Skip to main content

Measuring Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Market Research

Abstract

Measuring customer satisfaction and customer loyalty represents a key challenge for firms. In response, researchers and practitioners have developed a plethora of options on how to assess these phenomena. However, existing measurement approaches differ substantially with regard to their complexity, sophistication, and information quality. Furthermore, guidance is scarce on how firms can leverage and combine these approaches to implement a state-of-the-art satisfaction and loyalty measurement system. This chapter attempts to address this vacancy. The authors first define and conceptualize customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Next, the authors provide an overview of the different operationalization and measurement approaches that companies face when designing a customer satisfaction and loyalty measurement system. The authors also discuss some of the common modeling challenges associated with measuring loyalty, namely, dealing with self-selection bias. Finally, the authors project what the future holds in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahn, H., & Powell, J. L. (1993). Semiparametric estimation of censored selection models with a nonparametric selection mechanism. Journal of Econometrics, 58(l–2), 3–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aksoy, L. (2013). How do you measure what you can’t define? The current state of loyalty measurement and management. Journal of Service Management, 24(4), 356–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. W. (1996). Customer satisfaction and price tolerance. Marketing Letters, 7(3), 265–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson. (2010). Meng marketing trends report 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. W., & Mittal, V. (2000). Strengthening the satisfaction-profit chain. Journal of Service Research, 3(2), 107–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. W., Fornell, C., & Lehmann, D. R. (1994). Customer satisfaction, market share, and profitability: Findings from Sweden. Journal of Marketing, 58(3), 53–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. W., Fornell, C., & Mazvancheryl, S. K. (2004). Customer satisfaction and shareholder value. Journal of Marketing, 68(4), 172–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ascarza, E. (2018). Retention futility: Targeting high-risk customers might be ineffective. Journal of Marketing Research, 55(l), 80–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ascarza, E., Fader, P. S., & Hardie, B. G. (2017). Marketing models for the customer-centric firm. In Handbook of marketing decision models (pp. 297–329). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Athey, S. (2018). The impact of machine learning on economics. In The economics of artificial intelligence: An agenda. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brakus, J. J., Schmitt, B. H., & Zarantonello, L. (2009). Brand experience: what is it? How is it measured? Does it affect loyalty?. Journal of Marketing, 73(3), 52–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bain & Company (2013). Management Tools & Trends 2013. http://www.bain.de/Images/BAIN_BRIEF_Management_Tools_%26_Trends_2013.pdf. Accessed 25 July 2016.

  • Bearden, W. O., & Teel, J. E. (1983). Selected determinants of consumer satisfaction and complaint reports. Journal of Marketing Research, 20(l), 21–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergkvist, L., & Rossiter, J. R. (2007). The predictive validity of multiple-item versus single-item measures of the same constructs. Journal of Marketing Research, 44(2), 175–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bijmolt, T. H., Dorotic, M., Verhoef, P. C., et al. (2011). Loyalty programs: Generalizations on their adoption, effectiveness and design. Foundations and Trends® in Marketing, 5(4), 197–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blattberg, R., Kim, B., & Neslin, S. (2008). Database Marketing: Analyzing and Managing Customers. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, R. N. (1998). A dynamic model of the duration of the customer’s relationship with a continuous service provider: The role of satisfaction. Marketing Science, 17(l), 45–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boshoff, C. (1997). An experimental study of service recovery options. International Journal of Service Industry Management, 8(2), 110–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, D. R., & Reffett, K. L. (1989). Focusing on customer problems to improve service quality. Journal of Services Marketing, 3(4), 5–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breugelmans, E., Bijmolt, T. H., Zhang, J., Basso, L. J., Dorotic, M., Kopalle, R., Minnema, A., Mijnlieff, W. J., & Wünderlich, N. V. (2015). Advancing research on loyalty programs: A future research agenda. Marketing Letters, 26(2), 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooke. (2016). Rewards, returns, and ringside seats. Marketing News, 50(6), 28–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruhn, M. (2003). Relationship marketing: Management of customer relationships. Harlow: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruhn, M. (2016). Kundenorientierung: Bausteine fuer ein exzellentes Customer Relationship Management (CRM) (Vol. 50950). München: CHE Beck.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannon, J. P., & Perreault, W. D., Jr. (1999). Buyer-seller relationships in business markets. Journal of Marketing Research, 36(4), 439–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Certo, S. T., Busenbark, J. R., Woo, H.