Marketing Research Cluster
Who We Are
The Marketing Research Group (MaRG) collates and develops the research calibre of a group of colleagues, both early career and well established, who are contributing to a wide range of marketing-related studies. These include marketing strategies, consumption, consumer culture, consumer behaviour, communications, advertising, digital and social media, brand management, entrepreneurial marketing and consumer technology.
By means of a wide range of scholarly activities, MaRG aims to enhance knowledge and offer insights for marketing and consumer studies in various local or global contexts, from a spectrum of perspectives that draw on cross-disciplinary approaches. Our research puts emphasis on creating and fostering sustainable values and resources for markets, consumers and related stakeholders.
With diverse background and scholarly interests of our members, we offer a number of undergraduate programmes (BA (Hons) Marketing and Advertising, and BA (Hon) Business and Marketing Management) as well as postgraduate programmes (MSc Digital Marketing, MSc Management with Marketing, MSc Marketing, MPhil/PhD Marketing).
Our Research
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A Self-Sustaining Business Model for the Lincoln Trauma Centre
Dr Victoria Ellis-Vowles is pleased to announce that she is working with Lincoln Trauma Centre to create a self-sustaining business model. The consultancy is funded by the European Regional Development Fund Productivity Voucher Scheme.
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How Agricultural Shows can be Strategically Planned for "Blended" Events
Dr Barry Ardley is working with Northumbria University on how agricultural shows can be strategically planned for “blended” events that incorporate value from online and physical offerings.
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Developing Home Gym's Value Offering for their Social Media Community
Dr Victoria Ellis-Vowles is pleased to announce that she is working with Home Gym UK Community to develop their value offering for their social media community. The consultancy is funded by the European Regional Development Fund Productivity Voucher Scheme.
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Understanding Intergenerational differences in visitors’ sustainable behaviours
Dr. Samira Zare’s project explores intergenerational differences in sustainability-related behaviours within the broader leisure context to inform both theory and practice about the implications of such behavioural differences.
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Using cultural capital for acculturation
Dr Connie Mak and Prof Bill Xu explore how educated and affluent immigrants from Mainland China adapt to life and identity in Hong Kong through the consumption and acquisition of cultural capital. Drawing on sociological practice theories, the study examines how cultural capital shapes belonging and post-migration adaptation among migrants from Mainland China and Taiwan.
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Walking-With Research on International Students’ Cultural Adaptation
Dr Connie Mak and Dr Abigail Ehidiamen were awarded the British Academy ECRN Seed Fund 2025 to use the walking-with interview method to explore cultural adaptation among international students in UK universities. Addressing declining overseas student recruitment, the project aims to provide practical recommendations for the higher education sector while extending methodological applications in social adaptation research.
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Governance and Marketisation Strategy for People's Pub Partnership
Dr Victoria Ellis-Vowles has teamed up with People's Pub Partnership to develop a new governance model for a pub company focused on social impact. Priorities include community contribution, local supply chains, carbon neutrality, and rethinking measures of success for landlords. The project supports the organisation’s progression to proof of concept through a bespoke marketisation strategy.
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Cultural Perspectives on Dynamic Ride Sharing in Emerging African Markets
Dr Abigail Ehidiamen’s project explores cultural influences on consumers’ willingness to engage in dynamic ride sharing within an emerging African market. The research examines how multidimensional cultural sharing values shape the drivers and barriers affecting participation in shared mobility services.
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Chatbot Failures and Customer Avoidance Behaviour
Dr Huu Nguyen is conducting experimental research into how service chatbot failures influence customer avoidance intentions. The project investigates the impact of emoji use, fallback access to human employees, brand familiarity, and chatbot promises. The findings aim to help organisations and AI developers design more effective customer service chatbots.
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UK Mask Wearing Behaviour and Attitudes in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ms Ngoc Nguyen, along with colleagues from Bangor University and Birmingham University, is currently investigating the influence of media communications and consumer identities on sustainable practices regarding consumers’ mask wearing choices. It is one of the research themes of the interdisciplinary research grew out of the £426,513 Arts and Humanities Research Council project (AHRC/UKVI): "Between environmental concerns and compliance: How does media messaging affect motivation and choice between disposable versus reusable facemasks?", led by Prof. Nathan Abrams (Bangor University).
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Broken Consumer-Brand Relationships
Dr. Abigail Ehidiamen and Dr. Connie Mak’s study examines the phenomenon of broken-consumer brand relationships. The research explores the nuanced and complex transitional journey of consumers who have previously experienced brand love and lost it. The study seeks to provide practical and managerial implications on nurturing and re-building existing and damaged consumer-brand relationships.
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Work From the Pub Scheme
Dr Victoria Ellis-Vowles is collaborating with Pub is The Hub to investigate the social and economic potential of remote working in rural pubs. The project explores how pubs can support local communities by providing flexible workspaces, increasing footfall, and encouraging sustainable local economic activity. Findings will help inform rural business strategy and community development initiatives.
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Nigerian Migrant Female Entrepreneurs in the UK
Dr Jialin Hardwick is working with external academic partners at Aberdeen Business School, UK and Xian JiaoTong-Liverpool University Management School, UK-China on a research project, awarded £11,400 funded by Xian JiaoTong-Liverpool University, UK-China. The study investigates Nigeria migrant women entrepreneurs’ experiences, problems and solutions from sociological, economic and marketing perspectives.
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Strategic Views on Digital Marketing
Dr Jialin Hardwick’s project on ‘Strategic Views on Digital Marketing’, funded by Siemens Energy SGT, examines digital marketing strategies of, and provides recommendations to, the organisations in the oil and gas sector.
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High-Tech SME Innovation and Digital Technologies
Dr Jialin Hardwick works with Dr Barry Ardley on a study of digital technologies and the high-tech SMEs innovation. Through a phenomenological approach, the research investigates the ways of digital technologies in facilitating the high-tech small firms’ innovation practices, UK.
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AI-Generated LinkedIn Posts and Professional Praise
Dr Caroline Glowka’s project examines AI-generated LinkedIn posts through the lens of epideictic rhetoric. The research explores how AI reshapes professional self-presentation, influences norms of praise and value expression, and raises questions around authenticity and algorithmic mediation in professional communication.
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Green marketing and Othering on TikTok
Dr Caroline Glowka’s research examines how sustainability messaging on TikTok can reinforce processes of social exclusion and “othering”. The project explores how green marketing narratives shape identity, authenticity, and perceptions of ethical consumption among audiences engaging with sustainability content on social media platforms.
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Student Engagement in Digital Marketing Simulations
Dr Caroline Glowka’s project explores the use of simulation games in digital marketing education at Lincoln International Business School. Drawing on experiential learning frameworks, the research evaluates how business simulations support engagement, realistic decision-making, and educational outcomes from the student perspective.
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Digital Marketing Plan for the Launch of LincsTherapy’s Biofeedback Services
Dr Caroline Glowka’s project focuses on developing a data-driven digital marketing plan for the launch of LincsTherapy’s biofeedback services. It involves in-depth market research using AI tools and supports LincsTherapy’s business growth. The project is funded by a UKRI Innovate UK.
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Greenwashing Strategies in Fashion Industry Instagram Narratives
Dr Caroline Glowka and Alessia Vacca are investigating greenwashing within the sustainable fashion industry. The interdisciplinary project explores how environmental claims are constructed and communicated on Instagram, examining both legal and marketing perspectives to better understand the regulation and impact of sustainability messaging.
Research Seminars and Public Engagements
Find out about research seminars and public engagement activities from the Marketing Research Cluster.
Connect with Us
Lincoln International Business School
University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool Campus
Lincoln
LN5 7AT