An Empirical Study On Response Tone, Emotional Congruence, And Brand Value On Douyin (Scenario 2)
My name is ZhouTing, and I am a postgraduate student pursuing a Master of Communication at Taylor's University. This questionnaire is part of my academic research project and it aims to understand how consumers perceive brand crisis responses on social media platforms, particularly in the context of Douyin. You will be asked to read a brief description of a brand crisis situation, followed by a brand’s official response.
All responses are anonymous and confidential and will be used for academic research purposes only . Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary, and you may stop at any time.
The questionnaire will take approximately 5–8 minutes to complete. By continuing, you confirm that you are 18 years old or above and agree to participate in this study.
Demographic Information
1. Age 18–24 25–34 35–44 45–50
2. Gender Male Female Prefer not to say
3. Highest Level of Education High school or below Diploma Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree or above
4. Current Occupation Student Corporate Employee Government/Institution Employee Self-Employed / Business Owner Other:
Instruction: Please read the following situation carefully.
Crisis Background: A well-known consumer brand on Douyin has recently been criticized by users after several consumers reported quality problems with one of its products. Related posts and comments expressing dissatisfaction and anger quickly spread on the Douyin platform, attracting widespread public attention. Many users questioned the brand’s responsibility and demanded an official response.
Brand Response:
After careful review, we believe that the issues mentioned online are not related to the quality of our products. The brand has always followed strict quality control standards, and there is currently no evidence indicating product defects.
Some of the information circulating online may be inaccurate or misleading. We hope the public can view this matter rationally and avoid spreading unverified claims. The brand reserves the right to protect its reputation through appropriate means.
Negative Public Emotion 1. I felt outraged by the brand’s response. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
2. I felt disappointed with the brand’s response. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
3. I felt dissatisfied with the brand’s response. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Response Strategy Please indicate your level of agreement with each statement.
4. The brand publicly acknowledged its mistake and apologized. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
5. The brand denied being responsible for the crisis. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Response Tone 6. The tone of the brand’s response was mild and sincere. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
7. The brand’s response conveyed empathy. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
8. The tone of the brand’s response was cold and hard. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Emotional Congruence 9. The emotions expressed in the brand response were consistent with how I felt. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
10. The brand response showed understanding of public anger. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
11. The brand response did not match my feelings at that moment. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Perceived Brand Value 12. I think the brand still has high value. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
13. I still trust the brand. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
14. I would be willing to continue buying this brand. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
15. I would recommend this brand to others. Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree