Pretest results found a consensus amongst respondents on what music was perceived as consistent, neutral or inconsistent with a retail environment.
The main experiment was a 3 x 2 factorial laboratory study with a between- subjects design with music-retail environment consistency (consistency, neutrality and inconsistency), and music mode (major mode and minor mode), plus a no-music control group. Groups (comprising a total of 161 undergraduate students) were randomly assigned to the treatments. Respondents were shown a videotape of a sporting goods store with a particular treatment and completed a self-administered survey that adapted the Music-Message Integration (MMI) construct (Kellaris. 1990: Kellaris. Cox and Cox 1993). Other new measures were based on the PAD mood scale (Mehrabian and Russell 1974) and the Mood Short Form (Peterson and Sauber 1983).
Correlation analyses indicated "Music Mood-Consumer Prior Mood Consistency" was significantly related to store mood (SM). music mood (MM), product mood (PM), store image (SI) and behavioral shopping intentions (BI). Regression analyses showed these perceptions were significantly moderated by consumer screening levels of environmental stimuli and by gender.
"Music Mood-Retail Mood Consistency" significantly influenced perceptions of PM and SI when screening ability and gender were considered. ANOVAs comparing consistency levels as well as the control group, unexpectedly did not produce any significant differences in responses, only some directional support.
Instore music in a major mode consistent with a store significantly influenced MM and had a directionally supportive impact on PM. SM and BI. The no-music control group was directionally more effective than inconsistent music and neutral music for SM. PM. SI and BI.
In summary, some support was found for this first test of the new Music-Retail Environment Model. Recommendations were also provided for future research.
In summary, some support was found for this first test of the new Music-Retail Environment Model. Recommendations were also provided for future research.