The halo effect in slogan contexts: how does brand name pronounceability impact slogan persuasiveness?

Good for the environment and safer? Food safety halo effect of eco-labels

Tourists’ destination evaluations play a crucial role in their travel decision-making. This study proposes a conceptual framework to ascertain US tourists’ travel intentions to Singapore, focusing on two different types of halo effects (traditional and reversed). The findings demonstrate that Singapore’s country image can positively influence US tourists’ destination evaluations through the traditional halo effect. Moreover, both cognitive and affective destination images can be transferred through the reversed halo effect, which influences tourists’ overall perceptions. The main contribution of this study lies in revealing the effectiveness of the halo effect as an image transfer mechanism between various objects. Moreover, the results validate the unconventional relationship: affective destination image positively influences cognitive destination image. Furthermore, the study has revealed that cognitive destination image, country character, and people’s competencies collectively influence US tourists’ travel intentions. Thus, to attract prospective tourists, destination management organizations (DMOs) must capitalize on halo effects in their destination marketing campaigns.

Abstract Prosocial company actions typically create favorable product evaluations. However, an emerging practice whereby companies employ individuals experiencing homelessness (i.e., “homelessness‐based impact hiring [IH]”) represents a meaningful exception. Five experiments show that consumers hold unfavorable perceptions of products from companies implementing homelessness‐based IH, despite moderately favorable moral judgments of the company, due to an unfavorable emotional response (i.e., disgust) activated by stigma‐driven contagion concerns. Experiment 1 demonstrates this phenomenon using actual choice behavior. Experiment 2 shows that the effect is specific to homelessness (vs. stigmatized groups in general) and is mediated by disgust. Experiment 3 replicates these effects using a non‐food product where contagion is relevant, while showing the effect attenuates when contagion is less relevant. Experiments 4 and 5 demonstrate how social proof may enhance the favorability of consumer response by targeting contagion concerns and therefore reducing disgust. Findings suggest that, despite consumer moral support, marketers cannot rely on halo effects from this emerging practice, while also providing theory‐driven guidance on overcoming obstacles to its implementation.

Purpose Brand activism, defined as brands' participation in social issues, has emerged as an effective marketing tool for enhancing consumer brand engagement and purchase intention. However, its effectiveness for stigmatized brands remains unexamined. Specifically, this study explores whether brand activism has a stronger influence on stigmatized brands than on non-stigmatized brands by examining the halo effects of prior brand attitude and prior social issue attitude. Design/methodology/approach The hypothesized effects were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group analysis. The empirical study was conducted on two leading Chinese e-commerce platforms, Pinduoduo and JD.com, representing stigmatized and non-stigmatized brands, respectively. A total of 405 valid responses were obtained for Pinduoduo and 408 for JD.com. Findings Results indicate that brand activism is more effective for stigmatized brands, which depend more on cognitive brand engagement and direct activism effects to drive purchase intention. In contrast, non-stigmatized brands rely more on behavioral brand engagement. Additionally, a spillover effect of social issues on brand activism is found only in stigmatized brands, where attitudes toward social issues have a greater impact on brand activism than prior brand attitudes. Originality/value This study extends the concept of brand activism to the context of stigmatized brands, examining the effectiveness of their participation in social issues. It also contributes to consumer engagement research by demonstrating how cognitive and behavioral engagement strengthen the relationship between brand activism and purchase intention across stigmatized and non-stigmatized brands respectively.

A goodwill shield for crisis communication: Exploring the ‘Halo Effect’ of CSR activities

From sustainability to health: Investigating the halo effect in food consumption behavior

Performance appraisal is a central human resource management tool in government, and high-quality, fair, and objective appraisals contribute to organizational performance. By contrast, biased performance appraisal undermines employee morale and, ultimately, the merit system. This study examines three sources of bias in performance evaluations: the halo effect, similarity-attraction factors between rater and rate, and public service motivation (PSM). Using a two-by-two vignette-based survey experiment and a large sample of Korean government workers, we confirm earlier findings on the biasing influence of unrelated information on performance ratings. Second, while we find no effect of gender matching, we show that raters who self-identify as high-performance employees give lower than average ratings to low-performance workers, thereby amplifying the halo effect. Finally, we find that PSM is associated with inflated performance ratings across genders and performance categories. We discuss how our results can inform efforts to improve the fairness and accuracy of employee performance appraisals.

Abstract We conduct an array of event studies to investigate the potential impact of green bond issuance on the equity channel via the computation of a corporation’s corresponding listed equity’s alpha, which we coin the “equity halo effect”. We further investigate the pertinence of the green bond issuance signal to equity market investors and its evolution over subsequent same-issuer green bond issuances. Consistent with Baulkaran (J Asset Manag 20(5):331–340, 2019), we find that debut issuances tended, counterintuitively, to detract from equity alpha, albeit our findings similarly lacked statistical significance. Our findings, however, uniquely suggest that rather than diminish over time, the perceived marginal utility of the green bond issuance, as proxied by parent equity alpha, tends to be more appreciated by the equity market over time as it contributes to more material and statistically significant abnormal returns with return-issuance.

