Perceived Product Versatility

What it measures

Four items assessing the extent to which a consumer believes a specific product is useful and can be used across a variety of situations and contexts. Wu et al. (2017) created the scale to serve as a pretest check in Study 5, verifying that the focal products (everyday items that varied in aesthetic quality) did not differ in perceived versatility. The generic name of the focal product should be inserted in the blank in each item.

Response format

7-point Likert (1=completely disagree, 7=completely agree)

Scale items

• This _____ is useful.
• This _____ could be used in a variety of situations.
• This _____ would be a good fit in a variety of contexts.
• This _____ is quite versatile in where it could be used.

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

Usage notes & scoring

Alpha was .91. The scale was used as a manipulation or pretest check rather than a primary outcome measure, so formal validity testing was not conducted. Items use blanks for the product name (e.g., 'mug,' 'bag'). Response anchors are completely disagree (1) and completely agree (7).

Citation

Wu, F., Samper, A., Morales, A.C., & Fitzsimons, G.J. (2017). It's too pretty to use! When and how enhanced product aesthetics discourage usage and lower consumption enjoyment. Journal of Consumer Research, 44(3), 651–672.

Keywords