Abstract
This chapter provides a comprehensive review of literature that examines the message effects of CSR communication. Specifically, it discusses theoretical and methodological approaches to CSR message effects, CSR message strategies, critical factors that influence stakeholder responses to CSR messages, and the different contexts within which messages are communicated. Based on the review of the current nature and state of CSR communication message effects research, the chapter concludes with critiquing an underdeveloped stream of CSR message effects studies and offers insight into the directions for future studies to advance this sub-area of research within the field of CSR communication.
This chapter provides a review of literature that examines the message effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication. It offers insight into theoretical and methodological approaches to CSR message effects, CSR message strategies, diverse factors that influence stakeholder responses to CSR messages, and the different contexts within which messages are communicated. Further, based on this comprehensive review of literature on CSR message effects, the chapter also provides critiques on extant literature and shed light on promising directions for future studies to advance this sub-area of research within the field of CSR communication. When it comes to CSR communication message effects, instrumental approach is the dominant paradigm in the current literature. A contextualized understanding of how people and institutions evaluate and respond to CSR messages in different cultures are crucial to successful creation and communication of culturally sensitive CSR messages, which is indispensable to exploring solutions for these global issues.