This study was designed to help those persons developing and delivering consumer education curriculum understand the needs of Middlesex, Virginia High School Students. The instrument used was a consumer knowledge survey developed by a partnership between the Consumer Federation of American and American Express. The 52 item questionnaire was designed to measure knowledge in six key areas of consumption-consumer credit, checking/savings accounts, automobile insurance, housing rental, food purchase, and automobile purchase. The respondents were students attending Middlesex High School from the four grade levels with completed Informed Consent forms. There were 55 respondents from a total pool of 375 (freshmen, 44%; sophomores, 27%; juniors, 13%; and seniors, 16%). Descriptive statistics were used for demographic items. Non-statistical comparisons were made between grade levels, descriptive demographic characteristics, and consumer categories. Comparisons were also made between the data collected and the data of the national consumer knowledge survey by the Consumer Federation of America and American Express Company. The results indicate that Middlesex High School students were not well prepared for the world of consumption. Overall, the students who responded had limited understanding of consumer knowledge in the six specific areas. The average score was 39%. Students had the poorest understanding of consumer credit, auto insurance, and food purchases. Scores for these category areas averaged less than 40%. The students scored highest on housing rental (45%) and checking/savings accounts (44%). The seniors scored the highest overall score (48%), which was higher than the national average of high school seniors (42%). / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T14:30:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Julciane Castro da Rocha.pdf: 1005141 bytes, checksum: c704e2da264207f2bf84e0417eca5fca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research aims to identify, analyze and discuss, in light of theory, the different manners used to approach the subject of consumption in the Portuguese Language curriculum mediators in Middle School, which were created by the São Paulo Department of Educational Affairs, for the São Paulo Faz Escola Program, seeking to find answers to the following questions: What aspects of the subject of consumption are presented in the curriculum? Which aspects are missing? What kind of people are students expected to be after having this exact curriculum? To this end, the Portuguese Language Teacher s and Student s Books for Middle School were chosen as study objects. The qualitative method was selected for this research, along with some quantitative method akin, which were held through the exploratory research. Document retrieval was used to approach the universe of this study. In order to achieve the proposed goals, five chapters were developed, the first three addressing the theoretical basis. In the first chapter, a historical review of Curriculum Studies was made, so as to situate our research within the critical theories later on. Still in this chapter, the concepts that underlie our research are introduced, such as prescribed curriculum and the curriculum presented to the teachers staff (GIMENO SACRISTÁN, 2000). In the second chapter, the thinking of some authors that focused on reasoning about education as a privileged space for awareness, building citizenship and social transformation, as Freire (2001, 2002, 2005), Cortella (2008), among others, are presented. The third chapter is devoted to the deepening socio-historical and theoretical work on consumption, through the writings of Hobsbawm (2000), Marx (1996), Löwy (2000), Barbosa (2008) and Lara (2009). The fourth chapter focuses on the contexts of our research, data collection and interpretation of results in light of theory. In the last chapter, considerations about the process of this research are made, at the same time that the results analysis and our outlook on including the subject of consumption in the curriculum are presented with a critical eye / Esta pesquisa objetiva identificar, analisar e discutir, à luz da teoria, como se configura a abordagem do tema do consumo nos mediadores curriculares de Língua Portuguesa do Ensino Fundamental Ciclo II produzidos pela Secretaria de Estado da Educação de São Paulo, no programa São Paulo faz Escola , visando encontrar respostas para as seguintes questões: Que aspectos do tema do consumo estão presentes neste currículo? Quais estão ausentes? Que tipo de pessoa este currículo pretende formar? Para tanto, os Cadernos do Professor e os Cadernos do Aluno da disciplina de Língua Portuguesa do Ensino Fundamental - Ciclo II foram escolhidos como objeto de estudo. Como metodologia, optamos pela abordagem qualitativa, com alguns subsídios da abordagem quantitativa, que se realizou por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória. O procedimento utilizado para aproximação do universo pesquisado foi a pesquisa documental. Com a finalidade de atingir os objetivos propostos, elaboramos cinco capítulos, sendo os três primeiros de base teórica. No primeiro capítulo fizemos uma retrospectiva histórica dos estudos na área de currículo para, em seguida, situar nossa pesquisa dentro das teorias críticas. Neste capítulo também apresentamos conceitos