Date of Award

Winter 3-22-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Quantitative Research Methods

Organizational Unit

Morgridge College of Education, Research Methods and Information Science, Research Methods and Statistics

First Advisor

P. Bruce Uhrmacher

Second Advisor

Rashida Banerjee

Third Advisor

Yashar Atefi

Fourth Advisor

Nicholas Cutforth

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Brand relationship, Consumer engagement, Educational criticism and connoisseurship, Marketing, Purchase funnel

Abstract

We don’t just buy tangible items anymore; we buy services that foster deeper and deeper relationships between ourselves and the companies that provide them. Even classic manufacturing companies have begun to consider the interaction with their customers as ongoing relationships beyond a goods exchange. Researchers in the field of consumer engagement view this relationship through consideration of intangible operant resources that generate value. The goal of this methodological study was to apply the methodology of educational criticism and connoisseurship to the field of consumer engagement. This approach allowed for consideration of the consumer-brand relationship without relying on discordant value-laden categories currently permeating the field of consumer engagement. The results found four major themes in a consumer’s brand engagement including the importance of strong previous experience with a brand, the importance of small details on brand separation, the replacement of in-person shopping with video sites such as YouTube, and the impact on concept-of-self through brand relationships.

Copyright Date

3-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Nathaniel Ahrens

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

134 pgs

File Size

721 KB

Available for download on Thursday, October 23, 2025



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