LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE
RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
The researcher did not study the impact of
gender on compulsive buying behavior. This
was because the female respondents contacted
for the study reported not owning a credit card.
Most Indian women are not economically independent
and hence do not own credit cards.
Working women reported owning credit cards.
The sample of working women owning credit
cards was not substantial enough for any comparison.
Gender differences in compulsive tendencies
can be studied to understand if Indian
women exhibit higher compulsive tendencies
than men. Compulsive buying scale was modified
in an Indian context. Further research can
be conducted to explore compulsive dimensions
specific for Asian cultures, which can better explain
compulsive tendencies. Symbols for status
or power differ from culture to culture. Research
can be conducted to understand products that
best explain compulsive buying tendencies. In-
fluence of materialism on compulsive buying can
be examined. It can also help in understanding
if materialistic and compulsive tendencies vary
across demographic factors. Credit card instrument
may be designed and refined according to
credit card use issues relevant to Indian sample.
It was thought that the credit card scale adapted
from earlier research may have failed to relate
with Indian consumers’ needs and attitudes toward
credit cards.
One of the major limitations of the study is the
sample size. Even though efforts were made to
contact a large number of respondents, most of
the respondents were disqualified because they
did not own credit cards. A larger sample size
may bring out a different interplay of factors
and affect the results. Studies can be done to
understand compulsive tendencies with a different
product or service. Research can be conducted
on high-income consumers as they are
Arpita Khare 39
likely to own credit cards and exhibit compulsive
tendencies.