Final answer:
The correct answer to which type of reference group influence marketers use when developing advertisements is E. a, b, and c, incorporating informational, normative, and identification influences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marketers utilize different types of reference group influence when developing advertisements. These include:
- Informational influence: This occurs when people conform because they believe the group has the correct information. This often happens in situations where the task or decision is ambiguous, and individuals look to others as a source of information.
- Normative influence: In this case, individuals conform to the expectations or norms of a group in order to fit in, be accepted, or avoid ridicule. The Asch conformity studies exemplify normative influence, as participants conformed to group pressure despite clear evidence to the contrary.
- Identification: This happens when individuals conform to what they believe a group they admire would do, often emulating the behaviors, values, and norms of the group because they want to be associated with it.
Understanding these social influences is vital for marketers aiming to encourage consumers to adopt their products or services. In advertising, a combination of informational, normative, and identification influences can be seen, as ads often provide information (e.g., factual information), create a sense of group norms or acceptance (e.g., celebrity endorsement), and try to resonate with individuals' desire to associate with a certain group (e.g., portraying a lifestyle).
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is E. a, b, and c.