Consumer research has traditionally focused on issues of epistemology in the collection and analysis of data. This book challenges the prevailing orthodoxies within consumer research methodology by examining representation and constructions of truth. The contributors adopt a wide variety of theoretical approaches drawing on postmodernism, photography, literary theory, narratology and poetry. Subjects covered include: crisis in representation and the representation of crisis; construction of the researcher and consumer voice; quantitative tools, multimedia and representation; advertising...

As shoppers, what factors influence our decision to purchase an object or service? Why do we chose one product over another? How do we attribute value as part of the shopping experience?
The theme of 'serving' the customer and customer satisfaction is central to every formulation of the marketing concept, yet few books attenpt to define and analyse exactly what it is that consumers want. In this provocative collection of essays, Morris Holbrook brings together a team of the top US and European scholars to discuss an issue of great importance to the study of marketing and consumer...

Marketing is at the centre of the business education boom: a million or more people worldwide are studying the subject at any one time. Yet despite widespread discontent with the intellectual standards in marketing, very little has changed over the past thirty years. In this ground-breaking new work, Chris Hackley presents a social-constructionist critique of popular approaches to teaching, theorising and writing about marketing.

Drawing on a wide range of up-to-date European and North American studies, Dr Hackley presents his argument on two levels. First, he argues that...

This volume offers scholarship on feminist perspectives in marketing. Through many controversial discussions, it highlights and challenges assumptions about women and gender in marketing theory and practice from both historical and current contexts. Key issues and debates include: the dark side of female consumption; women and marketing in Socialist economies; women and advertising; ecofeminism and marketing; and gender, marketing and cultural diversity.

This cutting edge, innovative volume offers the best of current scholarship on feminist perspectives in marketing. Through many exciting and often controversial discussions, it highlights and challenges assumptions about women and gender in marketing theory and practice from both historical and current contexts. Key issues and debates include:

* the dark side of female consumption
* women and marketing in Socialist economies
* women and advertising
* ecofeminism and marketing
* gender, marketing and cultural diversity
* marketing, sex and sexuality.

Written...

This book brings together an international collection of authors from a variety of disciplines who offer new and critical perspectives, summarize key findings and provide important theoretical frameworks to guide the reader through the 'why?' of consumption. The book answers questions such as:

• What is the nature of motives, goals, and desires that prompt consumption behaviours?
• Why do consumers buy and consume particular products, brands and services from the multitude of alternatives afforded by their environments?
• How do consumers think and feel about...

Consumer research has traditionally focused on issues of epistemology in the collection and analysis of data. As a consequence, the crisis in representation which has radically reshaped understanding in the social sciences, has, so far, had very little impact on consumer research. This book redresses the balance with an investigation of representation and constructions of 'truth' in consumer research. Subjects covered include:
* construction of the researcher and consumer voice
* quantitative tools and representation
* advertising narratives
* poetic representation of consumer...