Business Research Methods

This article explores the theory of progression in business research methods, focusing on the concept of conspicuous consumption and its impact on consumer behavior. It discusses different themes and findings from various articles, as well as their limitations and future research directions.

Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
Business research method
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
Reference list
Conceptual Kastanakis, M.N. and Balabanis, G., 2014. Explaining variation in
conspicuous luxury consumption: An individual differences'
perspective. Journal of Business Research, 67(10), pp.2147-2154.
Qualitative Correia, A., Kozak, M. and Reis, H., 2016. Conspicuous consumption of
the elite: Social and self-congruity in tourism choices. Journal of Travel
Research, 55(6), pp.738-750.
Quantitative Amatulli, C., De Angelis, M., Korschun, D. and Romani, S., 2018.
Consumers' perceptions of luxury brands’ CSR initiatives: An
investigation of the role of status and conspicuous consumption. Journal of
Cleaner Production, 194, pp.277-287.
Mixed method Kobbernagel, C. and Schrøder, K.C., 2016. From everyday communicative
figurations to rigorous audience news repertoires: A mixed method
approach to cross-media news consumption. MedieKultur: Journal of
media and communication research, 32(60), p.26.

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
Brief summary of the theory of progression
Conspicuous consumption indicates the practice of purchasing service or goods for
publicly displaying the economic power rather than satisfying the basic need of individuals
(Kastanakis and Balabanis 2014). The term conspicuous describes the wasteful and lavish
spending. In this case, people spend money on the products and services those are not necessary.
Analyzing the current purchasing trend, it can be said that conspicuous consumption practice has
become highly popular among the people. The dynamic theory of conspicuous consumption
describes different ways to display the wealth. In case of conspicuous consumption progression
process, the improvement of social standard of people is being highlighted by showing the
behavioral changes through purchasing.
Common themes and findings
Kastanakis and Balabanis (2014), stated in ‘Explaining variation in conspicuous luxury
consumption: An individual differences' perspective’ that theoretical concepts of the profit led
and wage led demand regime can be incorporated in the consumption process. By using the
Bhaduri–Marglin model relative consumption concerns have been analyzed by the author. The
profit share in the workplace can help to drive the changing consumption pattern. Some of the
cases, the uneven distribution of the customers can impact on consumption process. Therefore, it
can be said that economic status of the workers impact on their consumption process.
In the second article ‘Conspicuous consumption of the elite: Social and self-congruity in
tourism choices’, the changing pattern of consumption in daily life has been highlighted, which
is sufficient for driving the travel consumption pattern of the Portuguese people (Correia, Kozak

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
and Reis 2016). Both the economic and psychological factors play influential role for influencing
thee conspicuous consumption.
In the third article ‘Consumers' perceptions of luxury brands’ CSR initiatives: An
investigation of the role of status and conspicuous consumption’, Amatulli et al. (2018) stated
that different CSR initiatives of the large organizations for driving the trend of conspicuous
consumption are important.
In the fourth article ‘From everyday communicative figurations to rigorous audience
news repertoires: A mixed method approach to cross-media news consumption’ Kobbernagel
and Schrøder (2016) stated that the importance of media platforms for driving the news
consumption trends of the customers is important. It is mentioned by the author that after the
improvement of technological status, news consumption trend of the customers has been driven
by digital media.
Different themes
Analyzing the theme of first article, it can be said that it is based on the rate of
profitability and demand as well as inequality, which are important improving the economic
status of the workers. Through this article. The author has tried to shed light on the rate of
profitability for influencing the consumption behavior of the customers (Kastanakis and
Balabanis 2014). The second article has described about the travel consumption pattern of
Portuguese citizens by relating the behavioral changes of them in daily life (Correia, Kozak and
Reis 2016). Through this article the author has tried to describe the importance of both the
economic and psychological factors for driving the consumption behavior of the people. In the
third article, the author has mentioned about the importance of different CSR initiatives for

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
grabbing the attention of the customers. As per the Amatulli et al. (2018), by introducing CSR
initiatives through the digital media, interest of people towards purchasing the branded products
can be increased. The article has been developed by focusing on the CSR activities adopted by
the large organizations for increasing its popularity in the market, so that the consumption
characteristics of the customers can be changed. In case of fourth article, it has been developed
depending on the digital media platforms. As per the author, the digital media is the only
influencer for changing the consumption pattern of the customers (Kobbernagel and Schrøder
2016).
Limitations
Examining the four articles, few limitations have been identified. In the first article, the
author has mentioned about Bhaduri–Marglin model for analyzing the conspicuous consumption
process of the customers. In the entire article the profit and demand have been discussed
(Kastanakis and Balabanis 2014). However, reasons behind inequality in the workplace and its
impact on the consumption process have not been mentioned. The second article directly
discussed about the travel industry in Portugal. In this case, the research has been developed
depending on the information provided by the respondents (Correia, Kozak and Reis 2016). In
case of global perspective, the authenticity of the information is a big concern. The third article,
mentioned about the CSR initiatives, however, there are many other factors, which are equally
important for driving the behavioral characteristics of customers towards conspicuous
consumption (Amatulli et al. 2018). In case of fourth article, it has been developed depending on
the News industry, in that case, it can be said that if the research would have specified a
particular country, it would have been more appropriate to understand (Kobbernagel and
Schrøder 2016).

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
Future research directions
Analyzing the four articles, it can be said that in the first article, the author has discuss
about the profit and demand for driving the consumption behavior of the workers. This article
can help the other organizations for bringing strategic initiatives in the workplace for
maintaining the equality among the workers (Kastanakis and Balabanis 2014). In that case, the
consumption behavior of the workers can be improved. The second article has highlighted
Portugal travel industry. As per the author, the daily life consumption pattern influence the travel
consumption trend (Correia, Kozak and Reis 2016). In that case, using the article, further
development in the Portugal travel industry can be introduced. As the article has described the
daily consumption pattern of the Portuguese citizens in detail, in that case, it will help further
consumption opportunities in this country. The third article described about CSR initiatives and
its impact on bringing the behavioral changes of people (Amatulli et al. 2018). Hence, through
this article, the behavioral characteristics as influential factors can be analyzed, which can help to
introduce different marketing strategies for grabbing large numbers of customer attention. In the
fourth article, different digital platforms and its impact on brining the development in news
industry have been discussed (Kobbernagel and Schrøder 2016). Therefore, it can be assumed
that the information, which have been gained from the article can help the media organizations to
improve its services.

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
Reference list
Amatulli, C., De Angelis, M., Korschun, D. and Romani, S., 2018. Consumers' perceptions of
luxury brands’ CSR initiatives: An investigation of the role of status and conspicuous
consumption. Journal of Cleaner Production, 194, pp.277-287.
Correia, A., Kozak, M. and Reis, H., 2016. Conspicuous consumption of the elite: Social and
self-congruity in tourism choices. Journal of Travel Research, 55(6), pp.738-750.
Kastanakis, M.N. and Balabanis, G., 2014. Explaining variation in conspicuous luxury
consumption: An individual differences' perspective. Journal of Business Research, 67(10),
pp.2147-2154.
Kobbernagel, C. and Schrøder, K.C., 2016. From everyday communicative figurations to
rigorous audience news repertoires: A mixed method approach to cross-media news
consumption. MedieKultur: Journal of media and communication research, 32(60), p.26.