The impact of extended family on consumer decision making: a conceptual framework

This article proposes a conceptual framework for exploring the impact of extended family on family decision making. Past research has examined the decision roles and the influence of nuclear family members, however there is a lack of knowledge pertaining to extended family members. Evidence from disciplines such as family and social studies suggest that extended family can have a significant influence on the nuclear family in a range of contexts. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review on family decision making and extended family, identifying critical gaps in knowledge and presents a conceptual frame work for exploring the roles and influence of extended family on the decision making process. Additionally, it is suggested that future qualitative research should adopt a "family perspective" in order to fully explore the impact of extended family members.