que permeiam nossa pesquisa, como currículo prescrito e o currículo apresentado aos professores (GIMENO SACRISTÁN, 2000). No segundo capítulo, apresentamos o pensamento de alguns autores que se debruçaram na tarefa de pensar a educação como um espaço privilegiado para a conscientização, construção da cidadania e a transformação social, como Freire (2001, 2002, 2005), Cortella (2008), entre outros. O terceiro capítulo dedicou-se ao aprofundamento sócio- histórico e teórico sobre o consumo, por meio dos escritos de Hobsbawm (2000), Marx (1996), Löwy (2000), Barbosa (2008) e Lara (2009). O quarto capítulo teve como enfoque o contexto da pesquisa, o levantamento dos dados e nossa interpretação dos resultados obtidos, à luz da teoria. No último capítulo tecemos algumas considerações sobre o processo de elaboração desta pesquisa, nossa análise dos resultados e perspectivas para se pensar a inserção do tema do consumo no currículo sob um olhar crítico

This dissertation consists of three independent essays. We briefly introduce these essays in chapter 1 and leave a comprehensive introduction to each essay. Chapter 2 considers a vertically separated industry where production takes time and vertical mergers shorten production time. We investigate the impact of vertical mergers on the downstream firms' ability to collude and show that vertical mergers facilitate downstream collusion. Chapter 3 provides a theoretical foundation for a puzzling empirical observation that advertising follows an inverted U shape for some new products. Chapter 4 analyzes an incumbent's response to a competitive entry. We show that if the quality of the entrant is uncertain, the incumbent can "jam" the quality signalling of the entrant. Finally, chapter 5 summarizes main conclusions of three essays. / text

This research study put together was based on whether marketing media strategies have an effect on consumption.The purpose of this investigation would provide alternate methods of improving product advertising and client service in the consumer market, as well as influencing the advertising and marketing industry.Marketing media strategies provides a series of tactical actions, which are applied during strategy sales of the product and create awareness in the market amongst the consumer. This will provide an organization with an opportunity to concentrate on the scarce amount of resources and energies available,to apply the best approachfor utilizing these resources, to efficiently target the consumer market. The research approach utilised is the quantitative method, which involves a non-probability sampling technique and a descriptive research type. The research tool implemented is a questionnaire, which consists of two sections, a profile of the participant and the survey section. The survey section explores the perceptions of these participants relating to the awareness of the marketing media strategies and how consumers perceive brands and media consumption in the market currently. Questionnaires were selected based on a high response rate when distributed to respondents. It also provides a possibility of anonymity because the respondent’s names are not required on the completed questionnaires. This research tool wasdistributed in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal to random consumers,media and marketing strategists and people in different professions. The method in which the questionnaire was distributed provides an insight on how people in the market perceive advertising of brands and influences their consumption. A consumer’s insight on advertising would be based on a shopper influence compared to a professional individual who would create a strategic insight. Information in this study was collected from primary and secondary sources, which consist of books, internet sources and past dissertations. From the findings which were collected during this study, it concludes that marketing media strategies play an instrumental role in consumption. These strategies provide a foundation for brands that are advertising and competing in the market, by tactically targeting the consumer market. Consumers’ value advertising in the market, as it provides a guideline before a purchase decision is made. Advertising also serves as a direct method of communicating the emotional and functional benefits of brands and products. Individuals make purchase decisions, which would improve their lifestyle based on emotions; therefore marketing media strategies serve as an awareness mechanism in the market, and drive education to the consumer about the product. The outcome of this study will serve as a guideline for future marketing and media strategists. The key findings gathered during this study states marketing media strategies play a substantial role in brand life and consumption; it allows organizations to focus more on limited resources and energies available and to utilize these resources to their best ability to gain competitive advantage and drive sales in the market which contributes to a higher share of volume and market leadership. The main reasons for executing marketing media strategies in the market is based on developing relationships between the consumer and the brand, which is essentially to expand on repeat purchase from new acquisitions and current consume. