title: Valuation, categories and attributes.
abstract: Existing research on categories has only examined indirectly the value associated with being a member of a category relative to the value of the set of attributes that determine membership in that category. This study uses survey data to analyze consumers' preferences for the "organic" label versus for the attributes underlying that label. We found that consumers generally preferred products with the category label to those with the attributes required for the organic label but without the label. We also found that the value accorded to the organic label increased with the number of attributes that an individual associated with the category. Category membership nevertheless still had greater value than even that of the sum of the attributes associated with it.
authors.affiliation: Independent scholar, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galperin
authors.affiliation: School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sorenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058871:Organic Agriculture; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Am Psychol. 1989 Dec;44(12):1469-81
references.pmid: 2690699
references.citation: Psychol Rev. 1985 Jul;92(3):289-316
references.pmid: 4023146