FocusPro, a marketing communications and strategy consulting firm, is assisting a client to understand the effects of promotional offers on consumer purchases. They propose the company consider offering three different versions of a coupon that would be mailed to purchasers. The value of the coupon would be manipulated, and the company could track the return of the coupon and how much money was spent by the purchaser. FocusPro recommends that the coupon offers vary between $1 and $5 and suggests three different versions: $1, $3, and $5. The client would select three groups of consumers to receive the coupon offer and a random process would be utilized to determine which coupon offer a consumer would receive. The research will provide important insights about consumer purchasing habits and which coupon offer would lead to the highest level of sales and coupon redemption. This is an example of research.

A) experimental

Explanation:

Experimental research is carried out following the scientific method, where the researcher (FocusPro and the client) manipulate one or more variables (discount coupons) and measure how they affect the behavior or responses from another variable (consumers). This is basically a controlled experiment that tries to find out how consumers react to different discount coupons offered.

cognitive overload: having a lot on your mind impairs decision-making and tends to result in the simplest, but not necessarily best, option being selected.

empathy gaps: overlooking how you might feel in a different situation can result in unnecessary purchases, such as overbuying when shopping for food on an empty stomach.

optimism and overconfidence: wearing rose-tinted glasses and having unrealistic expectations about the future can affect money management and leave you unprepared for a change in circumstance.

instant gratification: seeking instant gratification drives impulsive spending and can undermine long-term planning and savings.

harmful habits: automatic or mindless behaviour can amplify a poor financial decision as it becomes a recurring event.

social norms: we are heavily influenced by the actions of others; while this can be in certain circumstances, it also contributes to the pressure to keep up with the joneses through conspicuous consumption.