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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

An experimental investigation of recognition as a measure of price awareness

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Consumer awareness of prices was investigated through the use of recognition and recall tests. The objective of this research was to determine more precisely whether buyers are aware of prices they pay for grocery items. Using theories of information processing and memory led to the thesis that a recognition memory test would be more appropriate for measuring price awareness. The research method used was a combination questionnaire/ interview. Shoppers were followed and the prices of three products picked up for purchase were recorded. The subject was then approached and given either a recall or recognition test to determine whether they were aware of the prices for the products. The responses to the tests were timed and several questions concerning confidence in the answers given and frequency of product purchase were also asked. The conclusions from this research tend to support the use of recognition as an appropriate measure for tapping memory and determining consumer price awareness. That is, more buyers could correctly recognize prices than could recall prices.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S.
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Business Administration
Department dc:contributor.department
Business Administration
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1985

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Powell, Christine Pacelli

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/106047
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/106047

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Powell, Christine Pacelli. An experimental investigation of recognition as a measure of price awareness. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/106047