Contributions published at Marketing and Market Research (René Algesheimer)

Many bipartite and unipartite real-world networks display a nested structure. Examples pervade different disciplines: biological ecosystems (e.g. mutualistic networks), economic networks (e.g. manufactures and contractors networks) to financial networks (e.g. bank lending networks), etc. A nested network has a topology such that a vertex’s neighbourhood contains the neighbourhood of vertices of lower degree; thus – upon vertex reordering – the adjacency matrix is step-wise. Despite its strictmathematical definition and the interest triggered by their common occurrence, it is not easy to measure the extent of nested graphs unequivocally. Among others, there exist three methods for detection and quantification of nestedness that are widely used: BINMATNEST, NODF, and fitness-complexity metric (FCM). However, thesemethods fail in assessing the existence of nestedness for graphs of low (NODF) and high (NODF, BINMATNEST) network density. Another common shortcoming of these approaches is the underlying assumption that all vertices belong to a nested component. However, many real-world networks have solely a sub-component (i.e. a subset of its vertices) that is nested. Thus, unveiling which vertices pertain to the nested component is an important research question, unaddressed by the methods available so far. In this contribution, we study in detail the algorithm Nestedness detection based on Local Neighbourhood (NESTLON). This algorithm resorts solely on local information and detects nestedness on a broad range of nested graphs independently of their nature and density. Further, we introduce a benchmark model that allows us to tune the degree of nestedness in a controlled manner and study the performance of different algorithms. Our results show that NESTLON outperforms both BINMATNEST and NODF.

In this study, we focus on attitudes towards asylum seekers in two countries: Denmark and Israel. Both serve as interesting cases through which to study public sentiment of host populations for people seeking refuge. We examine the role of three core dimensions that have been relatively overlooked in previous studies: social contact with asylum seekers, the role of support for humanitarian policies and perceptions of legitimacy of the asylum seekers? claims. We also gauge the way perceptions of threat mediate the effect of these core dimensions on individuals? willingness to share their national benefits with those looking for refugee status in the two countries. For the analysis, we use multiple group structural equation modelling. On the descriptive level, findings suggest that respondents are considerably more hostile in Israel than in Denmark, although the mechanisms leading to the formation of exclusionary attitudes are partly similar. We conclude with some limitations of the study and closing remarks about similarities and differences across the two countries.

Theories on intergroup relations suggest that negative attitudes toward immigrants tend to rise when economic conditions deteriorate. However, these arguments were mostly tested during times of economic prosperity in Europe. We put this theoretical expectation to test by analyzing two rounds of the European Social Survey (ESS) with data from 14 West European immigration countries before (2006) and after (2010) the peak of the European economic crisis. Results show that anti-immigrant sentiments increased in countries where perceptions of economic insecurity also increased. Anti-immigrant sentiments decreased in countries where perceptions of economic insecurity declined. In contrast, changes in objective economic conditions (i.e. unemployment rates) during the same period of time did not display the expected effects in a similarly robust way.

Extreme response style (ERS) may bias responses and hamper the validity of conclusions in substantive research. ERS can be controlled for by using an additional (random) sample of response style indicators (i.e., a separate, random sample of survey items). There are two options to draw response style indicators to control for ERS: from only one versus from multiple domains. In two studies (four samples in total), this paper examines the domain dependency of ERS across three domains: consumer behavior, interpersonal relationships and politics. We find in the four samples repeated evidence suggesting that ERS has a domain specific component. This finding calls into question the (often encountered) assumption that it does not matter from which domains ERS measures are drawn.

Research on values conducted worldwide and based to a large extent on Schwartz’s model has produced some well-established conclusions about value structure and preferences. The knowledge about values can be a point of departure for the research on value-behaviour relations. In such studies two intuitive assumptions are usually made: (1) the unity of values and motivation (because of the motivational content of values) and (2) the separation of values and behaviour (because of the influence of values on behaviour). In this chapter, another possibility is described and considered: (1) the separation of values and motivation and (2) the partial unity of value preferences and behaviour. This proposal, on one hand, is compatible with current research and Schwartz’s model of values, and on the other hand, opens some new possibilities for theoretical conceptualization and empirical research on value-behaviour relations.

