A meta-analysis of humor in advertising

This meta-analysis combines 369 correlations on the effects of humor in advertising and thus quantifies, updates, and expands previous literature reviews on the effects of humor in advertising. In line with previous reviews, the meta-analytic correlations demonstrate that humor in advertising significantly enhances A_AD, attention, and positive affect. Contrary to the assumptions of previous reviews, there is no evidence that humor impacts positive or negative cognitions, and liking of the advertiser. The meta-analytic findings clarify some ambiguous prior conclusions: humor significantly reduces source credibility, enhances positive affect, A_BR and purchase intention. The decline from lower order to higher order communication effects is particularly strong, with the effect size of the impact of humor on A_AD being twice as large as the effect size for A_BR. This impact of humor in advertising has been rather stable over the past decades. A moderator analysis reveals, however, that the findings of academic humor research are somewhat biased. As for the underlying theory, the positive and linear relationship between the funniness of the ad and brand attitudes supports an affective mechanism underlying the impact of humor in advertising.     

广告形象性别研究述评

广告形象的性别研究主要从两个方面来进行：一方面是对广告形象性别进行内容分析和描述性阐释。另一方面是研究广告形象的性别因素对受众的影响。在当前广告信息爆炸的背景下。从受众的意识性和无意识性两个角度研究广告形象性别的影响效果成为新的课题。     

Market valuation models of the effect of advertising and promotional spending: A review and meta-analysis

A narrative review is presented, within the organizing framework of a meta-analysis, of econometric models reported in the business literature that estimate the effect of advertising and promotional spending on the market value of the firm. Results from published market valuation models are aggregated, and various model specifications are appraised. In brief the meta-analysis finds support for a positive relationship between levels of advertising and promotional spending and the market value of the firm. That is, marketing activities (represented here by observed advertising and promotions spending) are generally expected to deliver future cashflows and produce increases in shareholder wealth. The review seeks to enhance understanding among the community of marketing scholars of the properties of market valuation models published in the literature and serves as a springboard for ongoing investigation of a crucial question for marketing theory and practice. Margy P. Conchar (concharm@mail.ecu.edu) (Ph.D., University of Georgia) is an assistant professor at East Carolina University. Her research focuses on consumer behavior and advertising. Her work in consumer behavior concentrates on risk, motives, and optimal consumption experience. Her research in advertising focuses on the interface between advertising and finance, accounting, or economics. She has previously published in the proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science, the Association for Consumer Research, the American Marketing Association of Educators, and the Society for Marketing Advances. Melvin R. Crask (mcrask@terry.uga.edu) (DBA, University of Indiana) is an associate professor of marketing at the University of Georgia (UGA). He is currently serving as director of the MBA program at UGA. His teaching interests are in the areas of marketing research and marketing strategy. He has published more than three dozen articles and papers dealing with marketing research methods and with strategic issues in marketing. He is also the coauthor of two books, one on marketing strategy and one on marketing research. George M. Zinkhan (gzinkhan@terry.uga.edu) (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is the Coca-Cola Company Chair of Marketing at the University of Georgia. His major research interests include advertising, communication, and e-commerce.     

Humor in advertising: A behavioral perspective

Humorous appeals are used extensively in television, radio, and print advertising. This article examines the effectiveness of humor in accomplishing specific communications and sales objectives. A brief review of the literature on humorous advertising research is presented. The author argues that previous unsuccessful applications of light-hearted messages are attributable, in part, to our incomplete knowledge of how consumers process humorously conveyed information. The discussion focuses on the importance of recognizing and managing variables which mediate the impact of humor on audience response and on the need for further development and testing of behavioral theory as keys to the effective utilization of humor in advertising. The author wishes to thank Dr. Phillip D. White for his helpful comments and critical review of an earlier draft of this paper.     

A longitudinal view of women's role portrayal in television advertising

This article concerns an issue of interest to both advertisers and consumers: female sex-role portrayal in television advertisements. A comparative study using content analysis was conducted for television commercials observed in 1977 and in 1980, respectively. Significant changes between these years are noted on a number of dimensions relevant to the way women are represented in television commercials. These changes are also interpreted in a broader historical perspective whenever possible. Both positive and negative changes are noted and discussed.     

试论广告人格化

广告人格既涵容广告人的人格 ,也涵容广告活动的人格化特征 ,前者是广告个体特征 ,后者为广告群体人格特征 ,二者的统一与互补是为广告人格。广告人格是制约广告活动、广告行为和广告作品的一个具有决定性意义的重要变量。广告人格是在众多广告活动中产生和形成的 ,借助广告行为和广告作品体现出来的。广告人格具有鲜明的社会性和时代性 ,社会主义广告道德构成我国广告人格的重要内核 ,对培养和树立广告理想人格具有重要意义。     

Consumer information cues in television advertising: A cross country analysis

This paper compares the number of consumer information cues found in television advertisements in three countries: Australia, Ecuador, and the United States. Earlier studies conducted by Resnick and Stern in the United States and Dowling in Australia were replicated in Ecuador. Content analysis of 108 Ecuadorian television advertisements evaluated the number and types of information cues in each commercial. Results indicate that a much greater proportion of Ecuadorian television commercials contain consumer information cues than those broadcast in the other two countries. The explanation suggested for this observation is that Ecuador, due to its level of economic development, has many more products in the introductory stages of the product life cycle. This situation, in turn, requires more extensive communication of consumer information to market the products effectively. This finding implies an additional dimension, information content level, which must be considered when adapting international campaigns to conditions in developing countries.     

