Discussion / Exam topics for MKTG321
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Chapter 1
- What are the 5 steps in a typical decision process that we discussed in class?
 - What does STP stand for and why is it important?
 - Define what “relationship marketing” means.
 - What is the difference between a “need” and a “want”?
 
Chapter 2
- Do successful business need to be “ethical” businesses?
 - Why are there so many laws regulating business behavior in the USA?
 - Define “social marketing”.
 - Why are “identity theft” and “data privacy” important ethical issues?
 
Chapter 3
- Why do we focus on “perception” more than “reality” in Marketing?
 - We use our senses to perceive the world around us. What are the major components of sensation and why are they important?
 - How can touch and smell be used to influence a consumer/decision maker?
 - What are the stages of “perception”?
 - What does “JND” stand for and why is it important?
 - What is “semiotics” and how is it used on “positioning” of your product/service?
 
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Chapter 4
- What is the difference between “behavioral” and “cognitive” learning theories?
 - What is the difference between “classical conditioning” and “instrumental conditional” learning theories?
 - How does repetition influence learning?
 - What is consumer socialization?
 - Describe the theories of “forgetting”.
 
Chapter 5
- What is the difference between “hedonic” and “utilitarian” motivation theories?
 - What is meant by the “need for affiliation”, “need for power” and “need for uniqueness”?
 - Describe “positive” affect and “negative” affect.
 - Describe “consumer involvement”. Why is this theory useful?
 - What are the 5-types of “perceived risk”?
 
Chapter 6
- What is meant by the “self –concept”?
 - How does the concept of “self-esteem” interact with “social comparison”?
 - What is the “self/product congruence”?
 - Describe some aspects of the “extended self”?
 - What are the traditional identity roles of gender? How are these changing?
 - What is the “ideals of beauty stereotype”?
 - How does culture (or cultural rejection) influence body decoration of modification?
 
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Chapter 7
- What areFreud’s 3-part personality components? Describe each part.
 - Adler suggests motivation is to “overcome inferiority” while Sullivan suggests motivation is to “reduce anxiety”. Describe how these 2 theories fit together.
 - What is “trait theory” and why might it be useful to marketers?
 - What is “brand personality” and how can marketers use it?
 - What are the benefits of “Product Complementarity and 
Co-Branding” Strategies? - What is VALS and how can it be used to market products and services?
 
Chapter 8
- What is an “attitude” and what is an “attitude object”?
 - Describe the 4 parts of the “functional theory of attitudes”.
 - How do high-involvement and low-involvement decisions differ in how they change attitudes?
 - The book suggests we form attitudes in 3 ways: internalization, identification and compliance. Describe each.
 - What is the “consistency principle” and how can it be used to explain changing attitudes?
 - Fishbein’s extended theory of extended action focuses on purchase intentions, social pressure and attitude toward buying. How is this theory different than focusing on the product in the decision process?
 - Building a persuasive message is critical. Detail the dangers suggested in the two-factor theory of message repetition.
 - Describe several key message appeals. How do the motivation theories presented earlier in this chapter fit with these message types.
 
Chapter 9
- Describe the 3-types of decision types.
 - Describe the 5-step decision model detailed in figure 9.2 and explain how we can use this to better understand consumers.
 - What is the difference between an “evoked” set and a “consideration” set?
 - What is meant by “compensatory” decision rule? What is meant by “non compensatory” decision making?
 - Describe some of the decision simplification “rules-of-thumb” strategies consumers often use to reduce their effort regarding making decisions.
 - What are some major differences between B2C and B2B decision processes?
 
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Chapter 10
- Describe at least 3 “antecedent states” and describe how they influence the purchase environment.
 - What are some easily manipulated elements of the “shopping experience” and how do they influence the consumer?
 - What is the key element in “customer satisfaction”?
 - How does TQM work in the shopping experience?
 - There are several reasons for shopping beyond mere need. What is meant by “Social experiences”, “Sharing of common interests”, “Interpersonal attraction”, “Instant status” and “The thrill of the hunt”?
 - What is meant by “Retailing as Theater”?
 - What does “Expectancy disconfirmation model“ mean?
 
Chapter 11
- How can other people influence our decisions?
 - What are 3 sources of “social power”?
 - What is the difference between “membership”. “inspirational”, “avoidance” and “antibrand” membership?
 - List and describe 3 reasons we conform to group pressure.
 - What is meant by “consumer tribes”?
 - Why is “word-of-mouth” information so influential?
 - List and describe 3 reasons we conform to opinion leaders.
 - Describe several “digital” word-of-mouth techniques.
 
- What is “discretionary” income?
 - What are the 3 factors effecting a consumer’s “savings rate”?
 - What is “Plutonomy” and what problems can it cause?
 - Describe the possible directions in “social mobility”.
 - Describe what determines “social class”.
 - What does “social stratification” mean?
 - What does “taste culture” mean?
 
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Chapter 13
- What is “acculturation” and why is it is important to understand?
 - Describe the “progressive learning model” of acculturation.
 - What is “de-ethnicization“ and how does Marketing play a role?
 - Describe how one’s subculture influences purchase behavior(s).
 - Describe the “family life cycle”.
 
- What is the definition of “culture”? What is meant by “shared”?
 - Describe the 3 functional areas of “culture”.
 - What is meant by “high culture” and “low culture”? How can cultural artifacts move from one to the other?
 - Define “myth” in terms useful for a marketer.
 - A myth has several functions. Two useful for a marketer to understand are “sociological” and “psychological”. Describe each.
 - What is the difference between a “myth” and a “ritual”?
 - Define the process of “Sacralization” and “Desacralization”.
 - Describe the “diffusion of innovation”. What marketing tactics can be used to change the rate of diffusion?
 - What are the 5 elements that can influence the rate and level of adoption?
 