While fruit juices are widely considered healthy, their high sugar contents are often masked by a “halo effect” created by the positive image of fruits. This study, taking orange juice as a focal product, explores the role online self-media plays in reducing consumers’ sugary drink consumption with the presence of a halo effect. A discrete choice experiment (with attributes including fruit juice concentration, sugar content, taste, and price) was conducted in Beijing, China, to measure changes in consumers’ choices induced by randomly provided sugar content information. Four treatments containing the same basic information on the sugar content of sugary drinks, with different presentation forms (three text messages and a short video) and specificity levels, were designed for the experiment. Estimated mixed-logit models indicate that all four treatments significantly reduced participants’ likelihood of choosing high-sugar orange juices, with the short-video treatment being the most effective. It is likely that the video helped consumers convert a vague concept (sugar content) into a concrete one (sugar cubes). It is also possible that, with videos, consumers can passively assimilate information with less effort than reading text instructions.

Background. Modern cataract surgery requires increasingly high standards to achieve excellent visual outcomes at all distances, with mandatory intraoperative correction of corneal astigmatism. In such cases, customized intraocular lenses (IOLs), calculated according to the patient’s specific biometric parameters, are used. This report presents a clinical case of implanting a customized toric multifocal IOL during cataract surgery in a patient with high axial myopia and concomitant corneal astigmatism. Case description. A 45-year-old male with complicated cataract, high axial myopia, and corneal astigmatism underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of a customized multifocal IOL (Lentis Mplus LU-313T). In addition to standard ophthalmological examinations, optical specular endothelial microscopy of the cornea, optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina, and Scheimpflug corneal densitometry were performed. Preoperative IOL power calculation was carried out using an online calculator based on IOLMaster and corneal topography data. Postoperatively, uncorrected visual acuity was 1.0 for distance, 0.4 at intermediate, and 0.5 at near. Discussion. Implantation of customized IOLs with rotationally asymmetric optics, with a +2.0 D addition in the dominant right eye (Lentis Mplus LU-313 MF-20T) and a +3.0 D addition in the nondominant left eye (Lentis Mplus LU-313 MF-30TX), eliminated the need for postoperative optical correction at different distances. High uncorrected visual acuity was achieved for distance, intermediate, and near vision. The absence of halo effect after surgery enabled the patient to drive comfortably, including in the evening and at night. Conclusion. This comprehensive surgical approach to treating complicated cataract in eyes with high myopia and corneal astigmatism provided complete visual rehabilitation and eliminated the need for additional optical correction.

Purpose This study examines whether environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores influence portfolio performance, risk and market valuation in the Indian equity market, specifically exploring whether higher ESG scores deliver a performance advantage or valuation premium. Given the efforts of SEBI and industry bodies to enable a common reporting standard from FY2024-25, understanding the impact of ESG in India is particularly pertinent, yet underexplored. Design/methodology/approach Using data from Indian firms between September 2013 and September 2023, we constructed tercile portfolios based on ESG scores, employing both market-capitalisation and equal-weighting approaches. Performance and risk characteristics were assessed through portfolio analysis, while valuation and factor exposures were examined using Fama–MacBeth regressions and the Fama–French five-factor plus momentum model. Findings Higher ESG scores do not consistently enhance portfolio returns in the Indian equity market, although equal-weighted high-ESG portfolios exhibit marginally better downside risk characteristics. The market does not consistently assign valuation premiums to high-ESG firms, with sectoral and size effects playing a significant role. High-ESG portfolios exhibit a positive tilt toward the profitability factor but lack meaningful exposures to other asset pricing factors such as value, momentum or conservative investment behaviour. Originality/value This study provides novel empirical insights into the interplay between ESG scores and financial performance in the Indian equity market, an underexplored area in the ESG literature. These findings are especially relevant for institutional investors and corporate stakeholders in India looking to integrate ESG considerations into strategic decisions and investment frameworks.

The foraging ecology of seabirds depends on both external and internal factors. Seabirds can modify their feeding strategy depending on current food availability to maintain optimal energy levels provisioned to the offspring. Here, we investigated inter- and intra-annual variability of the foraging ecology of the Brünnich’s guillemot (Uria lomvia) breeding in a High Arctic colony on Spitsbergen (Svalbard) combining GPS tracking and remote sensing. Despite different environmental conditions in the studied years, covered distances and duration of foraging trips were similar. The studied individuals generally foraged in cold waters at shelf and shelf break zones located up to 100 km from the colony (median 51 km). They foraged at colder waters with lower primary productivity in colder 2015 compared with warmer 2016 but still used areas of similar depth. They explored a narrower foraging habitat niche (described by sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, sea depth and seabed slope in foraging locations) in warmer 2016, suggesting a lower variety of microhabitats where the preferred prey was available. With progress of the chick-rearing period, they foraged further from the colony, suggesting temporal prey depletion halo effect. Our findings provide valuable insight into spatio-temporal variability of seabird foraging ecology in the rapidly changing High Arctic.

