Science News Daily http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/ en-us Science News Daily provides daily coverage of the most popular science and technology news Payday proximity changes consumer motives and behavior As any nine-to-fiver will testify, a new paycheck brings with it a familiar sense of freedom, albeit one that dwindles in lockstep with the balance in one's checking account. But, it's not the ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster60568422/ Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:45:56 EST 60568422 Did ancient coffee houses lay the groundwork for modern consumerism? If you think that your favorite coffee shop is a great gathering place for discussion, you should have been around in the Ottoman Empire starting in the 1550s. A new study in the Journal of ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster59955124/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:16:26 EST 59955124 Who buys what? Research finds clues to marketing innovation Introducing innovative new products and ideas to the marketplace can be a tricky proposition. Sometimes they take off immediately (like the iPod) and sometimes they can take a while to garner ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster56635664/ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:16:00 EST 56635664 The art of persuasion: Are consumers interested in abstract or concrete features? What types of messages are most persuasive? For example, would you be more likely to buy a TiVo if an ad described it as offering you freedom or if it explained how you could replay sports events? ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster14115726/ Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:15:52 EST 14115726 Head-scratching ad claims can alienate consumers, study finds A new University of Illinois study has bad news for advertisers who hope a sprinkling of glossy-but-obscure product claims will woo buyers. http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster40921908/ Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:16:10 EST 40921908 Shifts in consumer spending and saving will usher in a new economic era (PhysOrg.com) -- Consumer spending will lag rather than lead the recovery from the current recession, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster17109410/ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:15:59 EST 17109410 The complicated consumer: Positive ads aren't always the most effective Ads that feature positive emotions, like happiness, are not always the best way to reach consumers, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster6923974/ Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:46:47 EST 6923974 Toxic chemicals found in a third of children's toys: study A third of the most popular children's toys in the United States this year contain harmful chemicals including lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, a US consumer group said Wednesday. http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster26902434/ Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:45:57 EST 26902434 Arthritis simulation gloves aid companies in designing easy-to-use products As the U.S. population ages, manufacturers of consumer goods are realizing that many customers may not be as nimble-fingered or sharp-sighted as they once were. To help product designers and ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster34608764/ Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:45:51 EST 34608764 Consumers and their rights: A new study from Australia Consumers tend to be cynical about the motivations of credit card companies, yet they lack the time or motivation to engage in political action to protect their rights, according to a new study ... http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/social-sciences-news/cluster47346112/ Tue, 18 May 2010 16:15:46 EST 47346112