This seems to me to be akin to a justification of effort effect; the more something costs us (I suppose this would be true whether the cost was money or time or effort), the more highly we value it. I would think it would work before as well as after the expenditure of effort (or money).
It's also consistent with one of the sadder aspects of contemporary American culture: money as the single measure of value. m ------ "[F]aculty have an obligation to the students collectively to prescribe a required course of study designed specifically for liberal education that is comprehensive, coherent, and rigorous." -- Jerry L. Martin -----Original Message----- From: Helweg-Larsen, Marie [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 6:57 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE:[tips] Do we prefer more expensive items? Jean-Marc Here is an article in the NY Times (from Dec, 2006) making exactly this argument: as tuition increases, prestige increases. The article is called "In Tuition Game, Popularity Rises With Price" (in case the link doesn't work). http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/education/12tuition.html?_r=1&scp=79&s q=tuition&st=nyt&oref=slogin Marie -----Original Message----- From: Jean-Marc Perreault [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:28 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Do we prefer more expensive items? In a recent conversation with a colleague on tuition fees, I raised the question of whether our local population would have a better impression of their local community college if the tuition fees were higher. This comment was made in part because we offer the lowest (or near that) fees in the country. A 3-credit course tuition is 150$. The local population has often been perceived (non-objectively I should say) as being negatively biased towards the College. So I raised the tuition question. I seem to remember a study where a psychiatrist had changed location from a prestigious office to a more modest locale, and had also raised his fees, with the result of losing credibility/clients/etc (not sure what the actual measure was, but it seems to be in those lines). Does anyone know of research in that area? That would be much appreciated... and please keep in mind that this information WILL NOT be used to raise tuition fees. The College does not have the power to do that anyhow... The government has that power... Cheers! Jean-Marc --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
