University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences. / Department of Communication

by Lee Siu-Po & Yu Pun-Wai. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Figures and Tables --- p.iv / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Literature Review --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Research Objective --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Research Methodology --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Research Results --- p.26 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Recommendation --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Limitations --- p.41 / References --- p.44 / Appendices --- p.45 / Chapter 1. --- Annotated Questionnaire --- p.46 / Chapter 2. --- Table 1 - SPSS Results of the Questionnaire --- p.70 / Chapter 3. --- Table 2 - Tables of Z-values by Brands --- p.73 / Chapter 4. --- Table 3 - Tables of F-values by Brands --- p.75 / Chapter 5. --- Graphical Comparisons of Overall Impressions --- p.77

by Kwok Mei-Choi, Fanny, Lam Ngan-Ying, Phoebe. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 47-48.

Abstract also in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1979. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 119). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter Chapter I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Background --- p.1 / Aim of Study --- p.3 / Scope of Study --- p.3 / Chapter Chapter II --- THE RISE OF CONSUMERISM --- p.6 / What is Consumerism --- p.6 / Cause of Consumerism --- p.10 / The Future of Consumerism --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter III --- CONSUMER MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG --- p.15 / The Hong Kong Consumer Council --- p.16 / Limitations Faced by HongKong Consumer Council --- p.27 / The Future of Hong Kong Consumer Council --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter IV --- A SURVEYOF CONSUMER OPINIONS ABOUT THE HONG KONG CONSUMER COUNCIL --- p.32 / Objectives of the Survey --- p.32 / Research Design --- p.33 / Method of Data Collection --- p.33 / Questionnaire Design --- p.34 / Sample Design --- p.35 / Sampling Procedures --- p.37 / Sample Size --- p.37 / Data Analysis --- p.40 / Limitation of the Survey --- p.43 / Findings --- p.43 / Validity of the Hypotheses --- p.51 / Chapter Chapter V --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.54 / Conclusion --- p.54 / Recommendation --- p.55 / APPENDIX --- p.59 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.119

Wong King Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-83). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; questionnaires in Chinese. / Abstract (English) --- p.2 / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.3 / Dedication --- p.4 / Acknowledgements --- p.5 / Table of Contents --- p.6 / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.8 / Chapter 1.0 --- Overview --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Objectives --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Expected Contributions --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review & Research Model --- p.14 / Chapter 2.0 --- Overview --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1 --- Literature Review on Embarrassment --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Embarrassment and Its Antecedent --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Embarrassment and Its Subsequent Behavioral Tendency --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2 --- Conceptual Definitions --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Consumer Embarrassment --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Cross-selling --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Helping Behavior --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3 --- Hypothesis --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Research Methodology --- p.44 / Chapter 3.0 --- Overview --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Design --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Pretest --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Embarrassing Product --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Scenario Development --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Questionnaire Development --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Experimental Setting --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3 --- Main Study --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Participants --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Materials --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Scenarios --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Manipulation Checks --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Dependent Measures --- p.56 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Procedures --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results And Discussion --- p.58 / Chapter 4.0 --- Overview --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1 --- Reliability of Scales --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2 --- Manipulation Checks --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3 --- Hypotheses Testing --- p.60 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.64 / Chapter 5.0 --- Overview --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1 --- Contributions --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Theoretical Contribution --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Managerial Contribution --- p.66 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3 --- Future Research Directions --- p.68 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Embarrassing Product Typology --- p.68 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Coping Strategies to Embarrassment and Fear of Embarrassment --- p.69 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Coping Strategic Inclinations to Embarrassment --- p.70 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.71 / Appendices --- p.73 / Appendix I - Booklet for Main Study --- p.73 / Appendix II - Booklet For Manipulation Checks --- p.76 / References --- p.79

