A focus group and experiment were conducted to test the effects of psychological distance on participant affect, intentions, and behaviours in the realm of ethical consumption. Construal Level Theory (Liberman and Trope, 1998) posits that psychologically-near concepts are viewed differently than their psychologically-far counterparts, and this framework was used to guide the development of predictions relating to four dimensions of distance: temporal, spatial, social, and hypothetical. The study revealed that participants exhibit significantly higher levels of affect and intention when presented stimuli involve psychologically near impacts rather than psychologically-far impacts. This finding did not carry over into actual behaviour, however. Subject disposition toward psychological distance was measured but was found to not impact affect, intentions, or behaviour. Perceived Consumer Effectiveness (Kinnear, Taylor, & Ahmed, 1974) was found to be an important predictor of behaviour. / viii, 103 leaves ; 29 cm

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2006. / Supervisor: Thomas Crossley. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of English, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48).

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Chow King Mun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-144). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English and Chinese) --- p.iv-v / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Notes --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Diagrams and Tables --- p.viii / Figures / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The Aim of the Study / Chapter 1.2 --- The Road to Chinese Modernity / Chapter 1.3 --- Modernity and Consumption / Chapter 1.4 --- Theories of Consumption / Chapter 1.5 --- Consumption in China / Chapter 1.6 --- "A Brief Overview of the Tian Village, Zhongshan" / Chapter 1.7 --- Methodology / Chapter 1.8 --- Summary of the Chapters Making up the Thesis / Chapter 1.9 --- Significance of Study / Chapter 2. --- Tian Village and its Environment --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Xiaolan Town / Chapter 2.2 --- The Tian Village / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Background / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Dramatic Transformation of the Village / Chapter 2.2.3 --- The Economic Activities / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Education Level / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Migrant Labourers / Chapter 2.3 --- Summary / Chapter 3. --- Aspiring to be Modern --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1 --- What is Modernity? / Chapter 3.2 --- The Aspirations of Older and Younger Villagers / Chapter 3.2.1 --- The young generation / Chapter 3.2.2 --- The old generation / Chapter 3.3.3 --- The hardships of the older villagers / Chapter 3.3 --- The Government Initiatives / Chapter 3.4 --- The Hong Kong Influences / Chapter 3.5 --- The Discourses of Modernity / Chapter 3.6 --- Summary / Chapter 4. --- Striving for a Better Life --- p.78 / Chapter 4.1 --- Strategies to earn money / Chapter 4.2 --- Case Study 1: Big Brother / Chapter 4.3 --- Case Study 2: Ah Ming's mother / Chapter 4.4 --- Case Study 3: AhYan / Chapter 4.5 --- Case Study 4: Mr He / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary / Chapter 5. --- Consumption and Modernity --- p.92 / Chapter 5.1 --- Interpreting modernity: Consumption as a strategy / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Housing / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Food / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Transportation / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Clothes / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Consuming modernity as a daily activity / Chapter 5.2 --- Economic power and generation differences in consumption / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Mobile Phones / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Debit cards/Shopping VIP cards / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The concept of frugality / Chapter 5.3 --- Anti-consumption: the problems of social security / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Ah Han Case / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.130 / Appendix - List of Chinese Characters --- p.137 / Bibliography --- p.139

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

D.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract