ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2015, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (1): 11-21.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2015.00011

• Conceptual Framework • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Influencing Mechanism of Referral Reward Program on Referral Behavior: From the Perspective of Conflicts between Social Norm and Market Norm

LI Huifan1,2; FAN Xiucheng2; CAO Huarui3; DU Jiangang4   

  1. (1 International Business Institute, Nankai University, Tianjin 300457, China) (2 Service Marketing and Management center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China) (3 Management School, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China) (4 Business School, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)
  • Received:2014-05-06 Online:2015-01-15 Published:2015-01-15
  • Contact: LI Huifan, E-mail: nkvivianlee@163.com

Abstract:

Referral reward program (RRP) is becoming a powerful weapon of acquiring new customers and retaining old customers. However, the lack of research on RRP, especially with respect to the influences of RRP on consumer referral behavior, is contrary to the practices. Building upon work from marketing, psychology of motivation, psychology of emotion, and behavioral economics, a influencing mechanism model of RRP on referral behavior from the perspective of conflicts between social norm and market norm is presented. The study will be organized as follows. First, the effects of incentive schemes and social norm on the consumers’ referral motivations will be explored. Second, the mediating role of emotion between the congruence of motivations and referral behavior will be investigated. Third, the moderating effects of causality orientation, self-awareness, and cultural values on the above relationships will be clarified. Following this line of reasoning, findings from these studies will provide important theoretical and practical implications.

Key words: referral reward program (RRP), social norm, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, emotion