Mental simulation is an important tool for managers who want consumers to imagine what life would be like if they engage in a new behavior. However, academic research found inconsistent effects of mental simulation on behavior. To understand this inconsistency, we conduct a meta-analysis and...

In this research we examine the role of process vs. outcome-focused mental simulation in new product evaluation. We first show that consumers naturally focus on product benefits when they evaluate incrementally new products (INPs), but have a more balanced focus on both the benefits and process...

In this research, we examine how manipulating the type of information processing mode (cognitive vs. affective) at a different point of time elicits the unique effects of process and outcome simulation on the evaluation of RNPs. Our findings indicate that in an instant evaluation scenario,...

Purchasing products that consumers have not used before (e.g., baby stroller for first time parents or a new product like an iPad) can be a challenge for consumers. In this article, the authors examine how mentally simulating two specific aspects of a product - the product usage process vs. the...