Operant conditioning often involves infl uencing consumers to purchase a specifi c brand or product (desired response). Thus, a great deal of marketing strategy is aimed at securingan initial trial. Free samples (at home or in the store), special price discounts on new products, and contests all represent rewards offered to consumers to try a particular product or brand. If they try the brand under these conditions and like it (reinforcement), they are likely to take the next step and purchase it in the future. This process of encouraging partial responses leading to the fi nal desired response (consume a free sample, buy at a discount, buy at full price) is known as shaping and is illustrated in Figure 9–6.
In one study, 84 percent of those given a free sample of a chocolate while in a candy
store made a purchase, whereas only 59 percent of those not provided a sample made a purchase. Thus, shaping can be very effective. Illustration 9–3 shows an ad designed to induce trial, the fi rst step in shaping.
While reinforcement increases the likelihood of behavior such as a purchase being
repeated, a negative consequence (punishment) has exactly the opposite effect. Thus, the purchase of a brand that does not function properly greatly reduces the chances of future purchases of that brand. This underscores the critical importance of consistent product quality.