My research interests intersect three areas under the broad umbrella of consumer culture theory (CCT).
1. I am interested in the sociological dynamics of both family and gender roles and how they relate to advertising representations, public policy, and parental and child socialization. I am particularly intested the changing roles of fathers in contemporary family forms.
2. I am interested in spectaclar consumption in the context of ritauls, with a specific focus on consumption events like Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving shopping ritual.
3. I am interested in organization rituals as they relate to how consumers add value to firms outside of traditional economic models.
Harrison, Robert L., Tim Reilly, and James W. Gentry (2009), "Black Friday: A Videography of an Experiential Consumption Event," presented at the Association of Consumer Research Conference, in Pittsburgh, PA., 37. (People's Choice Best Film Award)
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Gentry, James W. and Robert L. Harrison (2010), "Is Advertising a Barrier to Gender Role Change?" Marketing Theory, 10, 1, 74-96.
Carlson, Les, and Robert L. Harrison (2010), "Family Public Policy in the United States," Journal of Macromarketing 30, 4, 320-330.
Harrison, Robert L. and Timothy M. Reilly (2011), "Mixed Method Research Designs in Marketing," Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 14, 1, 7 – 26. (Lead Article)
Harrison, Robert L., Ann Veeck and James W. Gentry, "A Life Course Perspective of Family Meals Via the Life Grid Method," Journal of Historical Research in Marketing (forthcoming).
Blackford, Ben, James W. Gentry, Robert L. Harrison, and Les Carlson, "The Prevalence and Influence of the Combination of Humor and Violence in Super Bowl Commercials?" Journal of Advertising (forthcoming).
CHAPTER PUBLICATIONS
Epp, Amber M., James W. Gentry, Robert L. Harrison, and Stacey Menzel Baker (forthcoming), "Family," in Dale Southerton (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Consumer Culture, CQ Press (forthcoming).