This dissertation addresses the issues pertaining to composite products (CPs). CPs are defined as products formed by combining knowledge from two distinct domains, for example, digital cameras, which combine knowledge from digital products and cameras. The three research questions addressed in the dissertation are: (1) how is knowledge combined from two distinct domains of a CP, (2) how are CPs categorized vis-a-vis their two components, and (3) what brands, among those associated with one of the two domains, are preferred in CPs? The thesis here is that CPs can be construed as conceptual combinations---that is, a combination of two concepts, wherein one concept (the "modifier") modifies the knowledge associated with the other (the "header"). Employing the literature in psycholinguistics, two combinatorial processes---namely, property mapping and relation linking---were identified for combining knowledge in CPs. These processes lead to modifications in knowledge associated with the header of a CP (e.g., knowledge about cameras is modified in digital cameras). The extent of these modifications is measured by the proposed construct of modification centrality. As per this construct, modifications in features critical to the function of a header (i.e., central modifications) are perceived as more significant than those in non-critical features (i.e., non-central modifications). / Three experimental studies investigated the above research questions. These studies used 16 novel CPs that were created by combining two dissimilar concepts. Study 1 showed that subjects readily combined knowledge from two dissimilar domains, using property mapping or relation linking. In addition, the representation of these CPs varied along their modification centrality, even though the dissimilarity between the two combining domains was held constant. Study 2 showed that the categorization of CPs was contingent upon their similarity to the modifier and header categories. Study 3 showed that both modification centrality and the combinatorial process influenced the categorization and brand preferences in CPs. While CPs with non-central modifications (e.g., disposable cameras) were categorized as headers (i.e., cameras), and header-associated brands were preferred, those with central modifications (e.g., digital cameras) were categorized as both (i.e., digital product and camera), and the modifier brands (i.e., digital brands) gained equity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.38486 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Gill, Tripat |
| Contributors | Dube, Laurette (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Management.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001956048, proquestno: NQ85709, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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