Low-literate consumers display distinctive behaviour in the marketplace, and in the first phase of a mixed method study, the aim was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of low-literate clothing consumers. Due to fairly high levels of low-literacy in South Africa and limited research, this research was undertaken to better understand the behaviour of low-literate clothing consumers in the marketplace. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, and through inductive, interpretative data analysis three broad themes were identified, namely personal (cognitive, social, financial and affective), product (types and format of product information, evaluative criteria) and store-related (store assistants’ behaviour, store selection and in-store information) challenges and associated coping strategies. The results of this study can be used to advise marketers regarding the needs of these consumers, and were also used to develop a quantitative measuring instrument to investigate low-literate consumers’ use of clothing labels in the retail setting. In the second quantitative phase of the study, the use of clothing label information amidst low-literate respondents’ personal- (reading and numeracy skills, concrete and pictographic thinking) and product-related challenges (the format of labels, care-label knowledge and evaluating clothing products’ quality) were investigated. The study sample consisted of 450 black female consumers with literacy levels between Grades 5 and 8, residing in the Emfuleni Local Municipality area, in the southern part of Gauteng, South Africa. Interviewer administered questionnaires were filled out, and it was examined for validity and reliability. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations were drawn between reliable factors, and practical significant correlations were reported. ANOVA’s indicated statistically significant differences with mostly medium effect sizes between the occupation of respondents and selected factors. Respondents indicated that they do read and understand clothing labels, but results revealed that they did experience problems when using information on labels. Their numeracy skills were average, and abstract thinking related to numeracy, were fair. Pictographic thinking was evident in their preference for symbolic and graphic presentation of size format, but not when they were presented altered store logos. Care label knowledge was poor, and clothing products were evaluated concretely. Some of the respondents, especially the older respondents were inclined to follow the peripheral route of elaboration when reading clothing label information. / Thesis (PhD (Consumer Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The purpose of this thesis was to establish the importance of cognitive factors in the ability to follow therapeutic diets by examining participants’ reading behaviours when shown food labels. In two laboratory experiments, 64 undergraduate students were asked to repeatedly make decisions about the safety of foods that did or did not contain specified allergen targets. Mock food labels were presented in randomized and intermixed orders, with each of 30 products being presented 15 times. At each presentation students were able to make their safety judgement with or without consulting the food ingredient list on the label. With repetition of products, participants traded the certainty of verification for the facility of using memory. Mean target accuracy did not reach 100% implying limitations to people’s reading accuracy, learning, and judgements about that learning. The findings from this study suggest that people probably choose not to read food labels as often as they should and miss seeing target ingredients when they are consulting the label.

As shisha smoking is increasing globally, the need for a critical action to control shisha smoking consumption becomes crucial. Despite the success of cigarette warning labels in increasing smokers' awareness of the negative health effects of smoking and in motivating smokers to quit, nothing is known about the potential impact health warning labels may have on shisha users. The current study investigated the perception of effectiveness of text-only versus graphic warning among shisha smokers. This study sought to examine the impact of viewing health warning labels on perceived susceptibility and severity of shisha smoking health hazards, on motivating intentions to quit, and on changing the pattern of shisha smoking. Eligible participants first completed an online baseline questionnaire, and were then randomly assigned to one of three conditions:a control condition, in which they viewed nutrition labels (n=100) , or one of two experimental groups in which they viewed Text- only warning labels (n=117), or they viewed Graphic warning labels (n=125). In each of these three conditions, participants viewed six health warning labels and rated them using likert scale questions immediately following each label. Two weeks later, participants were invited to complete an online follow-up questionnaire. The findings indicate that Graphic tobacco warnings grab participants' attention and elicit unfavourable emotional reactions. Although there was a relatively little impact of viewing health warnings on subsequent shisha use, Graphic warnings significantly improved some of the participants' health knowledge .In addition, Graphic warnings significantly increased smokers' beliefs that shisha is harmful to health and dangerous to non-smokers. Patterns of the findings revealed that quit intentions were relatively higher among those who viewed Graphic warning labels. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effect of health warnings on shisha smokers. Overall, findings provide modest support for the efficcacy of shisha warnings on establised users. Findings imply that packaging and labelling policies for shisha and shisha products require additional development. Further examination of specific themes and contents of health warnings directed specifically to shisha smokers in different cultural settings will be critical to ensure the relevance of health warnings in distinct cultural settings.

