The influence of product appearance on perceived product quality in reference to washing machines

Download

index.pdf

Date

2010

Author

Veyisoğlu, Ahmet Burak

Metadata

Show full item record

Item Usage Stats

542
views

192
downloads

Product quality is regarded as one of the most important factors that consumers consider while purchasing products. However, contrary to objective quality, perceived product quality includes consumer's judgment about the overall superiority or excellence of a product. This study mainly concentrates on the relationship between product appearance and perceived product quality especially for durable goods. The definitions of product quality and perceived product quality are reviewed to explain different dimensions of perceived product quality. Product appearance and the importance of product appearance are explained to reveal the relationship between the consumer and the appearance of the product. Four types of information communicated through the appearance are revealed: aesthetic information, symbolic information, functional information and ergonomic information. In the field study, how these four types of information communicated by the product appearance influence the consumers’ quality perception is questioned through a quantitative study. Conducted with 100 participants, the results of the questionnaire shows that the appearance influences quality perception in various stages of consumer/product context for durable goods. At the end of the study, it is observed that aesthetic, functional and ergonomic information directly influence consumer’s quality perception; wheras, the influence of symbolic information on the perceived quality is found to be limited and indirect.

Subject Keywords

Industrial design.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12611658/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/19356

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis

Suggestions

OpenMETU
Core

Progressive obsolescence and product non-use in electrical kitchen appliances Örsel İmir, Işık; Asatekin, Mehmet; Department of Industrial Design (2010) The aim of this study is to find out the reasons of progressive obsolescence and product non-use in small kitchen appliances and to examine the relation between the consumer’s pre-purchase expectations and post-purchase experiences with these products to understand the deficiencies of kitchen appliances which cause consumer to stop using them. The reasons of progressive obsolescence and product non-use might be informative for further studies on this subject. Throughout the study, the general issues of need...
The emotional reactions of tactual qualities on handheld product experiences Özcan, Nergis; Gürsu, Hakan; Department of Industrial Design (2008) This is an attempt to analyze the evaluation criteria of tactual qualities on handheld product experiences by users. The study was conducted with the users selected from different work groups and different ages for exploring the meanings which are attributed to these tactual qualities by them. The thesis is expected to shed a light in the design studies by designers. After identifying the products and the participants, the tactual experiences were analyzed throughout the study to find out the keywords which...
Factors influencing new product acceptance: a study on military context Şimşek, Diler; Ünlü, Canan Emine; Department of Industrial Design (2008) Attitudes of users towards new Information Technology products have been the matters of consumer research studies. Factors that affect user behavior in terms of IT acceptance have been modeled by different researchers with an attempt to predict the actual usage. This study aims to analyze these factors and their significance in military context. One of the robust models, namely Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) is used as the study model with required modifications in order to augme...
Gender differences in product form perception Yavaş, Nermin; Gürsu, Hakan; Department of Industrial Design (2006) Product form is the principal factor that affects the consumer response. It influences the consumer preferences in many ways and affects the success of the product in the market. The response is moderated by several influences including individual tastes and preferences, personal characteristics, cultural and social context and other situational factors. The purpose of this study is to find whether gender as a personal characteristics, has an influential effect on the perception of the product form. A surve...
The influence of visual appeal on perceived usability Yılmaz, Ebru Cansızoğlu; Ünlü, Canan Emine; Department of Industrial Design (2006) Usability is regarded as one of the most important factors that consumers consider while purchasing products, however it is difficult to judge usability unless the user actually uses the product. Perceived usability is influential for consumers when identifying a product as usable and purchasing it. This study concentrates on the relationship between visual appeal and perceived usability especially for consumer products. The influence of visual appeal on perceived usability for consumer products is scrutini...

Citation Formats

A. B. Veyisoğlu, “The influence of product appearance on perceived product quality in reference to washing machines,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2010.