Rebecca Walker Reczek

Associate Professor of Marketing | Fisher College of Business The Ohio State University

  • Columbus OH

Dr. Reczek’s research focuses on the area of consumer behavior

Contact

The Ohio State University

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Media

Social

Biography

Rebecca Walker Reczek received her Ph.D. in marketing from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Reczek’s research focuses on the area of consumer behavior. Specifically, her research has explored consumer lay theories and inference making, social influence, and self-perceptions. Given her interest in consumer well-being, she has explored these theoretical interests in the substantive domains of food and health decision making, sustainability, and ethical decision making. Current projects continue to explore these areas, as well as consumer behavior in an online environment.

Industry Expertise

Education/Learning
Writing and Editing

Areas of Expertise

Marketing
Marketing & Advertising
Marketing & Branding
Social Influence
Consumer Behavior

Accomplishments

Early Career Award

The Society for Consumer Psychology
2014

Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D.

Marketing

2006

Trinity University

B.S.

Business Administration

2000

Trinity University

B.A.

Russian and German (Comparative Literature)

2000

Media Appearances

Taking a picture of sentimental items could help you de-clutter

ConsumerAffairs  online

2017-06-27

Is your attic jam-packed with items you simply can’t bear to part with? Snapping a picture of each treasured item might make paring down your collection easier, new research suggests.

The study found that people were more willing to give away unneeded goods that still had sentimental value if they were encouraged to take a photo of the items first, or find another way to preserve the memories.

“What people really don’t want to give up is the memories associated with the item,” said Rebecca Reczek, Associate Professor at the Ohio State University. “We found that people are more willing to give up these possessions if we offer them a way to keep the memory and the identity associated with that memory,” Reczek added.

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Most People Don't Care About Ethical Fashion

Treehugger  online

2017-02-01

What’s fascinating is that, when these 85 percent were asked about what they thought of those who did research production when making a choice, they were scathing in their criticism. NPR cites lead researcher Rebecca Reczek of Ohio State University:

“You feel badly that you were not ethical when someone else was. It's a threat to your sense of self, to your identity. So to recover from that, you put the other person down.”

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People Falsely Believe Pricier Foods Are Healthier

The Huffington Post  online

2017-01-04

According to a recent study published in Journal of Consumer Research, many people believe that healthy food must be more expensive than unhealthy food, and that healthy food just needs to be expensive.

In fact, the study’s researchers found that a high price tag will even convince consumers that a certain food is healthful.

“It’s concerning. The findings suggest that price of food alone can impact our perceptions of what is healthy,” Rebecca Reczek, co-author of the study and professor of marketing at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, said in a statement.

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Recent Research

Scientists find clever way to help you de-clutter your home

The Ohio State University

2017-06-26

Researchers found that people were more willing to give away unneeded goods that still had sentimental value if they were encouraged to take a photo of these items first, or find another way to preserve the memories.

Such a strategy could help parents part with old baby clothes they no longer need or help a former athlete give up a favorite basketball or hockey stick.

“What people really don’t want to give up is the memories associated with the item,” said Rebecca Reczek, co-author of the study and associate professor of marketing at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business.

“We found that people are more willing to give up these possessions if we offer them a way to keep the memory and the identity associated with that memory.”

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The strange effects of thinking healthy food is costlier

The Ohio State University

2016-12-19

“It’s concerning. The findings suggest that price of food alone can impact our perceptions of what is healthy and even what health issues we should be concerned about,” said Rebecca Reczek, co-author of the study and professor of marketing at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business...

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Targeted online ads can actually change how you view yourself

The Ohio State University

2016-03-02

“The power of a behaviorally targeted ad for a green product isn’t just that it persuades you to buy the advertised product. It actually makes you feel more environmentally conscious and can change your behavior,” said Rebecca Walker Reczek, co-author of the study and associate professor of marketing at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business...

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