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Municipalities are faced with the major task of providing water services to their local residents. Dissatisfaction regarding water services in South Africa has been manifested in protests staged by communities. However, service delivery is still reflecting a backlog. This study aims to describe the current situation and challenges facing Greater Tubatse Local Municipality and the roles of the major players regarding water services. The study indicated that the residents of Praktiseer have no sustainable potable water. The critical part of this inquiry is to establish whether the local municipality has strategies in place to deal with the identified problems. Access to clean water and sanitation is essential to health. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa mandates the local governments to ensure the provision of water services to their communities in a sustainable manner. This study also defined the roles of the local municipality within the context of the existing legislative framework. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Municipalities are faced with the major task of providing water services to their local residents. Dissatisfaction regarding water services in South Africa has been manifested in protests staged by communities. However, service delivery is still reflecting a backlog. This study aims to describe the current situation and challenges facing Greater Tubatse Local Municipality and the roles of the major players regarding water services. The study indicated that the residents of Praktiseer have no sustainable potable water. The critical part of this inquiry is to establish whether the local municipality has strategies in place to deal with the identified problems. Access to clean water and sanitation is essential to health. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa mandates the local governments to ensure the provision of water services to their communities in a sustainable manner. This study also defined the roles of the local municipality within the context of the existing legislative framework. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Thesis (MConsumerScience)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The provision of housing in South Africa is a national priority. As many aspirant homeowners are first-time homeowners, they are not necessarily informed about the pitfalls of home ownership. Although the Government has attempted short-term solutions aimed at equipping these housing consumers with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and responsible housing-related decisions, research pointed to the need for a sustainable longterm solution in the form of education and training of the housing consumer. There must be a concentrated effort to provide housing education to consumers, since everyone has a constitutional right of access to adequate housing. Unless consumers are equipped with adequate knowledge and information to make informed choices, this right will not be realised and the housing market shall not function effectively. The main objective of the research study was to determine the basic housing knowledge of the senior student teachers of the Esikhawini College of Education in KwaZulu Natal. The second objective was to develop an illustrative Unit Standard for teacher qualification programmes on the fifth level of the National Oualificationa Framework (NOF). The sixteen housing education and training core concepts identified by Serfontein (2001 :120) namely Basic Housing Technology, Community, Cultural Aspects of Housing, Environment, Financial Aspects of Housing, Housing Consumerism, Housing Design and Decoration, Housing Market, Housing Needs, Housing Policy, Legal Aspects of Housing, Resource Management, Role-players in Housing, Sources of Housing Information, Tenure Options and Types of Housing were used to compile a questionnaire which was administered to the senior students of Esikhawini College of Education. The aim was to determine the basic knowledge that respondents possessed. The data collected formed the background for the illustrative Unit Standard for Housing Education that was developed in this research study. The development of Unit Standards for Housing Education is very necessary and timely as the Department of Housing, who seeks to develop a systematic housing consumer education framework for South Africa, have recommended that Housing Education should be included in the formal education curriculum. If the recommendations of the Department of Housing are implemented and housing education is included in the school curriculum, well-qualified and trained teachers would be needed to facilitate the learning of the content. Therefore housing education should be included in student teacher training programmes. The illustrative Unit Standard for Housing Education developed in this research study is ideally suited for this purpose. