Conceptualizing and measuring consumer social responsibility: a neglected aspect of consumer research

Abstract

Despite the availability of extensive research on a wide range of consumer‐related areas, some socially sensitive consumer issues have still remained relatively unexplored. Since literature review revealed a gap in the conceptualization of consumer social responsibilities, this article conceptualized, developed and validated a measurement scale for consumer social responsibility (CnSR), using a rigorous methodology suggested in the scale development literature. The study responded to the scholarly calls for further research in this area. Using a total sample of 491 respondents (53 respondents for pilot, 207 for exploratory survey and 231 for confirmatory survey), the study proposed a six‐dimensional measurement scale for CnSR, including: (1) social impacts, (2) solidarity, (3) critical appraisal, (4) supporting business growth, (5) environmental impacts and (6) action. It is argued that with ever growing impacts of corporate social responsibility on business practices, the validated measurement scale will contribute to the advancement of research in this nascent consumer area.

Measuring corporate social responsibility: A critical review of survey instruments

“…When reviewing instruments, this article focuses on survey instruments developed to measure the stakeholders' perceptions of CSR in the discipline of business and management, as opposed to scales that measure consumer social responsibility (e.g. A. Quazi, Amran, & Nejati, ; Rodrigues & Borges, ) or social responsibility in other contexts such as universities (e.g. Latif, ).…”

Consumers' perspectives on service staff with disabilities in the hospitality industry

“…(2) To investigate how purchase intention is influenced by consumers' attitudes and characteristics. (3) To investigate the impact of dining occasions on purchase intention.…”

The importance of corporate social responsibility for responsible consumption: Exploring moral motivations of consumers

“…Several definitions of CnSR-sometimes also referred to as ethical consumer behaviour or responsible consumption (Papaoikonomou, Ryan, & Valverde, 2011)-can be found in the literature (for reviews, see Gupta & Agrawal, 2018;Quazi et al, 2016;Webb et al, 2008).…”

“…An often quoted definition of CnSR from the consumer ethics perspective was proposed by Muncy and Vitell (1992, p. 298) as "the moral principles and standard that guide the behaviours of individuals as they obtain, use, and dispose of goods and services." Notwithstanding the differences in how CnSR is defined and the fact that CnSR has not yet attracted sufficient attention in the CSR-related literature (Vitell, 2015), most scholars tend to explicitly relate it to CSR; they all see the vital importance of CnSR in ensuring that CSR flourishes (Quazi et al, 2016). During the years of consumerrelated CSR practice and research, a narrow, niche consumer demand for ethical and fair trade products transformed into a wider claim for consumer responsibility that involves pushing for CSR mainly through market-based approaches (Caruana & Chatzidakis, 2014).…”