A within-person theoretical perspective in sales research: outlining recommendations for adoption and consideration of boundary conditions

• Published in: The Journal of personal selling & sales management Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 386 - 399
• Main Authors: Childs, Dayle R. N., Lee, Nick, Dewsnap, Belinda, Cadogan, John W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 02.10.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; disaggregation; intra-individual; level of analysis; longitudinal; repeated-measures; Researchers; Salespeople; within-person; Within-subjects design
• ISSN: 0885-3134; 1557-7813
• DOI: 10.1080/08853134.2019.1620612

In the sales literature it is standard practice for researchers to collect cross-sectional data from multiple salespeople, and to compare those salespeople on the data obtained. This between-person approach is suitable for research aiming to draw conclusions between salespeople. However, many salesperson processes are dynamic and vary within salespeople over time, requiring datasets with repeated-measures. This article highlights the need to adopt a within-person theoretical perspective in sales research. Critically, the article shows how our present understanding of boundary conditions may change depending on whether a between-person or within-person level of analysis is adopted. Using examples from the sales literature, we show how the practical implications from between-persons research designs do not necessarily generalize to the within-person level. Further, we explain the methodological and analytical considerations that researchers must account for when undertaking within-person research. Furthermore, the article provides decision criteria that help to identify when within-person analysis should be conducted, outlining analysis tools that are capable of correctly estimating within-person effects without bias. Examples of how within-person research can enhance theory within future sales research, and how within-person research may influence management implications are also discussed. Finally, potential remedies to within-person research barriers are given.