Object Scarcity Perception

What it measures

Three items assessing the extent to which a consumer perceives a specific object as rare, unique, and scarce. Smith, Newman, and Dhar (2016) labelled this construct 'scarcity' in Study 5 and used it alongside their Object Essence Perception scale to explore how temporal contagion shapes consumer valuation of serial-numbered items. The blank in each item should be replaced with the name or description of the focal product.

Response format

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

Scale items

• This _____ is rare.
• This _____ is unique.
• This _____ is scarce.

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

Usage notes & scoring

Alpha was .81. The 9-point format matches the companion Object Essence Perception scale (ID 870) from the same study, and both should be used together when replicating Smith et al. (2016). This scale differs from need-for-uniqueness trait measures; it focuses on perceived rarity of a specific object rather than a dispositional desire for uniqueness.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Smith, R.K., Newman, G.E., & Dhar, R. (2016). Closer to the creator: Temporal contagion explains the preference for earlier serial numbers. Journal of Consumer Research, 42(5), 653–668.

Keywords