Response Determinants in Satisfaction Judgments

The effects of five determinants of satisfaction are tested as well as individual differences in satisfaction formation. Manipulations of attribution, expectancy, performance, disconfirmation, and equity are written into stock market trading scenarios in a full factorial design. Results show that all main effects and four ordinal two-way interactions are significant. Then, an individual-level analysis is performed on the repeated measures data. Three clusters of subjects sharing similar response tendencies (disconfirmation, performance, and equity) are identified and related to investment attitudes, outcome attitudes, and demographics. No consistent relationships are discovered, suggesting that the response differences reflect deeper behavioral tendencies. Implications of this approach for satisfaction paradigms, satisfaction theory, and individual satisfaction response orientations are presented.