This chapter examines psychological and philosophical traditions in the study of values. It explores two perspectives on values that are useful for thinking about their role in understanding what it means to be human. The internal perspective focuses on the roles values play in the psychological functioning of people and how they relate to human essence. The external perspective describes how values are produced and acquired both in phylogenesis and in ontogenesis and how that contributes to human essence. It is suggested that the phylogenetic perspective explains the pan-cultural agreement in value hierarchies and the ontogenetic perspective explains both the assimilation of the cultural system of values and inter-individual diversity. The chapter also considers relations between personality and values and the metaphysical interpretation of values. Finally, it reflects on the relevance of values to human essence.

The current study examines the contribution of left–right (or liberal–conservative) ideology to voting, as well as the extent to which basic values account for ideological orientation. Analyses were conducted in 16 countries from five continents (Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania), most of which have been neglected by previous studies. Results showed that left–right (or liberal–conservative) ideology predicted voting in all countries except Ukraine. Basic values exerted a considerable effect in predicting ideology in most countries, especially in established democracies such as Australia, Finland, Italy, United Kingdom, and Germany. Pattern of relations with the whole set of 10 values revealed that the critical trade-off underlying ideology is between values concerned with tolerance and protection for the welfare of all people (universalism) versus values concerned with preserving the social order and status quo (security). A noteworthy exception was found in European postcommunist countries, where relations of values with ideology were small (Poland) or near to zero (Ukraine, Slovakia).

The paper presents empirical verification of the Circumplex of Personality Metatraits (CPM) that overcomes some problems with the Big Five and enables the integration of various constructs and models developed within many sub-disciplines of psychology. Empirical verification of the model was conducted on a group of 1045 participants in two steps: (1) validation of the model (e.g., the circular arrangement of the metatraits, and relations with the Big Five); (2) verification of the synthesizing potential of this model by testing the predicted locations of temperamental traits, interpersonal traits, values, affects, and mental health constructs within the CPM. It has been found that the CPM can be treated as a matrix accommodating constructs described by circumplex, circular, and noncircular models.

The construct of values is central to many fields in the social sciences and humanities. The last two decades have seen a growing body of psychological research that investigates the content, structure and consequences of personal values in many cultures. Taking a cross-cultural perspective we review, organize and integrate research on personal values, and point to some of the main findings that this research has yielded. Personal values are subjective in nature, and reflect what people think and state about themselves. Consequently, both researchers and laymen sometimes question the usefulness of personal values in influencing action. Yet, self-reported values predict a large variety of attitudes, preferences and overt behaviours. Individuals act in ways that allow them to express their important values and attain the goals underlying them. Thus, understanding personal values means understanding human behaviour.

Social learning is known to influence adoption as well as churn behavior. Recent research raises the question to what extent these social effects influence customer engagement. We analyze the impact of peer behavior on the likelihood of continued usage of a non-contractual pay-per-use service. In contrast to products, services are subject to quality variations and consumer learning is slow. To lower this uncertainty of consumption, individuals search for further information and are susceptible to social learning. We further assess how the susceptibility to effects of social learning changes with usage inactivity. Due to quality variations and service updates, usage inactivity deteriorates private information. It increases the uncertainty how past service experience depicts current service quality. Thus, usage inactivity strengthens the susceptibility to social influence. Our results show that marketing tools, that leverage social learning, have the potential to stimulate continued service usage and re-engage inactive customers. Furthermore, the susceptibility to social learning is increasing with usage inactivity up to a certain point. However, after 12 months of inactivity customers have lost any interest in the service and do not react to peer behavior anymore

This study clarifies the marketing discipline's conceptualization of place by presenting a revised perspective and conceptual framework of place, referred to as REPLACE. Drawing from resource exchange theory and attention restoration theory, the framework problematizes the assumption that places are merely physical locales by foregrounding how places can become inseparable aspects of consumers' lives. We present an alternative resource-based perspective of place, namely as a repository of resources that are potentially available to consumers through exchange processes. These exchange processes, and the complexity of the offered resources, influence consumers' relationship with a locale as well as their sense of well-being. With this alternative perspective, we bridge the place concept to public health and extend the understanding of attachment in service settings.

