Similarity in marketing: Scope, measurement, and fields of application

Abstract

The concept of similarity is central to marketing research. Its fields of application are very varied. Yet this concept, which is more complex than it seems, is still poorly understood. It must be distinguished from other closely related concepts such as similitude, difference, fit, and congruence. This article shows that the type of similarity used (literal or relational) has different effects on consumers’ cognitive processes. This can dramatically alter the results of an experiment. The same applies to the type of measurement used.