An analysis of need-appeals in television advertising

No empirical data is available that analyzes the need-appeals currently being used by advertisers. To fill this void, an extensive study is presented which analyzed the need-appeals in every television advertisement for nine product categories over a three month period. Need-appeals were classified acording to both Murray's and Maslow's lists of needs. The authors wish to acknowledge the extensive research efforts of the following graduate students: Charles Foster, Julia Humphries, Susan Jenkins, Leslie Levitan, Judson Loupot, Jr., Larry O'Neal, Lisa Penaloza, Stanley Schoeppey, Robin Schriefer, Physllis Vincent, and Rae Wilkinson. Avertisers “have concentrated far too much attention on the product and far too little on the need the product satisfies.”-George Gallup This list of twenty needs in what Murray calls the “manifest” needs. In all, Murray originally cited thirty-seven needs. However, these twenty were the only ones that Murray empirically defined. Therefore, only these twenty are usually included in “Murray's List of Needs.”     

A circumplex model for the behavioral constructs towards television advertising

The purpose of this study was to test the proposed model in order to explain some ambiguity in the advertising process. The model was formulated by focusing attention on relevant socio-psychological parameters motivating television viewers regarding television commercials. The fundamental structure of this model stemmed from a theory advanced by Louis Guttman. Utilizing this theory, an attempt was made to demonstrate empirically the advertising process from the consumer-viewer side.     

Multiple sources in advertising appeals: When product endorsers are paid by the advertising sponsor

Previous research has shown that respondents who are exposed to multiple sources featured in an advertising appeal engage in more diligent processing of the message arguments than those who are exposed to a single message source presenting the same basic appeal. Other research has demonstrated that the persuasive advantage of an appeal can be significantly diminished when respondents perceive that the message source is motivated by the compensation received to endorse a product. Using a 2 (Single vs. Multiple Sources)×2 (Paid vs. Unpaid Source) between-subjects factorial design, subjects were shown a print advertisement for a new multivitamin food supplement. Results showed that subjects exposed to unpaid multiple sources generated significantly more positive thoughts and attitudes than those exposed to a similar number of sources who were paid to endorse the product. In contrast, subjects in the single-source conditions showed no significant differences in the number of thoughts and the strength of attitudes in response to paid versus unpaid message sources. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed. He holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University in marketing and international business. His research in the field of advertising and persuasion focuses on attitude theory, social cognition, and emotion. His published work has appeared in theJournal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Global Marketing, andAdvances in Consumer Research. His research and writing interests are in the area of managerial and consumer decision making. He is the author of the trade bookJudgment Calls: High Stakes Decisions in a Risky World (1993) and the textbookConsumer Behavior (1993). He is the author or co-author of more than 60 refereed articles on managerial and consumer decision making in such publications as theJournal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, Decision Sciences, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, andJournal of Personal Selling and Sales Management. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. His research in the field of attitude and persuasion, the self-concept and social memory has appeared in a number of journals including theJournal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Social Cognition, Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, andAdvances in Consumer Research.     

A meta-analysis of satisfaction with complaint handling in services

Academics as well as managers have long been interested in the role of satisfaction with complaint handling (SATCOM) in shaping customers’ attitudes and repurchasing decisions. This interest has generated a widespread belief that SATCOM is driven by the perception that the complaint handling process is just. To test how SATCOM is modulated by distributive, interactional, or procedural justice, we performed a meta-analysis of 60 independent studies of the antecedents and consequences of SATCOM. Results indicate that SATCOM is affected most by distributive justice, then by interactional justice, and only weakly by procedural justice. We also find that SATCOM mediates the effects of justice dimensions on word-of-mouth. However, contrary to common belief, SATCOM does not mediate the effects of justice dimensions on overall satisfaction and return intent. We draw on our results to suggest several avenues for further research.     

A content analysis of CPA advertising in national print media from 1979 to 1984

Certified Public Accountants were not allowed to advertise from 1922 to 1977. Even though the AICPA Code was changed in 1978, there has been continued discussion and disagreement among practitioners about whether accountants should advertise. A content analysis of 38 publications (over a six year period) from industry/trade, accounting, and general business was performed in order to determine where advertisments appeared, timing, frequency and to whom CPAs were advertising as well as the message content, components, and objectives of the advertisements. Of 812 advertisements, 71% were from Big Eight firms. The advertisements promoting services not requiring CPA certification and were found mostly in industry/trade publications. The number of advertisements increased through the years except for 1982. Advertising by CPA firms still appears to be conservative in numbers; however, the trend indicates that such advertising will increase in the future.     