Graduation date: 1933

Photocopy of typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1979. / Bibliography: leaves 174-182. / Microfiche. / xvi, 182 leaves ill. 29 cm

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [115]-118).

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-164). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

This submission for PhD by publication consists of a portfolio of nine peer reviewed and published papers. The research presented in the portfolio contributes to theory, knowledge and discussion in the area of retail marketing. The common theme of the papers is competition in grocery retailing, and specifically the way that retail marketing strategy and supply chain relations affects retail competition and outcomes for consumers. While the nine papers share a common approach in how grocery retailers compete through pricing and product choices along with their trading terms with suppliers, each individual paper addresses a distinctive central question: How does pricing competition change in the wake of a major merger in the retail grocery sector? How do grocery retailers respond in their pricing, promotion and advertising to the onset of a macro-economic crisis? Do grocery retailers encourage excessive consumption of alcohol by under-shifting excise duty increases on cheap alcohol? Why do retailers use value size pricing and offer bargain prices on jumbo-sized sugary drinks that encourages harmful excessive consumption? Is retail buyer power over suppliers detrimental to competition? In what circumstances might the development and promotion of brands and private labels be deleterious to consumers interests? How should competition authorities and practitioners assess the extent of competition between brands and private labels? How can the development of copycat private labels directly mimicking leading brands result in higher overall prices for consumers? Do retailers manipulate grocery prices to favour private labels over brands? Beyond their academic research contribution, the findings and insights provided in the papers both individually and collectively have relevance to retailers, suppliers, consumers, regulators and policymakers in desiring to see an efficient, well-functioning and dynamic grocery retail sector.

xiii, 164 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Research in the warnings literature has investigated several factors that may affect motivation to comply with the information contained in warnings. However, little research in this area has examined the role that emotion may play in motivating behavior. Three studies were conducted to determine whether participants had an emotional response to warning labels, and, if so, whether the activated emotions were related to behavioral intentions. In Study 1 ( N = 202), participants were asked to imagine themselves in specific situations in which they needed to use particular products. They were then presented with actual warning labels from common consumer products. Both before and after presentation of the warning, participants were asked to rate the extent to which they felt specific emotions and their behavioral intentions. For the majority of the products, surprise and fear increased after exposure to the warning labels. In addition, fear predicted likelihood of use for 9 of the 12 products. In Study 2 ( N = 200), the general framework of the Extended Parallel Process Model (Witte, 1992) was used in an attempt to manipulate fear responses to the warning labels. Four warning labels were created by varying severity of the consequences (low, high) and efficacy of the precautionary instructions (low, high). Participants exposed to the high severity/high efficacy warning label reported higher levels of fear than those in the other three conditions. Fear was negatively correlated with likelihood of use, but positively correlated with precautionary intent. Study 3 ( N = 256) was conducted in an effort to replicate the findings of Study 2 and determine whether the findings would generalize when the four warning labels were paired with a different consumer product. Participants in the high severity conditions reported higher levels of fear than those in the low severity conditions. Again, fear was negatively correlated with likelihood of use and positively correlated with precautionary intent. Possible reasons for the different effects of severity and efficacy on the fear responses for Studies 2 and 3 are explored. Implications of the findings, study limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. / Committee in charge: Robert Mauro, Chairperson, Psychology; Sara Hodges, Member, Psychology; Paul Slovic, Member, Psychology; Debra Merskin, Outside Member, Journalism and Communication

