We used a mixed subjects design, including four within-subject variables and two between-subject variables. Participants rated 16 product scenarios that were systematically varied on the four within-subject variables.
The product scenarios systematically varied on price (two levels: high price, low price), brand equity (two levels: well-known brand, unknown brand), cruelty (two
levels: animal tested, not animal tested), and environmental impact (two levels: produced with a high or low carbon footprint).
The 16 scenarios were randomised to avoid any order effects.
The 16 product scenarios were laid out in the following way: ‘A moisturiser costs £4.99 [low cost]/£34.99 [high cost] and is sold by a brand that is/is not very well known.
It has/has not been tested on animals and the manufacturer has a high/low carbon footprint.’ The prices of the product were based on the highest and lowest prices in the daily moisturiser market of the UK (February 2012).