Exploring deception and puffery in television advertising

Public policy decisions dealing with deceptive advertising have relied extensively on case-by-case adjudication with the Federal Trade Commission. Unfortunately, behavioral evidence has not been considered in the vast majority of these cases. The final determination rests with the Commission’s own expertise in judging an advertisement’s “capacity to deceive.” Consumer response data are not required, although recent developments suggest the FTC is seriously considering the inclusion of meaningful behavioral evidence in policymaking and adjudicative proceedings. This study is one of a series dealing with dimensions of perceived deception across different respondent populations (including students, lawyers, housewives, children, and minority groups). The focus here is on the semantics of deception, i.e., the way in which subjects evaluate selected television commercials which were unofficially rated for deception by FTC staff attorneys. The factor analytic paradigm provides one approach for generating summaries of viewer’s evaluative (affective) responses, and thereby providing some normative or benchmark data of potential value in the regulatory process.     

论现代英语广告的语体风格

本文引用大量实例，通过英语修辞现象，对现代英语广告的语言特点和语体风格进行了研究，并对广告英语这一功能语体的形成、存在和语体特征进行了分析。     

Marketing research for public health: A demonstration of differential responses to advertising

This study illustrates the use of marketing research techniques outside of the traditional limits of marketing. It examines awarencess of two distinct promotional themes promoting venereal disease prevention. The study is done with a relatively homogeneous sample and shows the need for a segmentation strategy in promoting this critical public health issue. Both attitudes and media behavior of respondents are examined and it is shown that the different promotional appeals are recalled by persons with different sets of values and different media habits. This study was supported by grants from the Graduate School, University of Missouri-St. Louis and the School of Business, University of Missouri-St. Louis.     

Cross-cultural research in advertising: An assessment of methodologies

The volume of scholarly work in cross-cultural advertising has been increasing in recent years. This study examines empirical studies in this area from a methodological perspective. Cross-cultural research designs should include many critical facets that do not surface in studies involving single cultures. These facets are discussed within the context of cross-cultural advertising literature. It is apparent from this review that a sharper focus on cross-cultural research tools and considerations can strengthen studies of advertising, lead to more robust results, and increase validity and reliability. Both students and practitioners need meaningful and generalizable findings that will emerge only when strict methodological considerations are adhered to. His articles have appeared in theJournal of Marketing, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, and others. His areas of interest include global new product development, entrepreneurship, and exporting.     

论中国元素在商业广告中的应用

随着中国的崛起和全球地位的提升,世界经济离不开持续增长的中国经济,世界文明也离不开中国文化。在广告全球化的浪潮下,品牌如何更好地在中国市场发展,中国品牌如何更好地立足世界,广告如何更好地与消费者进行沟通并产生共鸣,孕育中国传统文化精神的中国元素成为广告公司和广告人在商业广告运用中不竭源泉。     

探求广告管理的新途径

面对入世后的新形势。我国现行广告管理模式已经越来越不相适应并暴露出明显的缺陷和弊端。作为广告监管部门的工商行政管理机关，一方面要帮助广告企业尽快掌握WTO游戏规则，改善广告经营，不断增强实力和竞争力，另一方面要努力研究和探索适应入世规则的广告监管模式和方法。努力寻找既符合我国国情，又适应WTO国际通行规则的监管方式，为广告业的发展提供既有章法，又有自由；既有合作，又有竞争的良好外部环境。     

Cyclical variations of advertising and personal selling

This paper examines the cyclical behavior of advertising and personal selling, the two major promotional tools, during the period 1958–1976. The study concludes that while advertising expenditures have fluctuated with business cycles (up following increases in corporate income, sometimes up and sometimes down following decreases in corporate income), personal selling effort has shown a steady increase over time, regardless of cyclical moves. The paper also examines economic theory and managerial concerns in order to explain the behavior observed.     

Perception of marital roles in purchase decision processes: A cross-cultural study

Following the approach of the classic 1974 marital-role influence study of Davis and Rigaux, the present study focuses on differences in decision making (i.e., joint, husband dominated, wife dominated) across 24 product categories as a function of two key factors. These factors are stage of the decision process (i.e., problem recognition, information search, and the final decision) and culture (People’s Republic of China and the United States). The Jacobson Marital-Role Egalitarianism Scale is included to further assess individual differences in husband and wife traditionality-modernism. The major findings are that emphasis on joint, husband-dominated, and wife-dominated decisions vary by stage and by stage-culture interaction. Practical implications are presented with suggestions for future research. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1985 with a Ph.D. in marketing. His research interests include global strategic market planning and cross-cultural research issues and methodologies. He has published in such journals asJournal of Advertising Research, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Columbia Journal of World Business, International Marketing Review, Journal of Business Strategy, andJournal of Consumer Marketing. He graduated with honors in 1986 from the University of Mississippi with a Ph.D. in marketing. His research interests include cross-cultural consumer behavior and emotional responses to advertising stimuli. He has published in such journals asJournal of Advertising, Journal of Advertising Research, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, Psychology and Marketing, Journal of Health Care Marketing, andInternational Marketing Review. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1986 with a Ph.D. in marketing. His research interests focus on cross-cultural consumer behavior. He has published in such journals asJournal of Advertising, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Health Care Marketing, Psychology and Marketing, and theInternational Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management.