Importance of Product Quantity in the Package (Minimizing)

What it measures

The scale captures the strength of a minimizing shopping orientation — the preference to buy only the quantity genuinely needed and avoid excess. Items ask about seeking packages sized to match actual need rather than maximum value, and were paired with a maximizing counterpart to help researchers distinguish consumers who prioritize avoiding waste from those who prioritize getting the most for their money.

Response format

9-point Likert (1=strongly disagree, 9=strongly agree)

Scale items

• Minimizing the product quantity inside the package so that I get just what I really need.
• Getting a product that looks like it offers just the right amount that I need.
• Buying a product package that holds only the amount that I really need.
• Buying just enough supply of a product so that it can be finished soon.

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

A companion to the 'Maximizing' version above, from the same pretest by Sharma and Romero (2020), with the same sourcing note — inspired by Deng and Kahn (2009) rather than adapted from a scale in that article. Reliability was strong (α = .93). No validity evidence was provided.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Sharma, N., & Romero, M. (2020). Looks Heavy to Me! The Effects of Product Shadows on Heaviness Perceptions and Product Preferences. Journal of Advertising, 49(2), 165-184.

Keywords