This article presents the cross-cultural validation of the Entitlement Attitudes Questionnaire, a tool designed to measure three facets of psychological entitlement: active, passive, and revenge entitlement. Active entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect individual rights based on self-worthiness. Passive entitlement was defined as the belief in obligations to and expectations toward other people and institutions for the fulfillment of the individual’s needs. Revenge entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect one’s individual rights when violated by others and the tendency to reciprocate insults. The 15-item EAQ was validated in a series of three studies: the first one on a general Polish sample (N = 1,900), the second one on a sample of Polish students (N = 199), and the third one on student samples from 28 countries (N = 5,979). A three-factor solution was confirmed across all samples. Examination of measurement equivalence indicated partial metric invariance of EAQ for all national samples. Discriminant and convergent validity of the EAQ was also confirmed.

We assess the predictive and discriminant validity of the basic values in the refined Schwartz value theory by examining how value tradeoffs predict behavior in Italy, Poland, Russia, and the USA. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven respondents reported their values and rated their own and a partner’s behavior. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the distinctiveness of the 19 values and the 19 self-rated and other-rated behaviors. Multidimensional scaling analyses supported the circular motivational order of the 19 values. Findings affirmed the theorizing that behavior depends upon tradeoffs between values that propel and values that inhibit it. Across four countries, value importance, behavior frequency, and gender failed to moderate the strength of value–behavior relations. This raises the question of the conditions under which the widely cited assumption that normative pressure weakens value–behavior relations holds.

This report examines the measurement invariance of the Personal Well-being Index with 8 items (PWI-8). University students (N = 5731) from 26 countries completed the measure either through paper and pencil or electronic mode. We examined uni-dimensional structure of PWI and performed a Multi-group CFA to assess the measurement invariance across the 26 countries, using conventional approach and the alignment procedure. The findings provide evidence of configural and partial metric invariance, as well as partial scalar invariance across samples. The findings suggest that PWI-8 can be used to examine correlates of life satisfaction across all included countries, however it is impossible to compare raw scores across countries.

The thesis explains the relevance of research in values and their associated behavior from a theoretical as well as from a practical point of view. Based on Schwartz’s value theory a framework of value-behavior relationships is developed. Using Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ), the author examines the correlations of the four higher-order values Self-transcendence, Conservation, Self-enhancement and Openness to Change with valueexpressive behavior (VEB), money allocation, time preferences and social value orientations. The data was collected from 1’193 Swiss pupils from the ages 11 to 17. The analysis shows that the four higher-order values are well represented by PVQ and VEB items. Weak positive correlations between the values and several of the other examined behaviors are reported. The author concludes that value-based customer segmentation is a valuable tool and presents instruments such as surveys and algorithms, which can serve companies to implement customer segmentation that includes value profiles.

Both researchers and marketers have discussed market segmentation extensively in the past. Values have gained increasing interest in market research, but so far market segmentation schemes have rarely been based on values and applied to children. This thesis bases a cluster analysis on Schwartz’ four value dimensions and aims at find sophisticated cluster solutions. A hybrid cluster solution reveals that market segmentation schemes based on Schwartz’ theory provide insightful and domain-independent clusters for adults as well as children. Clustering their customers based on value structures can help marketers identify consumers who share the same values as a brand or product. Moreover, the consumption behavior of consumers in different clusters within an age group was compared to analyze whether consumers with different value structures also possess different consumer behavior. Findings show that values indeed influence consumer behavior, although the influence is not as strong as could be expected. Furthermore, the value structures of different age groups were compared to see how they differ to each other. The results imply that value structures of children become relatively stable around the age of eight and are very similar to that of adults. Lastly, results of an international comparison imply significant differences in both the value structures and consumption behavior, which provides important insights for international companies.

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