DFG Project

Problems of Action and Typifications in Personal and Algorithmic Shopping Advice on the Internet

Within the research project „Curated Shopping - Problems of Action and Typifications in Personal and Algorithmic Shopping Advice on the Internet“, well-known questions about the specificity of online shopping are revisited and renegotiated.

Project duration

36 months (12/2019 -11/2022)

In recent years, social science research on online commerce and shopping has consolidated a descriptive model that operates with four basic assumptions. Online shopping is (1.) characterized by the change from a service triad between provider, provider personnel and customer to an interface-mediated service dyad between provider and customer: Service personnel who can advise consumers (individually) and accompany and support them in their consumption process are typically not available. This is associated with (2.) the shift of competence requirements, especially regarding self-information, to consumers, who (3.) are confronted with a potentially comprehensive range of products and have to choose from them. At the same time, (4.) provider and consumer actions are increasingly intertwined (for example, through cookies and correspondingly displayed advertisements, feedback functions, reviews, etc.).

There is a small shopping cart on top of a laptop.

In our research project, we are focusing on the offer type of 'curated shopping', which is characterized by a pre-selection made by the supplier and personalized (in some cases also individualized) recommendations of products. Contrary to common description models of online retailing, the offer includes digitally mediated consulting services as a central element. The project's aim is to examine the problems that arise both on the side of the customer and on the side of the supplier and to reconstruct the respective problem-solving strategies in a typified way. Based on which criteria are certain articles suggested? At which points is the customer's cooperation indispensable? Which specifics can be determined by the medial framing? According to our thesis, focusing on the mediatization of advisory services can contribute to a differentiated understanding of reflexive mediatization of consumption.

The empirical study is based on an explorative-interpretative research design, in which organizational and consumer ethnographic approaches are bundled within the framework of a hermeneutic-sociological study. In doing so, we analyze the homepages of providers as well as conduct interviews with the organizations and the people working in them. At the same time, we are also conducting interviews with consumers and are working on the development of a research instrument that will enable us to follow the consumption process longitudinally.

Publications (selection):

Eisewicht, Paul (2022): Konsum. In: Gugutzer, Robert/Klein, Gabriele/Meuser, Michael (Hrsg.): Handbuch Körpersoziologie. Wiesbaden: VS. S. 175-187.

Eisewicht, Paul (2022): Curated Shopping als Form der Verantwortungsabgabe in digitalen Konsumräumen und Potentiale der Nachhaltigkeit. In Schlaile, Michael & Stöber, Lea (Hrsg.): Consumer Social Responsibility im digitalen Raum. Entscheidungsarchitekturen, geteilte Verantwortung und Handlungsspielräume. Marburg: Metropolis Verlag. S. 103-120.

Eisewicht, Paul (2021): Kaufberatende Dritte im Onlineshopping und die Rückkehr des Berates? In Dimbath, Oliver/Pfadenhauer, Michaela (Hrsg.): Gewissheit. Beiträge und Debatten zum 3. Sektionskongress der Wissenssoziologie. Beltz Juventa: Weinheim und Basel, S. 388-399.

Eisewicht, Paul & Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2023, eingereicht): „The Rise of Meal Kits in Times of COVID-19: Promises of Sustainability, Convenience, and Experience in the Context of Supply Chains”. Special Issue: ‘Production, Retailing and Consumption of Food. Commodity Chains before and after Covid-19’. Agriculture and Human Values.

Eisewicht, Paul & Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2023): Digital gut beraten? Curated Shopping im Spannungsfeld von Entlastung der und Anforderungen an Kund:innen. In Bala, Christian & Schuldzinski, Wolfgang (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch Konsum & Verbraucherwissenschaften 2022, 2. Jahrgang. Konsumlust und Konsumfrust. Psychologische, soziologische und ethische Aspekte des Konsums. S. 13-34.

Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2022): Implikationen audiovisueller Formate der Güterdarstellung und -bewertung für die Konsument:innenperspektivierung. In Schlaile, Michael & Stöber, Lea (Hrsg.): Consumer Social Responsibility im digitalen Raum. Entscheidungsarchitekturen, geteilte Verantwortung und Handlungsspielräume. Marburg: Metropolis Verlag. S. 63-82.

Lectures (selection):

Eisewicht, Paul (2022): Die reflexive Digitalisierung des Onlinehandels: Die Rückkehr des Verkaufspersonals und Aushandlungsprobleme in der digitalen Dienstleistungsbeziehung. Vortrag in der Sektionsveranstaltung der Wirtschaftssoziologie, 41. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie, 26.-30.9.2022, Universität Bielefeld.

Eisewicht, Paul (2022): Process-oriented quality criteria in qualitative research. Oral Paper Presentation at Mid-term conference of the ESA Qualitative Network [RN20]. 24-26 August 2022 - Copenhagen, Denmark.

Eisewicht, Paul & Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2023, geplant): „Die digitale Dienstleistungsbeziehung - Curated Shopping im Spannungsfeld von persönlicher Expertise und plattformisierter Algorithmisierung.“ Vortrag im Kolloquium der Fakultät Sozialwissenschaften der Technischen Universität Dortmund. 26.04.2023.

Eisewicht, Paul & Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2022): „The Rise of Meal Kits in Times of COVID-19: Promises of Sustainability, Convenience, and Experience in the Context of Supply Chains”. Oral Paper presentation at the workshop ‘Production, Retailing and Consumption of Food. Commodity Chains before and after Covid-19’ 16./17.06.2022 Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Steinmann, Nico Maximilian & Eisewicht, Paul (2021): „Promises And Expectations In Curated Shopping - The Service Relationship And Its Characterization In The Digital Space“. Oral Paper Presentation in conference track RN05 Digitalisation and Consumption at the 15th ESA Conference 2021. Sociological Knowledges for Alternative Futures. Barcelona (online). 31. August – 03. September 2021.

Steinmann, Nico Maximilian (2022): 'All is Data' in the Digital Age - Opportunities and Challenges of Analysing Multimodal Data Using the Research Style of Grounded Theory. Oral Paper Presentation at Mid-term conference of the ESA Qualitative Network [RN20]. 24-26 August 2022 - Copenhagen, Denmark.

Project Team

Management

Dr. Paul Eisewicht

Team

Nico Steinmann, M.Ed.

Pauline Kortmann, B.A.

Nina Gerke

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Location & approach

By car

The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is "Dortmund-Eichlinghofen" (closer to Campus Süd), and from B 1 / A 40 "Dortmund-Dorstfeld" (closer to Campus Nord). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.

To get from Campus Nord to Campus Süd by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at Campus Nord and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.

By train

TU Dortmund University has its own train station ("Dortmund Universität"). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station ("Dortmund Hauptbahnhof") and Düsseldorf main station via the "Düsseldorf Airport Train Station" (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 20 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.

You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station "Stadtgarten", usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At "Stadtgarten" you switch trains and get on line U42 towards "Hombruch". Look out for the Station "An der Palmweide". From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop "Dortmund Kampstraße". From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop "Dortmund Wittener Straße". Switch to bus line 447 and get off at "Dortmund Universität S".

By plane

The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.

The H-Bahn (Suspended Monorail System)

The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on Campus Nord. One ("Dortmund Universität S") is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the "Technologiepark" and (via Campus Süd) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at Campus Nord and offers a direct connection to Campus Süd every five minutes.

Map

The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent "Technologiepark".

Site Map of TU Dortmund University (Second Page in English).