-s., & Semadeni, M. (2016). Sample selection bias and heckman models in strategic management research. Strategic Management Journal, 37(13), 2639–2657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrashekaran, M., Rotte, K., Tax, S. S., & Grewal, R. (2007). Satisfaction strength and customer loyalty. Journal of Marketing Research, 44(1), 153–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill, G. A., Jr., & Surprenant, C. (1982). An investigation into the determinants of customer satisfaction. Journal of Marketing Research, 19(4), 491–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, D. F., Golicic, S. L., & Boerstler, C. N. (2011). Benefits and challenges of conducting multiple methods research in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 39(3), 467–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeWulf, K., Odekerken-Schrôder, G., & Iacobucci, D. (2001). Investments in consumer relationships: A cross-country and cross-industry exploration. Journal of Marketing, 65(4), 33–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamantopoulos, A. (2011). Incorporating formative measures into covariance-based structural equation models. MIS Quarterly, 35, 335–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreze, X., & Nunes, J. C. (2008). Feeling superior: The impact of loyalty program structure on consumers’ perceptions of status. Journal of Consumer Research, 35(6), 890–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst & Young (2011). The digitisation of everything: How organizations must adapt to changing consumer behaviour, available at: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/The_digitisation_of_everything_-_How_organisations_must_adapt_to_changing_consumer_behaviour/$FILE/EY_Digitisation_of_everything.pdf. Retrieved on 25 Jul 2016.

  • Ellickson, P. B., & Misra, S. (2012). Enriching interactions: Incorporating outcome data into static discrete games. Quantitative Marketing and Economics, 10(1), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornell, C., Johnson, M. D., Anderson, E. W., Cha, J., & Bryant, B. E. (1996). The American customer satisfaction index: Nature, purpose, and findings. Journal of Marketing, 60(4), 7–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuerst, A. (2012). Verfahren zur Messung der Kundenzufriedenheit im Ueberblick. Kundenzufriedenheit: Konzepte–Methoden–Erfahrungen, 8, 123–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gremler, D. D. (2004). The critical incident technique in service research. Journal of Service Research, 7(l), 65–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, A., Gleason, G., Preiss, R., & Shevenaugh, D. (1995). Best practice for customer satisfaction in manufacturing firms. MIT Sloan Management Review, 36(2), 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigoroudis, E., & Siskos, Y. (2009). Customer satisfaction evaluation: Methods for measuring and implementing service quality (Vol. 139). Springer Science & Business Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, S., & Zeithaml, V. (2006). Customer metrics and their impact on financial performance. Marketing Science, 25(6), 718–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gustafsson, A., & Johnson, M. D. (2004). Determining attribute importance in a service satisfaction model. Journal of Service Research, 7(2), 124–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halstead, D. (1999). The use of comparison standards in customer satisfaction research and management: A review and proposed typology. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 7(3), 13–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann, W., & Viard, B. (2008). Do frequency reward programs create switching costs? A dynamic structural analysis of demand in a reward program. Quantitative Marketing and Economics, 6(2), 109–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser, J. R., Urban, G. L., Liberali, G., & Braun, M. (2009). Website morphing. Marketing Science, 28(2), 202–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, B. E. (2008). Measuring customer satisfaction and loyalty: Survey design, use, and statistical analysis methods. ASQ Quality Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heckman, J. J. (1979). Sample selection bias as a specification error. Econometrica, 47(1), 153–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., & Fuerst, A. (2005). How organizational complaint handling drives customer loyalty: An analysis of the mechanistic and the organic approach. Journal of Marketing, 69(3), 95–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., Fürst, A. (2010). Ãœberblick über die Messung von Kundenzufriedenheit und Kundenbindung. In M. Bruhn, & C. Homburg (Eds.), Handbuch Kundenbindungsmanagement (pp. 599–634). Wiesbaden: Gabler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C, & Klarmann, M. (2012). Die indirekte Wichtigkeitsbestimmung im Rahmen von Kundenzufriedenheitsuntersuchungen: Probleme und Loesungsansaetze. In C. Homburg (Eds.), Handbuch Kundenzufriedenheit: Konzepte - Methoden - Erfahrungen. Wiesbaden: Gabler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., & Stock, R. M. (2004). The link between salespeoples job satisfaction and customer satisfaction in a business-to-business context: A dyadic analysis. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 32(2), 144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., Koschate, N., & Hoyer, W. D. (2005). Do satisfied customers really pay more? A study of the relationship between customer satisfaction and willingness to pay. Journal of Marketing, 69(2), 84–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., Koschate, N., & Hoyer, W. D. (2006). The role of cognition and affect in the formation of customer satisfaction: A dynamic perspective. Journal of Marketing, 70(3), 21–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., Mueller, M., & Klarmann, M. (2011). When should the customer really be king? On the optimum level of salesperson customer orientation in sales encounters. Journal of Marketing, 75(2), 55–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homburg, C., Ehm, L., & Artz, M. (2015). Measuring and managing consumer sentiment in an online community environment. Journal of Marketing Research, 52(5), 629–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. A. & Sheth, J. N. (1969). The theory of buyer behavior. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, H. K. (1977). Conceptualization and measurement of consumer satisfaction and dissatisfaction (pp. 77–103). Cambridge, MA: Marketing Science Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis, C. B., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, P. M. (2003). A critical review of construct indicators and measurement model misspecification in marketing and consumer research. Journal of Consumer Research, 30(2), 199–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keiningham, T. L., Cooil, B., Andreassen, T. W., & Aksoy, L. (2007). A longitudinal examination of net promoter and firm revenue growth. Journal of Marketing, 71(3), 39–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klarmann, M. (2008). Methodische Problemfelder der Erfolgsfaktorenforschung: Bestandsaufnahme und Empirische Analysen. Ph.D. thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozinets, R. V., De Valck, K., Wojnicki, A. C., & Wilner, S. J. (2010). Networked narratives: Understanding word-of-mouth marketing in online communities. Journal of Marketing, 74(2), 71–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V., & Reinartz, W. (2012). Customer relationship management: Concept, strategy, and tools. Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V., & Shah, D. (2004). Building and sustaining profitable customer loyalty for the 21st century. Journal of Retailing, 80(4), 317–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V., Dalla Pozza, I., & Ganesh, J. (2013). Revisiting the satisfaction–loyalty relationship: Empirical generalizations and directions for future research. Journal of Retailing, 89(3), 246–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larivière, B., Keiningham, T. L., Aksoy, L., Yalgin, A., Morgeson, F. V., III, & Mithas, S. (2016). Modeling heterogeneity in the satisfaction, loyalty intention, and shareholder value linkage: A cross-industry analysis at the customer and firm levels. Journal of Marketing Research, 53(1), 91–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J., & Toubia, O. (2018). A semantic approach for estimating consumer content preferences from online search queries. Marketing Science, 37(6), 930–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., & Yang, R. (2009). Competing loyalty programs: Impact of market saturation, market share, and category expandability. Journal of Marketing, 73(1), 93–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, X., & Homburg, C. (2007). Neglected outcomes of customer satisfaction. Journal of Marketing, 71(2), 133–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, L., Sun, B., & Kekre, S. (2015). The squeaky wheel gets the grease - an empirical analysis of customer voice and firm intervention on twitter. Marketing Science, 34(5), 627–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAlexander, J. H., Schouten, J. W., & Koenig, H. F. (2002). Building brand community. Journal of Marketing, 66(l), 38–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAlexander, J. H., Kim, S. K., & Roberts, S. D. (2003). Loyalty: The influences of satisfaction and brand community integration. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 11(4), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCall, M., & Voorhees, C. (2010). The drivers of loyalty program success: An organizing framework and research agenda. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 51(l), 35–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCollough, M. A., Berry, L. L., & Yadav, M. S. (2000). An empirical investigation of customer satisfaction after service failure and recovery. Journal of Service Research, 3(2), 121–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeal, J. U. (1969). Consumer satisfaction-measure of marketing effectiveness. MSU Business Topics-Michigan State University, 17(3), 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellens, M., Dekimpe, M., & Steenkamp, J. (1996). A review of brand-loyalty measures in marketing. Tijdschrift voor economic en management, 4, 507–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, N. A., & Rego, L. L. (2006). The value of different customer satisfaction and loyalty metrics in predicting business performance. Marketing Science, 25(5), 426–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, N. A., Anderson, E. W., & Mittal, V. (2005). Understanding firms customer satisfaction information usage. Journal of Marketing, 69(3), 131–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgeson, F. V., Mithas, S., Keiningham, T. L., & Aksoy, L. (2011). An investigation of the cross-national determinants of customer satisfaction. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 39(2), 198–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, R. L. (1980). A cognitive model of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction decisions. Journal of Marketing Research, 17(4), 460–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, R. L. (1981). Measurement and evaluation of satisfaction processes in retail settings. Journal of Retailing, 57, 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, R. L. (1999). Whence consumer loyalty? Journal of Marketing, 63(4_suppl 1), 33–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmatier, R. W., Dant, R. P., Grewal, D., & Evans, K. R. (2006). Factors influencing the effectiveness of relationship marketing: A meta-analysis. Journal of Marketing, 70(4), 136–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, L. D., Pressey, A. D., & Greenberg, P. (2010). The impact of CRM 2.0 on customer insight. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 25, 410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R. A., & Wilson, W. R. (1992). Measuring customer satisfaction: Fact and artifact. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 20(1), 61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, M., & Deimler, M. (2011). Adaptability: The new competitive advantage. Harvard Business Review, 89(4), 134–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichheld, F. F. (1996). Learning from customer defections. Harvard Business Review, 74, 56–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichheld, F. F. (2003). The one number you need to grow. Harvard Business Review, 81(12), 46–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richins, M. L. (1983). Negative word-of-mouth by dissatisfied consumers: A pilot study. Journal of Marketing, 47(l), 68–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roehm, M., Pullins, E., & Jr, H. R. (2002). Designing loyalty-building programs for packaged goods brands. Journal of Marketing Research, 39(2), 202–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, R. T., & Zahorik, A. J. (1993). Customer satisfaction, customer retention, and market share. Journal of Retailing, 69(2), 193–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarstedt, M., Mooi, E., (2019). A concise guide to market research: The process, data, and methods using IBM SPSS Statistics (3rd edition). Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, E. M., Bradlow, E. T., & Fader, R. S. (2017). Customer acquisition via display advertising using multi-armed bandit experiments. Marketing Science, 36(4), 500–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shankar, V., Smith, A. K., & Rangaswamy, A. (2003). Customer satisfaction and loyalty in online and offline environments. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 20(2), 153–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard, B. H., Hartwick, J., & Warshaw, P. R. (1988). The theory of reasoned action: A meta-analysis of past research with recommendations for modifications and future research. Journal of Consumer Research, 15(3), 325–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheth, J. N. (1970). Measurement of multidimensional brand loyalty of a consumer. Journal of Marketing Research, 7(3), 348–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shugan, S. (2005). Brand loyalty programs: Are they shams? Marketing Science, 24(2), 185–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., & Pandya, S. (1991). Exploring the effects of consumers’ dissatisfaction level on complaint behaviours. European Journal of Marketing, 25(9), 7–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. K., & Bolton, R. N. (1998). An experimental investigation of customer reactions to service failure and recovery encounters: Paradox or peril? Journal of Service Research, 1(1), 65–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szymanski, D. M., & Henard, D. H. (2001). Customer satisfaction: A meta-analysis of the empirical evidence. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 29(l), 16–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Umashankar, N., Bhagwat, Y., & Kumar, V. (2017). Do loyal customers really pay more for services? Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 45(6), 807–826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Doorn, J., & Verhoef, P. C. (2008). Critical incidents and the impact of satisfaction on customer share. Journal of Marketing, 72(4), 123–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoef, P. (2003). Understanding the effect of customer relationship management efforts on customer retention and customer share development. Journal of Marketing, 67(4), 30–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, G. F., Beck, J. T., Henderson, C. M., & Palmatier, R. W. (2015). Building, measuring, and profiting from customer loyalty. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(6), 790–825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, B. D., Milne, G. R., Andonova, Y. G., & Hajjat, F. M. (2015). Internet of things: Convenience vs. privacy and secrecy. Business Horizons, 58(6), 615–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wieseke, J., Alavi, S., & Habel, J. (2014). Willing to pay more, eager to pay less: The role of customer loyalty in price negotiations. Journal of Marketing, 78(6), 17–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodruff, R. B., Cadotte, E. R., & Jenkins, R. L. (1983). Modeling consumer satisfaction processes using experience-based norms. Journal of Marketing Research, 20(3), 296–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zairi, M. (2000). Managing customer satisfaction: A best practice perspective. The TQM Magazine, 12(6), 389–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sebastian Hohenberg .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Hohenberg, S., Taylor, W. (2022). Measuring Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty. In: Homburg, C., Klarmann, M., Vomberg, A. (eds) Handbook of Market Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57413-4_30

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics