All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

According to Five-Stage Model of the Consumer Buying Process, which one of the following sequence is followed ?

This question was previously asked in
UGC NET 2016 Paper 3 Management Question Paper (22-Jan-2017)
The correct answer is

Problem Recognition → Information Search → Evaluation of Alternatives → Purchase Decision → Post Purchase Behaviour

 Option 4 — Problem Recognition → Information Search → Evaluation of Alternatives → Purchase Decision → Post Purchase Behaviour is correct.

Philip Kotler's Five-Stage Model of the Consumer Buying (Decision) Process traces how a buyer moves from recognising a want to reflecting on the purchase afterwards. The stages must occur in a fixed logical order:

StageWhat happens
1. Problem RecognitionBuyer senses a need or gap between actual and desired state
2. Information SearchBuyer gathers information about ways to satisfy the need
3. Evaluation of AlternativesOptions are compared on attributes and benefits
4. Purchase DecisionBuyer selects and buys the chosen brand
5. Post-Purchase BehaviourBuyer judges satisfaction, leading to loyalty or dissonance

A consumer cannot search before recognising a need, nor evaluate alternatives before gathering information, so only option 4 preserves this sequence.

Why the other options are wrong: Options 1, 2 and 3 all place later stages (purchase, evaluation or information search) ahead of problem recognition, breaking the model's logic.

Takeaway: buying always starts with problem recognition and ends with post-purchase behaviour.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Marketers have traditionally classified products on the basis of three characteristics : __________ , tangibility and use.

  2. Which one of the following can be legally protected ?

  3. Which one of the following is the demand state where “Consumers dislike the product and may even pay to avoid it” ?

  4. “The customer wants an inexpensive car”. This is an example of which one of the following type of needs ?

  5. Assertion (A) : Marketers are increasingly asked to justify their investments in financial and profitability terms and rarely in terms of building the brand and customer base.

    Reasoning (R) : Organizations recognize that little of their market value comes from intangible assets.

    Code :

  6. Which of the following category of goods and services is most likely to require an aggressive use of the selling concept ?

  7. What are the four main components of holistic marketing ?

  8. According to the __________ theory, marketers can enhance demand for a product by associating it with strong drives, using motivating cues and providing positive re-enforcement.

  9. Consider the following statements:

    (a) Brand equity is essentially the same as brand valuation.

    (b) Market segmentation and product differentiation are alternative marketing strategies.

    (c) Durable goods normally require less personal selling, after sales service and seller guarantees, than the non-durable goods.

    (d) Price discrimination in all forms is illegal in India.

    Indicate the correct statements:

  10. Consider the following statements:

    (a) All marketing strategy is built on segmentation, targeting and positioning.

    (b) A brand mantra must communicate both what a brand is and what it is not.

    (c) Goal incompatibility is one of the major causes of conflict among distribution channel members.

    (d) Physical goods, services and stores can have a brand name, but ideas and people cannot.

    Which of these statements are true?


Important Questions from Marketing: Concept and approaches

  1. Arrange the following stages in the marketing process of an enterprise:

    A. Marketing Mix

    B. Marketing program implementation

    C. Marketing planning

    D. Market research

    E. Control and evaluation of marketing programs

    Choose thecorrectanswer from the options given below:

  2. Which of the following is the characteristic of a product?

  3. Which of the following is an example of durable goods?

  4. Traditionally, marketing has been viewed as:

  5. _______ is making it more a challenge today than ever before, to upgrade customer services to get an edge over the competitiors.

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
MH SET
October 25, 2026
JTET
November 01, 2026
CTET
December 12, 2026
Test Series
UGC NET img
Teaching
UGC NET (Paper 2) 2026 Mock Test Series
796 Tests 2 Tests Free
4.4(36)
English
More Questions from UGC NET

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App