This paper examines the effects of serial position, price promotion, user experience and brand familiarity on search advertising in China. Past research on traditional media has hypothesized that TV ads in prime time and print ads in cover pages received more audience's attention than other ads placed in nonprime time spots on TV or other ads placed in inside pages in print media. Recent study finds the "banner blindness" phenomenon in interactive advertising due to user expertness. Past research also indicates that price promotion and brand familiarity have positive effects on consumer behavior. Will these theories also apply to the new media search engine? This study investigates whether higher ranked ads will result in higher click-through rates, whether "banner blindness" phenomenon also exists in search advertising and whether price promotion and brand familiarity lead to higher level of user attention and thus higher click-through rate. First, this paper analyzes advertisements in varied positions within the same context to better understand the effect of advertisement position ranking on consumer behavior, its role in advertising effectiveness, and the implications for interactive advertising and marketing communication. Second, it compares advertisement with price promotion message in ad copy with advertisement without price promotion message at the same ranking position within the same context. Finally, this study explores the relationship between user experience, brand familiarity and click-through rate. Major findings of this study include the following: first, primacy effect, price promotion and brand familiarity can lead to higher level of user attention to search advertisements and thus result in higher click-through rates. Second, user experience has a negative effect on search advertising effectiveness. The more experienced the users are, the less likely they click on search advertisements. Lastly, recency effect is not obtained in search advertising in this study. This study helps us better understand the effects of ad serial position, price promotion, user experience & brand familiarity on search advertising. It adds to our knowledge in search advertising and provides theoretical & practical implications for future research. / text

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

After walking through a decade since the millennium, shopping has been undergoing a remarkable transformation. From the most primitive form of exchanging goods with money on streets to the development of retail outlets and department stores, online shops are rapidly booming as one of the modern shopping preferences nowadays. This paper focuses to investigate the factors affecting shoppers' preference of choice between online shopping and mall shopping. The exploratory study examined 3 groups of shoppers including mall shoppers, online shoppers and cross shoppers to compare and contrast their concerned motives and behaviour as appeared in the two shopping modes. The comparison was based on a theoretical model derived in part from Fishbein and Ajzen.s "Theory of Reasoned Action (1980)"; Cowles, Kieker, and Little "E-tailing Theory (2002)”, Tauber (1972)'s Situational I Personal shopping motives model and a comprehensive literature review. The model identified the theoretical factors anticipated to influence the shoppers' groups shopping behaviors. A total of 297 shoppers in 3 shopping malls served as the purposive questionnaire samples. Factors derived from literatures were incorporated into the survey questions to identify the group of shoppers adopting e-shopping, cross shopping and mall shopping and their respective factors affecting their preference of choice. It was reviewed that apart from the various 'consumer', 'marketing' and 'technology' factors affecting e-shoppers, some of the factors were also found influencing the mall shoppers' preferences of choice in a similar way. Likewise, traditional factors motivating people to shop in mall have also infused with new social elements due to the e-era and people's change of lifestyle. In addition, special features and positioning in various malls were also discovered to exert a different impact on shoppers' option. To further enrich the research, face-to-face interview was also conducted with an online store manager and a shopping mall manager to obtain information from the management perspective. In reviewing their perceived reasons as to affect shoppers' preference to e-shopping and mall shopping, on top of the similar factors as suggested in the literatures, they both put much emphasis on the tactical strategies in business operation. Insights were drawn that online stores and shopping malls may not be direct competitors as one may not substitute the other. Recommendations on future business planning in each shopping mode were also made by frequently reviewing shoppers' desire and wants. The paper was concluded by summarizing the findings and to forecast the future shopping trends. Recommendations were also made to online stores and shopping mall operators to cope with shoppers' preferences and maximise their profit. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

As the global marketplace becomes more integrated and consumer specialists develop an international focus, developing useful scales to profile consumer decision-making styles in other cultures becomes important. Comparing the decision-making styles of consumers from different countries would thus contribute to the understanding of the effect of the marketing environment as well as of the cultural factors on consumer decision-making styles. It would also be significant to determine if the decision-making styles of foreign consumers differ from those of local ones. The influx of foreign students enrolled at South African Universities and Technikons has resulted in an increase in the number of consumers who have to make purchases connected to their daily lives within a different cultural environment. An understanding of students as consumers and their decisionmaking processes is important to marketers, particularly as students are recognised as a specialised market segment for a variety of goods and services. It would thus be significant to determine if the decision-making styles of foreign students differ from those of local students. This exploratory study investigates the decision-making styles among Chinese, Motswana and South African Caucasian students in a South African context, with a view of verifying the international applicability of the Consumer Styles Inventory (CSI) developed by Sproles and Kendall (1986). Only students with a Caucasian background were included in an attempt to avoid the influence of the different subcultures amongst South African students. It was found that Sproles and Kendall’s (1986) model did not fit the South African samples. It was furthermore found that differences exist among Motswana, Chinese and Caucasian students in consumer decision-making styles. The mean value for the “Novelty-fashion conscious” style was number one in the list of factors for Chinese and Motswana students and second for the Caucasian sample. “Price conscious” style, however, was number one for the Caucasian students.