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beskikbaarstelling van behuising in Suid-Afrika is 'n nasionale prioriteit. Aangesien baie aspirant huiseienaars nog nie vantevore huise besit het nie, is hulle nie noodwendig ingelig oor die struikelblokke van huiseienaarskap nie. Alhoewel die regering korttermyn pogings aangewend het om behuisingverbruikers toe te rus met die nodige kennis en vaardighede om ingeligte en verantwoordelike behuisingsbesluite te kan neem, toon navorsing dat daar 'n behoefte is aan 'n langtermyn, standhoudende oplossing in die vorm van opvoeding en die opleiding van behuisingsverbruikers. Daar moet 'n doelgerigte strewe wees om behuisingsopvoeding aan verbruikers te verskaf aangesien almal die konstitusionele reg tot gepaste behuising het. Tensy verbruikers toegerus word met gepaste kennis en inligting om ingeligte besluite te kan neem, sal hierdie reg nie gerealiseer kan word nie, en sal die behuisingsmark nie effektief kan funksioneer nie. Die hoofdoelwit van die navorsingstudie was om die basiese behuisingskennis van senior onderwysstudente aan die Esikhawini College of Education in KwaZulu Natal te bepaal. Die tweede doelwit was om 'n Eenheidstandaard vir Behuisingsopvoeding vir onderwysprogramme op die vyfde vlak van die Nasionale Kwalifikasie Raamwerk (NKR) te ontwikkel. Die sestien Behuisingsopvoeding en -opleiding kernkonsepte wat deur Serfontein (2001: 120) geïdentifiseer is, naamlik Basiese Behuisingstegnologie, Gemeenskap, Kulturele Aspekte van Behuising, Omgewing, Finansiële Aspekte van Behuising, Behuisingsverbruik, Behuisingsontwerp en -versiering, Behuisingsmark, Behuisingsbehoeftes, Behuisingsbeleid, Regsaspekte van Behuising, Hulpbronbestuur, Rolspelers in Behuising, Bronne van behuisingsinformasie, Huisverblyfopsies en Tipes Behuising is gebruik om 'n vraelys op te stel wat ingevul is deur die senior onderwysstudente aan die Esikhawini College of Education. Die doel was om die basiese kennis van die respondente te bepaal. Die data wat ingesamel is, het die onderbou gevorm van die Behuising Eenheidstandaard wat in dié navorsingstudie ontwikkel is. Die ontwikkeling van Eenheidstandaarde vir Behuisingsopvoeding en Opleiding is noodsaaklik en tydig vir die Departement van Behuising, aangesien hulle poog om 'n sistematiese behuisingsverbruikers-opvoedingsraamwerk vir Suid-Afrika daar te stel. Die Departement het aanbeveel dat behuisingsopvoeding ingesluit moet word in die formele onderwyskurrikulum. As die aanbevelings van die Departement van Behuising geïmplementeer word, en behuisingsopvoeding in die skoolkurrikulum ingesluit word, sal goedgekwalifiseerde, opgeleide onderwysers benodig word om hierdie inligting aan die leerders voor te hou. Om hierdie rede moet behuisingsopvoeding ingesluit word in die opleidingsprogramme van onderwysstudente. Die Eenheidstandaard vir Behuising wat in hierdie studie ontwikkel is, sou optimaal aangewend kon word vir hierdie doel.

My master's thesis deals with the issue of consumerism and consumer behaviour focusing on children and youth. The thesis is divided into two main parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part describes development of consumer behaviour and factors influencing it, such as social groups or advertising. It also deals with children's perception of brands and their impact on children's consumer behaviour. It describes the significance of consumer education in the context of the education system in the Czech Republic. It also deals with the consumer education systems and possibilities in the broader context of the European Union and other organizations. The practical part contains a lesson plan on consumer education and a pilot case study on consumer behaviour of a selected group of Czech children. The pilot case study asked two research questions: What do brands mean for the children? Do the children show signs of consumerism through their preferences and consumer behaviour? The results of the pilot case study are described in this section as well.

Orientador: Orly Zucatto Mantovani de Assis / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T12:47:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Araujo_ReginaMagnaBonifaciode_D.pdf: 4049701 bytes, checksum: e4ec807d64db7a1d22e845bfc19e8b33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o pensamento econômico de crianças brasileiras, entre 9 e 11 anos, antes e após o desenvolvimento de um Programa de Educação Econômica. A principal relevância dessa investigação foi introduzir o estudo da formação do pensamento econômico em crianças, no contexto da pesquisa educacional no Brasil, trabalhando o tema a partir de um modelo de desenvolvimento das idéias econômicas, vinculado à perspectiva cognitivista e com influência do ambiente social e educativo. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em três etapas. A primeira consistiu na tradução, adaptação e preparação do instrumento de medida, Escala TAE-N, desenvolvida e validada no Chile e replicada através deste trabalho no Brasil, com uma amostra de 132 crianças, alunos e alunas da 3ª e 4ª séries do Ensino Fundamental, da rede particular de ensino da cidade de São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo. Ainda nesta fase, foi realizada, numa amostra de 30 crianças, uma entrevista clínica sobre o tema, com o propósito de caracterizar os sujeitos envolvidos. Os resultados desta primeira etapa mostraram, tendo como parâmetro os Níveis de Desenvolvimento do Pensamento Econômico proposto por Denegri, que as crianças apresentavam um pensamento econômico primitivo, orientado para uma compreensão específica dos fenômenos econômicos e com uma capacidade de estabelecer relações e explicar a realidade econômica a partir de suas vivências e das informações que recebem do meio familiar, escolar e da mídia. Na segunda etapa, foi desenvolvido com as turmas um Programa de Educação Econômica, intitulado ¿Educando para o Consumo Consciente¿, utilizando a metodologia de trabalho com projetos, numa perspectiva interdisciplinar e transversal. Na terceira e última etapa desta pesquisa, a Escala TAE-N foi novamente aplicada nos alunos. Verificou-se, nesta segunda aplicação, que todas as turmas apresentaram um aumento na média das pontuações, o que sinaliza um desenvolvimento na compreensão dos fenômenos econômicos. Os resultados indicaram, ainda, o crescimento igual nas diferentes idades e um melhor desempenho dos meninos em relação às meninas no espaço entre os tempos de aplicação da Escala. Em relação às turmas, todas apresentaram crescimento na segunda aplicação do TAE-N, embora em percentuais diferentes. As análises permitiram tanto uma compreensão mais específica de como as crianças brasileiras compreendem o mundo econômico, quanto uma visão mais abrangente da importância de se trabalhar esse tema no âmbito das escolas de Educação Básica / Abstract: The objective of this paper was to investigate the economic thought of Brazilian children, between nine and eleven years old, before and after the development of na Economic Education Program. Its mainly relevance was to introduce the economic thought formation study in children in the context of educational research in Brazil, working on the theme in a development model of economic ideas connected to the cognitivist perspective and with influence of the social and educative enviroments. This research was developed in three stages. The first consisted on the translation, adaptation and preparation of the measure tool, TAE-N scale, developed and checked in Chile and pealed through this research in Brazil, with a sample of 132 children, students of 3rd and 4th grades of the Elementary School, in a Private School in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo. Still at this stage, a clinical interview in a sample of 30 children was made with the purpose of characterizing them. The results of this first stage showed, by the parameters of the Development Levels of the Economic Thought, prepositioned by Denegri, that the children have presented a primitive economic thought, directed to a specific comprehention of the economic phenomena and with the capacity of creating relations and explain the economic reality from their own daily experiences and from the information they received from their familiar, schoolar and media enviroments. The second stage was developed with the classes of an Economic Education Program entitled ¿Educando para o Consumo Consciente¿, using the methodology of projects work, in a transversal and interdisciplinar perspective. Finally, at the third and last stage of this research, the TAE-N scale has been applied again on the students. It was verified that al the classes presented an increase in their medium scores, what signalyzes a development in the economic phenomena comprehention. The results indicated an equal growth in the different ages analyzed and a better performance of the boys than the one of the girls, during the application of the Scale. In concern to the classes, all of them presented knowledge growth in the second application of TAE-N, although in different percentuals. The analysis enabled a more specific comprehention of how the Brazilian children understand the economic world as well as more open view on the importance of working on this theme in the Elementary School enviroment / Doutorado / Psicologia, Desenvolvimento Humano e Educação / Doutor em Educação

United States' policy makers have been challenged creating understandable nutrition labels and effective healthy food campaigns for consumers of mixed heritage. Previous studies explored the sociocultural factors that influence Hispanics' abilities to navigate consumer food education programs, but little was known about how Mexican culture impacts those programs. The purpose of this study was to better understand those factors. Research questions focused on the experiences of residents of a west Texas town regarding their food decision-making process about food choices and their understanding of food education information. The purpose of this phenomenological research was to explore how Mexican culture effected navigation through these programs. I used the theory of dietary acculturation, environmental theory, and advocacy coalition framework as the lenses to view this phenomenon. Data were generated from 9 interviews with primary decision makers concerning food choices for their households. Interview data were open coded to obtain themes suggested by study participants. Results indicated that participants considered healthy food and used varying approaches when selecting healthy food. Family time was an important factor in food choice. Healthy foods messages came from personal physicians, local marketing, and government agencies. The quality and cost of American products were often a consideration. Participants indicated that access to current health information and Mexican food products are integral to making future healthy food choices. The implications for positive social change may include raising awareness among state and federal policy makers of the factors influencing healthy food choices in effective nutrition labeling and healthy food education programs.