Fishbein model

Fishbein model
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Fishbein model of consumer behaviour (also called theory of planned behavior or theory of reasoned action) attempts to explain the rationality of choice of the product by the consumer by using measure of his overall attitude towards object. This model helps to understand consumer decision making process and suggest different ways to influence it.

Description of Fishbein Ajzen model variables

Fishbein model distinguishes three basic variables:

• customer attitude towards particular object ($$A_o$$),
• beliefs that this object has certain attributes (benefits, values, features), it is result of prior knowledge, advertising, etc ($$B_i$$).
• subjective evaluation of this attributes and positive outcomes, benefits from acquiring this object ($$E_i$$).

Symbolically, above variables can be presented in following formula$A_o = \sum_{i=1}^{n} B_i E_i$

Attitude of the customer leads to particular behavioural intentions towards object (products, people, companies, and other things about which people hold their beliefs and attitudes). This behavioural intentions usually proceeds particular action (most important for marketers is off course action of buying product from particular company).

Extended Fishbein Ajzen attitude model=

Fig. 1. Extended Fishbein Ajzen model of consumer behaviour

This version of model is often called: Theory of Reasoned Action and includes following variables:

• overt behaviour (act of actual purchase) towards object (product, service, company),
• behavioural intentions resulting from attitudes and beliefs $$B_i$$,
• attitude about particular behaviour $$A_b = b_i e_i$$, where $$b_i$$ - beliefs about consequences of this particular behaviour, and evaluation of this consequences $$e_i$$.
• subjective norms professed by customer $$SN = NB_j MC_j$$, where $$NB_j$$ are normative beliefs, stemming from social learning, family, etc. (what other thinks about behaviour, object) and $$MC_j$$ represens customer motivation to comply to this social norms and pressures.
• subjective weights assigned by customer to above mentioned components of the model ($$w_1, w_2$$)

Symbolicaly, extended Fishbein Ajzen model can be presented as on fig. 1. and using following formula$B \approx B_i = w_1 A_b + w_2 SN$

Building attitudes in Fishbein and Ajzen model

There are several methods of building attitudes toward specific objects (products, companies):

• conditioning,
• learning,
• marketing,
• public relations,
• social pressure,
• etc.

References

Author: Krzysztof Wozniak