.

ASSUNTO(S)

instrumental values personal values valores instrumentais comportamento do consumidor valores pessoais consumer behavior country of origin effect cultura efeito país de origem culture

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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