Impact of an interactive anti-speeding threat appeal: how much threat is too much?

This study investigates the impact of an interactive television public service announcement (PSA) containing an anti-speeding threat appeal on feelings of telepresence and behavioral intention. In a 2 x 2 x 2 between-subjects factorial design with 213 participants, the level of threat evoked by a traditional PSA, by the interactive part of the PSA (dedicated advertising location) and by the preceding program context are manipulated to be either low or high. The results support the assumptions of the Extended Parallel Processing Model with regard to the effect of the level of perceived threat and perceived efficacy in an interactive media environment, and the important role of telepresence as a processing variable. The results of the three-way interaction effect of threat evoked by the program, the PSA, and the DAL on telepresence show that when the threat levels of the program and the PSA are both either low or high, exposure to the threatening information in the DAL does not generate a significantly higher feeling of telepresence. However, when a low-threat program is followed by a high-threat PSA, the threat level of the DAL has a positive effect on telepresence. The same trend is found with a high-threat program and a low-threat PSA, although the effect of the threat evoked by the DAL on telepresence is not significant at conventional levels. Finally, there is a positive effect of telepresence on the behavioral intention to reduce speeding which is partly mediated by the viewer‟s perceived efficacy to follow the recommended behavior

Adoption intentions toward interactive digital television among advertising professionals

Using the decomposed theory of planned behavior, this article develops and empirically validates a model that predicts the intention to use interactive digital television as a marketing communication medium. The study tests the model with samples of Belgian advertising professionals at two different moments in time. The results show that the impact of perceived usefulness on the intention to use interactive digital television is low compared with the impact of perceived ease of use and subjective norms. Over time, the compliance effect of external subjective norms on usage intention decreases, in favor of the internalization effect through perceived ease of use. Behavioral control and attitude have more impact in the second stage than in the first

Will ethical consumers sustain their values in the global credit crunch?

The current global recession is presenting new and difficult challenges for those customers wishing to consume sustainably and ethically, and the marketers who seek to provide the goods that allow them to do so. This viewpoint will explore to what extent international marketers can engage consumers with a social conscience and retain their loyalty This conceptual paper explores the impact the global recession is having upon consumers and marketers, and considers the evidence surrounding concerns that the demand for ethical products will decline across international markets as the recession deepens. The discussion acknowledges that while discount retailers are thriving, and customers are trading down, evidence suggests that across international markets a significant number of socially conscious consumers are still exhibiting ethical consumption behaviour. Future marketing opportunities lie in providing consumers with products that will deliver value without compromising their ethical social values. The paper offers a balanced perspective on the significance of ethical consumers to international marketers. The analysis highlights a number of threats and opportunities that exist in the current global recession, and the discussion is illustrated with several examples of successful marketing ethics in action

Children and a changing media environment: investigating persuasion knowledge for integrated advertising formats

This study investigates the persuasion knowledge of children of integrated advertising formats, more precisely of product placement, advertiser funded programming (AFP) and advergames. Based on qualitative research with 42 children (between 4-12 years old) the results show that children have difficulties recognizing and understanding the persuasive intention of the integrated commercial content. Especially for product placement this seemed to be hard, for all age groups. The ad recognition and understanding of AFP was highest. For advergames the results show that children could recognize the ad embedded in the game, but had problems in understanding the underlying commercial intention of it

Book review: Export promotion. A decision support model approach

Editors: Ludo Cuyvers and Wilma Viviers. ISBN 978-0-9870096-3-0. Pages: 276. Format:Softcover. Sun Press: +27 (0)21 808 3942. To order: www.sun-e-shop.co.za. Price: R 180.00(online) and R 285.00 (hard copy

The role of affect and cognition in processing messages about early diagnosis for Alzheimer's Disease by older people

Through early diagnosis of symptoms, the Alzheimer's disease process can be decelerated. The main concern is to encourage the population at risk to take responsible actions at the earliest stage of the onset of the disease. Persuasive communication is essential to achieve this. In an experimental study, the evaluation of awareness messages for early diagnosis containing weak and strong arguments and negative and positive images was performed on a sample of older Belgians. The mediating role of affective responses and message thoughts was explored. Strong arguments led to a more positive evaluation of the message than weak arguments directly and indirectly via the positive effect they had on message affect and thoughts, which, in turn, positively affected message evaluation. A negative message image led to a more positive message evaluation than a positive one. This effect was not mediated by either message affect or message thoughts

The moderating impact of relational strength on the relationship between relationship quality and purchasing behavior

We investigate the moderating impact of relational strength on the relationship quality model, that is extended from intentions onto real behaviour. Empirical investigations are conducted in the context of apparel buying, combining survey and data base information. Relational strength impacts the attitudes-intentions as well as the intentions-behavior relationship. The opposite signs of the effects may explain disappointing results when relationship quality is used to boost behavioral loyalty