Using college students as the market segment, describe the most relevant reference group(s) and indicate the probable degree of influence on decisions for each of the following:. A) Brand of toothpaste.
B) Purchase of a hybrid car.
C) Purchase of breakfast cereal.
D) Becoming a vegetarian.
E) Choice of a computer tablet such as the iPad.

Answer and Explanation:

A. Toothpaste brand: Toothpaste is a commonly used, inexpensive, and very popular product. These decisions are governed mainly by the reference group such as family , friends or primary group with whom a student has regular face to face experiences. Hence the purchase decision is affected by a low degree of comparison community.

B. Buying a hybrid car: A hybrid car is sometimes described as expensive and luxury products. It's moreover a non-necessity commodity for a college student. These decisions are therefore usually affected by secondary community. And a high degree of control in the comparison community will only inspire a student to buy a car.

C. Buying cereal for breakfast: This is a simple requirement of a lifetime. Therefore, even without consulting any reference group a student can buy such product. Often such transactions are rules by family group control. So it needs a low degree of control.

D. Becoming a vegetarian: It takes a high degree of influence and motivation to become a vegetarian.

Thus the aspirational group influences a student. So they opt for vegetarianism to become part of such a community. Such decision taking involves a high degree of control.

E. Option of a computer tablet like the iPod: these products are a luxury commodity sold at regular prices. Typically refer to their families , friends, magazines before making a purchase student to get an idea about the output and price of these products. These goods are the weak product with a strong brand and a strong purchase is controlled by a strong reference community impact.