Belief formation in ethical consumer groups: an exploratory study

Belief formation is a neglected part of research in consumer behaviour and a potentially valuable area of study for helping to clarify the conditions under which they relate to actual patterns of behaviour. Outlines the results of qualitative research undertaken as part of a major study of readers of the UK Ethical Consumer magazine, which used focus groups to explore issues of major concern to ethical consumers – such as fair trade – and an elicitation questionnaire with a broader sample to ascertain the nature of factors influencing their beliefs on this subject.