Cited by 4,375Consumer Behavior and Marketing InfluenceConsumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and IdentificationConsumer Market Behavior and Pricing

Dimensions of Consumer Expertise

Alba, Joseph W., Hutchinson, J. Wesley·1987·Journal of Consumer Research

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review basic empirical results from the psychological literature in a way that provides a useful foundation for research on consumer knowledge. A conceptual organization for this diverse literature is provided by two fundamental distinctions. First, consumer expertise is distinguished from product-related experience. Second, five distinct aspects, or dimensions, of expertise are identified: cognitive effort, cognitive structure, analysis, elaboration, and memory. Improvements in the first two dimensions are shown to have general beneficial effects on the latter three. Analysis, elaboration, and memory are shown to have more specific interrelationships. The empirical findings related to each dimension are reviewed and, on the basis of those findings, specific research hypotheses about the effects of expertise on consumer behavior are suggested.

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Crossref · 10.1086/209080

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Authors
Alba, J. W., & Hutchinson, J. W.
Venue
Journal of Consumer Research
Published
1987-03
Volume
13
Issue
4
Pages
411
ISSN
  • 0093-5301 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5277
OpenAlex
W2108860923
Cited by
4,375
References
363
Citations by year
2026: 160 · 2025: 130 · 2024: 136 · 2023: 160 · 2022: 153 · 2021: 177 · 2020: 176 · 2019: 195 · 2018: 184 · 2017: 210 · 2016: 199 · 2015: 195 · 2014: 211 · 2013: 181 · 2012: 200
FWCI
57.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Consumer Research (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Behavior and Marketing Influence
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Market Behavior and Pricing
Keywords
consumer expertise, consumer knowledge, cognitive effort, cognitive structure, analysis, elaboration, memory, consumer behavior, research hypotheses

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