About This Journal

korean management review - Vol. 51 , No. 6

[ Article ]
korean management review - Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 1765-1790
Abbreviation: kmr
ISSN: 1226-1874 (Print)
Print publication date 31 Dec 2022
Received 10 Jul 2022 Revised 15 Sep 2022 Accepted 30 Sep 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17287/kmr.2022.51.6.1765

Competitive Consumption: Effects of a Purchase Rank and Competition Strength on Consumption Achievement and Perceived Product Quality
Jihye Park ; Wenhan Li
(Corresponding Author) PhD, Professor of marketing College of Business Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (jihyepark@hufs.ac.kr)
Doctoral student College of Business Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (liwenhan@hufs.ac.kr)

경쟁적 소비: 구매 순위, 경쟁 강도, 순위 공지 시점이 소비 성취감과 제품 품질 인식에 미치는 영향

Copyright 2011 THE KOREAN ACADEMIC SOCIETY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Funding Information ▼

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of a purchase rank and competition strength on perceived achievement and perceived product quality. Results of a series of experiments showed that in high competition, consumers tended to perceive greater achievement and product quality when they were informed of a purchase rank compared to when a purchase rank was unknown. In low competition, consumers tended to perceive greater achievement and product quality when they were top-ranked in the purchase compared to when they were middle or bottom-ranked. Effects of a purchase rank (top, middle, bottom rank) on achievement and perceived product quality were not found in the high competition. Furthermore, consumers tended to perceive greater achievement and product quality when a purchase rank was informed before purchase than after purchase. Theoretical and practical implications were further discussed.


Keywords: Competitive consumption, competition strength, purchase rank, achievement, perceived product quality

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund.


References
1. Aggarwal, P., S. Y. Jun, and J. H. Huh(2011), “Scarcity Messages,” Journal of Advertising, 40(3), pp.19-30.
2. Alba, B., D. McIlwain, L. Wheeler, and M. P. Jones (2014), “Status Consciousness: A Preliminary Construction of a Scale Measuring Individual Differences in Status-Relevant Attitudes, Beliefs, and Desires,” Journal of Individual Differences, 35(3), pp.166-176.
3. Ariely, D., and I. Simonson(2003), “Buying, Bidding, Playing or Competing? Value Assessment and Decision Dynamics in Online Auctions,” Journal of Consumer Psychology, 13(1-2), pp.113-123.
4. Babakus, E., P. Tat, and W. Cunningham(1988), “Coupon Redemption: A Motivational Perspective,” Journal of Consumer Marketing, 5(2), pp.37-43
5. Bawa, K., and R. W. Shoemaker(1987), “The Coupon-Prone Consumer: Some Findings Based on Purchase Behavior Across Product Classes,” Journal of Marketing, 51(4), pp.99-110.
6. Brooks, A., and L. Wee(2016), “The Cultural Production of Consumption as Achievement,” Cultural Politics, 12(2), pp.217-232.
7. Brown, S. P., W. L. Cron, and J. W. Slocum Jr (1998), “Effects of Trait Competitiveness and Perceived Intraorganizational Competition on Salesperson Goal Setting and Performance,” Journal of Marketing, 62(4), pp.88-98.
8. Brown, S. P., and R. A. Peterson(1994), “The Effect of Effort on Sales Performance and Job Satisfaction,” Journal of Marketing, 58(2), pp.70-80.
9. Chan, E., and B. Briers(2019), “It’s the End of The Competition: When Social Comparison is Not Always Motivating for Goal Achievement,” Journal of Consumer Research, 46(2), pp.351-370.
10. Chen, C., J. Liu, and W. Shou(2018), “How Competition in a Game-based Science Learning Environment Influences Students’ Learning Achievement,” International Forum of Educational Technology & Society, 21(2), pp.164-176.
11. Choi, Y. K., S. Yoon, and C.R. Taylor(2015), “How Character Presence in Advergames Affects Brand Attitude and Game Performance: A Cross-Cultural Comparison,” Journal of Consumer Behavior, 14(6), pp.357-365.
12. Deutsch, M. (1949), “A Theory of Co-Operation and Competition,” Human Relations, 2(2), pp.129-152.
13. Epstein, J. A., and J. M. Harackiewicz(1992), “Winning is Not Enough: The Effects of Competition and Achievement Orientation on Intrinsic Interest,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(2), pp.128-138.
14. Festinger, L(1957), A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, Stanford University Press, Palo Alto
15. Garcia, S. M., and A. Tor(2009), “The N-Effect: More Competitors, Less Competition,” Psychological Science, 20(7), pp.871-877.
16. Garcia, S. M., A. Tor, and T. M. Schiff(2013), “The Psychology of Competition: A Social Comparison Perspective,” Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(6), pp.634-650.
17. Giebelhausen, M. D., S. G. Robinson, and J. J. Cronin (2011), “Worth Waiting For: Increasing Satisfaction by Making Consumers Wait,” Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 39(6), pp.889-905.
18. Gierl, H., M. Plantsch, and J. Schweidler(2008), “Scarcity Effects on Salse Volume in Retail,” International Review of Retail: Distribution and Consumer Research, 19(1), pp.45-61.
19. Green, R.(2013), “Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Launches ‘Virtual Line’ to Drive Engagement Via Colenso BBDO NZ,” https://campaignbrief.com/samsungs-galaxy-s4-launches-vi/ (retrieved June 2022)
20. Hayes, A. F(2013), Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach, Guilford Publications, New York.
21. Heyman, J. E., Y. Orhun, and D. Ariely(2004), “Auction Fever: The Effect of Opponents and Quasi-Endowment on Product Valuations,” Journal of Interactive Marketing, 18(4), pp.7-21.
22. Höllig, C. E., A. Tumasjan, and I. M. Welpe(2020), “Individualizing Gamified Systems: The Role of Trait Competitiveness and Leaderboard Design,” Journal of Business Research, 106, pp.288-303.
23. Kartsanis, N. and E. Murzyn(2016), “Me, My Game-Self, and Others: A Qualitative Exploration of The Game-Self,” Proceeding of International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games, pp.29-35.
24. Ko, D., and J. Park, (2020), “I Am You; You Are Me: Game Character Congruence with The Ideal Self,” Internet Research, 31(2), pp.613-634.
25. Kou, Y., X. Gui, and Y. M. Know, (2016), “Ranking Practices and Distinction in League of Legends,” Proceedings of the ACM 2016 Annual Symposium, pp.4-9.
26. Krishnan, B. C., R. G. Netemeyer, and J. S. Boles (2002), “Self-Efficacy, Competitiveness, and Effort as Antecedents of Salesperson Performance,” Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, 22(4), pp.285-295.
27. Ku, G., D. Malhotra, and J. K. Murnighan(2005), “Towards a Competitive Arousal Model of Decision-Making: A Study of Auction Fever in Live and Internet Auctions,” Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 96(2), pp.89-103.
28. Maller, J. B(1929), Cooperation and Competition: An Experimental Study in Motivation, Columbia university, New York.
29. Mead, M(1937), Cooperation and Competition Among Primitive Peoples, Transaction Publishers. New York.
30. Messick, D. M., and W. B. Thorngate(1967), “Relative Gain Maximization in Experimental Games,” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 3(1), pp.85-101.
31. Mowen, J. C.(2004), “Exploring the Trait of Competitiveness and Its Consumer Behavior Consequences,” Journal of Consumer Psychology, 14(1and2), pp.52-63.
