Consumers seem to believe that a disgusting product--such as diapers or cat litter--somehow taints the products near it, according to studies of customer behavior. This sense of "product contamination" can hurt retail sales. -- by Carrie Barnett

Do you try to predict who will win a game show? Do you place bets on sports teams? ASU marketing professors say that making predictions about these kinds of events decreases the fun of watching them.--by Carrie Barnett

Do you ever pull a magazine from the back of the rack at the supermarket? You are not alone--most shoppers never pick the one in front. Andrea Morales studies this phenomenon of "product contamination" and how it costs retailers. --by Carrie Barnett