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Energy labels have been introduced in many countries to increase consumers' attention to energy use in purchase decisions of durables. In a stated-choice experiment among about 5,000 German households, we implement randomized information treatments to explore how energy labels influence purchasing decisions. Our results show that adding annual operating cost information to the EU energy label promotes the choice of energy-efficient durables. In addition, we find that a majority of participants value efficiency classes beyond the economic value of the underlying energy use differences. Our results further indicate that displaying operating cost affects choices through two distinct channels: It increases the attention to operating cost and reduces the valuation of efficiency class differences. Keywords: Environmental certification, Attention allocation, Decision heuristics, Energy-using durables, 1. INTRODUCTION Research from behavioral economics has demonstrated that consumers are attentive to salient attributes of products, while neglecting those that are opaque, such as sales taxes (Chetty et al., [...]

This experiment investigated three levels of threat in cigarette warning labels: no warning/text warning only/text + graphic warning. Teenagers in Canada and the US were exposed to one of these [...]

The studies reported here examined differences in user behaviour when presented with a low-fidelity paper prototype compared to fully operational product, and evaluated the effectiveness of different types of enhanced labelling of controls. In the first study with a paper prototype, 30 users of high-pressure washers were asked to choose the settings of the temperature control for different cleaning objects, comparing standard with information-enriched control labelling. In the second study, 34 users operated a real high-pressure washer with different forms of control labelling. The results of both studies provided evidence for some benefits of an information-enriched control labelling over traditional temperature-centred controls labelling. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the data of the two studies suggested that low-fidelity paper prototypes may have to be used with caution. Therefore, designers need to be aware that the behavioural effects induced by different design modifications may be overestimated when using paper prototypes. The implications of the findings are discussed within the framework of an enlarged concept of fidelity. Keywords: Paper prototype; Simulation fidelity; Consumer product

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2006.08.002 Byline: Dara Bergen, Ming-Chin Yeh Abstract: This study examined the effects of an environmental intervention promoting more non-energy-containing beverage consumption compared to sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption through vending machines in an urban college setting. Eight soft drink vending machines were randomly selected and assigned to one of three conditions over a 9-week period: energy-content labels on non-energy-containing beverage selection panels (intervention I), labels plus motivational posters (intervention II), or control. The totals of all beverages sold and machine revenue were recorded at baseline (2 weeks), intervention (5 weeks), and postintervention (2 weeks) periods. Use of energy-content labels and motivational posters, compared with control group, resulted in a significantly lower growth rate of sugar-sweetened beverage sales (P<0.05). Total revenue for all beverages increased during the intervention period. It is estimated that the non-energy-containing beverages combined accounted for 70.52% of the increased revenue. Results of this study suggest that energy-content labels and motivational posters on beverage vending machines may be an effective way to influence beverage sales.

A mixed logit model is used to quantify the effect of a certified environmental label on consumers' brand choices of toilet paper, paper towels and detergents, using a large Danish consumer panel with detailed information on actual purchases from the beginning of 1997 to January 2001. It was found that Nordic Swan label had a significant effect on consumers brand choices.

Byline: Paula Fitzgerald Bone (1), Karen Russo France (2) Keywords: Packaging; labeling; consumer beliefs Abstract: In recent years, marketers' tactics to increase product sales through health claims have been scrutinized by public policy makers. The culmination of this process was the passage of the National Labeling Education Act, which highly restricts the type, amount, and format of nutritional information conveyed on the package. In this investigation, we examine an under-explored aspect of the package--its colors and pictures--to determine what, if any, impact these aspects have on consumer beliefs regarding important product characteristics. We find that even when very concrete verbal information is used, graphical representations have a significant and long-term effect on product beliefs and purchase intentions. Author Affiliation: (1) Marketing Department, College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6025, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6025 (2) West Virginia University, USA Article History: Registration Date: 06/10/2004

The authors outlined a meta-theoretical and an analytic framework for construing the predictive effects of health-behavior expectancies, or beliefs, in terms of both general and specific processes. This framework was applied empirically to the investigation of the predictive effects of outcome expectancies related to the recently mandated alcohol-warning label as well as to expectancies reflecting social influence processes. Results showed that general and specific predictive effects of expectancies on alcohol-use behaviors operated simultaneously, demonstrating the potential value of the framework. The authors summarized implications for continued theoretical development as well as for applications in prevention of alcohol abuse through warning-label and social influence interventions. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

A psychology professor writing in The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice takes on several studies that have been used over the years to argue that diagnostic labels are unproductive [...]