32. Nichols (2010), “Exploring and Explaining Consumer Competition: A Mixed-methods Approach to Understanding the Phenomenon,” The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, State of Tennessee.
33. Nicols, B. S.(2012), “The Development, Validation, and Implications of a Measure of Consumer Competitive Arousal (CCAr),” Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(1), pp.192-205.
34. Nichols, B. S., and D. J. Flint(2010), “'That Item is Mine! ‘Consumer Competitiveness and Need for Control: A Study of Internet Auction Bidding,” International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, 3(3), pp.261-292.
35. Nicols, B. S., and D. J. Flint(2013), “Competing While Shopping: How Women Shoppers Create Experiential Value through the Process of Competing, Co-Opeting, and Cooperating at a Bridal Gown Sale,” Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal 16(3), pp.253-275.
36. O’Donnell, K. A., J. Strebel, and G. Mortimer(2016), “The Thrill of Victory: Women and Sport shopping,” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 28, pp.240-251.
37. Park, J., and D. Ko(2022), “Catch Me If You Can: Effects of AR-Enhanced Presence on the Mobile Game Experience,” Internet Research, 32(4), pp.1235-1263.
38. Passy, C(2014), “The Real Reason You’ll Wait in Line for an iPhone. Market Watch,” https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-real-reason-youll-wait-in-line-for-an-iphone-2014-09-17(retrieved June 2022).
39. Peinkofer, S. T., T. L. Esper, and E. Howlett(2016), “Hurry! Sale Ends Soon: The Impact of Limited Inventory Availability Disclosure on Consumer Responses to Online Stockouts,” Journal of Business Logistics, 37(3), pp.231-246.
40. Pillutla, M., and S. Ronson(2005), “Do We Prefer Coworkers Who are Better or Worse Than Us? Evidence From, The ‘Weakest Link’ Game,” Academy of Management Proceedings, 2005(1), pp.1-6.
41. Roberts, G. C., D. C. Treasure, and G. Balague (1998), “Achievement Goals in Sport: The Development and Validation of the Perception of Success Questionnaire,” Journal of Sports Sciences, 16(4), pp.337-347.
42. Schrock, W. A., D. E. Hughes, F. Q. Fu, K. A. Richards, and E. Jones(2016), “Better Together: Trait Competitiveness and Competitive Psychological Climate as Antecedents of Salesperson Organizational Commitment and Sales Performance,” Marketing Letters, 27(2), pp.351-360.
43. Sherry, J., K. Lucas, B. S. Greenberg, and K. Lachlan (2006), “Video Game Uses and Gratifications as Predictors of Use and Game Preference,” in P. Vorderer, and J. Bryant(Eds.), Playing Video Games. Motives, Responses, and Consequences, Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ, pp.213-224.
44. Shi, S.W., M. Xia, and Y. Huang(2016), “From Minnows to Whales: An Empirical Study of Purchase Behavior in Freemium Social Games,” International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 20(2), pp.177-207.
45. Sneath, J., R. Lacey, and P. Kennett-Hensel(2009), “Coping with a Natural Disaster: Losses, Emotions, and Impulsive and Compulsive Buying,” Marketing Letters, 20(1), pp.45-60.
46. Spence, J. T., R. L. Helmreich, and R. S. Pred(1987), “Impatience Versus Achievement Strivings in the Type A Pattern: Differential Effects on Students' Health and Academic Achievement,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 72(4), pp.522-528.
47. Spreng, R. A., and R. D. Mackroy(1996), “An Empirical Examination of a Model of Perceived Service Quality and Satisfaction,” Journal of Retailing 72(2), pp.201-214.
48. Tor, A., and S. M. Garcia(2010), The N-Effect: Beyond probability Judgments,” Psychological Science, 21(5), pp.748-749.
49. Trepte, S. and L. Reinecke(2011), “The Pleasures of Success: Game-Related Efficacy Experiences as A Mediator Between Player Performance and Game Enjoyment,” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(9), pp.555-557.
50. Van den Bos, W., J. Li, T. Lau, E. Maskin, J. D. Cohen, P. R. Montague, and S. M. McClure (2008), “The Value of Victory: Social Origins of the Winner's Curse in Common Value Auctions,” Judgment and Decision Making, 3(7), pp.483-492.
51. Ward, J. C., and R. P. Hill(1991), “Designing Effective Promotional Games: Opportunities and Problems,” Journal of Advertising, 20(3), pp.69-81.
52. Worchel, S., J. Lee, and A. Adewole(1975), “Effects of Supply and Demand on Ratings of Object Value,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32(5), pp.906-914.
53. Zhang, Y., and L. Gao(2016), “Wanting Ever More: Acquisition Procedure Motivates Continued Reward Acquisition,” Journal of Consumer Research, 43(2), pp.230-245.

∙ The author Jihye Park, PhD is a Professor of Marketing in the College of Business at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea. After receiving her PhD from the Ohio State University, she had been on the faculty of Iowa State University. Her current research interests include consumer information processing and memory. Her research has been published in journals such as Psychology and Marketing, Journal of Business Psychology, and Journal of Consumer Behaviour. She received a 2014 best working paper award from Association for Consumer Research.

∙ The author Wenhan Li is a doctoral student in the College of Business at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea. His current research interests include consumer competition and information processing.