This document outlines the consumer decision making process, which includes problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, decision, and post-decision evaluation. It discusses three types of problem solving variations - extended, routine, and limited problem solving. It also covers internal and external information search, evaluative criteria, decision rules, and factors that influence the decision making process like situational influences and low effort heuristics.

1. CONSUMER DECISION MAKING PROCESS

2. Learning Objectives Understand the three problem solving variations and when consumers use them. Thoroughly understand each stage of the consumer decision making process. Be familiar with low effort decision making tactics. Understand how situational influences affect the decision making process.

3. Problem Solving Variations Extended Problem Solving High perceived risk Typically expensive, infrequently purchased products Routine Problem Solving Low perceived risk Purchases made out of habit or brand loyalty Typically inexpensive, frequently purchased product Limited Problem Solving Moderate perceived risk Consumer has limited time or energy

4. Stages in the Consumer Decision Making Process Problem recognition Information search Alternative evaluation Decision Post decision evaluation

5. Problem Recognition Occurs when the consumer sees a significant difference between his or her actual and ideal state. Where do we get our notion of what is ideal? personal expectations personal aspirations culture reference group marketing

6. Internal Search Recalling information, experiences, and feelings concerning products and brands. How much do we engage in internal search? What kind of information is recalled? 1. Brands *evoked set *brand familiarity and retrieval cues increase chances of being in the evoked set 2. Attributes 3. Evaluations 4. Experiences Is internal search always accurate? Confirmation bias

7. External Search Consumers acquire information from outside sources. Engage in pre-purchase and ongoing search External Sources 1 . Retailer search 2. Media search 3. Interpersonal search 4. Independent search 5. Internet source effects of information overload Is external search always accurate?

8. How Much do We Engage in External Search? Motivation to Process Information Ability to Process Information Opportunity to Process Information

9. Evaluation of Alternatives Identifying Alternatives evoked set and consideration set Identifying Evaluative Criteria information search suggests criteria and identifies brands Evaluative criteria includes those criteria that are important to the consumer when rating product alternatives Firms try to identify evaluative criteria through market research.

10. Decision Consumers select and purchase the product alternative that best meets his or her evaluative criteria. Noncompensatory decision rules Compensatory decision rules

11. Post Decision Evaluation Process where consumer reevaluates the product as he uses it. Product performance is compared with consumer expectations. Satisfied customers Dissatisfied customers Cognitive dissonance

12. Low Effort Decision Making Heuristics Market Beliefs Brand Loyalty Habit Impulse Purchases Variety Seeking

13. Situational Influences Consumer behavior is influenced by the circumstances surrounding the purchase of a product. Social surroundings Physical surroundings Temporal effects Purchase task