Emotional interaction between tourists and hosts is a vital element of rural tourism, and tourists often seek nostalgia and authenticity in rural settings. Based on the cognition-affect-behavior (CAB) framework and the halo effect theory, this study constructs a hypothetical model to explore the antecedents and consequences of emotional solidarity between rural tourists and residents. Online responses were collected from 324 Chinese rural tourists. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results indicate: (1) Perceived authenticity of rural tourists has a positive impact on nostalgic emotions; (2) Both perceived authenticity and nostalgic emotions promote emotional solidarity between rural tourists and residents; (3) Emotional solidarity is a significant predictor of revisit intention. This study enhances understanding of emotional solidarity in a rural context and provides practical insights for stakeholders to foster host-guest relationships.

Purpose This study aims to meta-analyze the relationship between (positive and negative) affect and work attitudes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intentions) for Mechanical Turk (MTurk) data samples. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzed 26 papers containing 31 unique samples consisting of 9,950 MTurkers for positive affect studies and 14,772 MTurkers for negative affect studies. Findings The affect–attitude correlations for each work attitude were stronger for positive affect than for negative affect. The affect–attitude correlations observed in the current study for MTurkers were also stronger than those reported in prior studies for non-MTurkers (like conventional samples, Qualtrics workers and Zoomerang workers). Practical implications Drawing from prior research, we caution that researchers using MTurk samples for their studies might find inflated effect sizes in their results owing to poor data quality in MTurk samples. Originality/value This meta-study analyzed the magnitudes and directions of the affect–attitude relationship for MTurkers. This paper also compared these affect–attitude correlations with those reported in previous studies for traditional samples. A contribution of this research lies in identifying that there may be a presence of halo and horn effects among MTurkers regarding their impressions of positive psychological work concepts.

The Halo effect in airport terminals: how wayfinding experiences influence emergency preparedness through perceived reliability.

We investigate black hole (BH) solutions embedded in a dark matter (DM) halo, modeled as extensions of the Schwarzschild metric. The DM density profile is constrained by Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data, stellar dynamics, and globular cluster (GC) measurements of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4649 (M60). Using this profile, we construct two distinct spacetime solutions characterized by the black hole mass (M), critical velocity (V c), and core radius (a), all reducing to the Schwarzschild case in the limit V c = 0 and a = 0. Our results show that the DM halo modifies essential BH features, such as the event horizon radius and spacetime curvature, as reflected in the Kretschmann scalar. We also derive an approximate analytical expression for the BH shadow radius, which increases slightly due to the halo's influence. Comparisons with two observational datasets further validate the analysis. Thermodynamic properties are examined across the two models. In the first, a generalized Smarr formula is obtained via two additional variables, γ and a. The second incorporates halo effects through V c and a. These results underscore the role of DM in shaping both geometric and thermodynamic aspects of BHs.

323 The Halo Effect of an Emergency Department-Run Observation Unit on Hospital-Wide Throughput

The possible health benefits of jaggery over refined sugar have drawn attention to this traditional unprocessed sweetener, which is used extensively in South Asia. This study examines the nutritional makeup, many health advantages, and function of jaggery in regulating the glycemic index (GI). Jaggery is abundant in vital minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, according to thorough evaluations of scientific literature. These nutrients offer a number of health advantages, including better digestion, increased immunity, detoxification, and the prevention of anemia. Despite these benefits, jaggery has a higher GI (GI: 84-84.4) than white sugar (GI: ~65), meaning it has a quicker impact on postprandial blood glucose levels. Jaggery's strong glycemic effect poses dangers, particularly for those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, even while its micronutrient richness makes it a better option than refined sugar for populations without glucose intolerance. We examine published studies, examine tabular comparisons, and summarize the most important conclusions using an organized process. Our study concludes that, despite being more nutritious than regular sugar, jaggery should be used with caution, especially by people who need to control their blood sugar levels. We suggest more clinical study on the nutritional uses of jaggery and strategies to lessen its glycemic impact, as well as public health recommendations for moderation. Karl Pearson's coefficient revealed a significant inverse relationship between jaggery and sugar intake. This implies a replacement effect, whereby consumption of white sugar rises while jaggery consumption falls.

Previous research has identified a number of stereotypical beliefs about sexual crimes, particularly in relation to child sexual abuse and rape. We suggested that these beliefs may be the result of a negative halo effect (i.e., a single negative attribute biases subsequent impression formation judgments). We therefore hypothesized that mere keyword pairs containing ‘sex’ activate negative schemas that influence judgments of criminal cases. We conducted three studies to investigate this hypothesis. In a focus group interview, we attempted to gain a basic understanding of the hypothesized effect. Two online surveys were used to quantify the initial findings. The results showed that the keywords ‘sex and children’ triggered strong negative schemas such as acts of violence, pedophile offenders, and a desire for harsh punishments. The keywords ‘sex and violence’ activated impressions of a broader range of offenses, but still strongly negative associations about the possible offender and harsh penalties. In contrast, the combined keywords ‘children and violence,’ which served as a control, elicited more heterogeneous responses. Overall, the current findings confirm the idea of a devil effect triggered by sexual crimes. This effect could have serious consequences, from reduced awareness of actual crimes to biased judgments by judges and juries.