Orientador: Elisabete Salay / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T19:57:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moraes_VivianeHelenaFerreira_M.pdf: 857711 bytes, checksum: 1eacc1d186e328481bac6aee01eb4ebb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Alimentos funcionais são aqueles que além da nutrição básica, promovem a redução de risco de doenças e a manutenção da boa saúde, favorecendo a longevidade e a qualidade de vida. Neste cenário, as indústrias buscam desenvolver novos alimentos que atendam a este promissor mercado e também comunicar ao consumidor os benefícios à saúde desses alimentos, enquanto que os órgãos reguladores se empenham em garantir a segurança do consumidor e protegê-lo de propagandas enganosas. O licopeno é um carotenóide que tem apresentado resultados positivos em pesquisas relacionadas à redução de riscos de alguns cânceres e doenças cardíacas. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo avaliar a opinião, o conhecimento e as práticas declaradas de consumidores adultos do município de Campinas, com relação à alimentos que reduzem riscos de doenças, em especial aqueles contendo licopeno e também analisar o papel da rotulagem de alimentos na veiculação de benefícios à saúde. Foram aplicados questionários a 155 indivíduos e os dados encontrados foram tratados estatisticamente, sendo utilizados os softwares XLSTAT 2006 e MINITAB 14.2. As mulheres representaram 56% dos entrevistados, destacaram-se no nível de escolaridade aqueles que tinham nível superior, representando 42% da amostra, enquanto que com relação à faixa etária, 71% encontravam-se entre 18 e 39 anos. Os consumidores relataram na escolha dos alimentos valorizarem a qualidade geral (38,1%), como atributo principal, além do sabor (24,5%) e preço (16,8%). Com relação ao interesse por alimentos que reduzem riscos de doenças, os entrevistados demonstraram maior interesse por alimentos relacionados à redução de riscos de doenças do coração (24,7%), cânceres (21,4%), e obesidade (16,2%). A televisão foi apontada como o principal meio de comunicação para obtenção de informações sobre benefícios à saúde (70,3%) proporcionados por alimentos. Tratando-se de alimentos contendo licopeno, os consumidores embora consumissem este tipo de alimento, não conheciam os benefícios associados à sua ingestão (63,3%) e também informaram nunca terem visto (83,3%), em rótulos de alimentos, alegações de propriedades funcionais deste carotenóide. Quando informados sobre os benefícios à saúde associados ao licopeno, os consumidores demonstraram intenção para o aumento do consumo, principalmente de alimentos que já eram usualmente consumidos, ressaltando ainda que a preferência também estava relacionada a alimentos contendo licopeno naturalmente presente (59%) comparativamente àqueles com licopeno adicionado. Com relação às práticas saudáveis, 44% dos consumidores pesquisados apontaram ter dificuldades em praticar exercícios, evitarem produtos com altos índices de gorduras (36%), açúcares (38%) e sal (32%) e evitarem produtos que aumentam o colesterol (32%). A maioria dos sujeitos se interessam (77,4%) e consultam os rótulos de alimentos (85%) sobre benefícios à saúde ao menos algumas vezes, sendo que 70,4% consideram difícil identificar estas informações em rótulos. A grande maioria (84%) é favorável à colocação de símbolos ou figuras em rótulos de alimentos para facilitar a identificação de benefícios à saúde. Os dados encontrados podem orientar programas de desenvolvimento de novos produtos pelas indústrias de alimentos, programas de informação do consumidor e ajustes de regulamentação pelo governo, tendo sempre como foco a complexidade da questão do consumidor / Abstract: Functional foods are the ones that, besides basic nutrition, provide diseases risk reduction and maintenance of good health, collaborating for the longevity and life quality. In this scene, the companies search to develop new foods that take care of to this promising market and also to communicate to the consumers the benefits to the health of these foods, while the regulating agencies pledge in guaranteeing the security of the consumers. The licopene is one carotenoid that has presented positive results in researches related to the reduction of risks of some cancers and cardiac illnesses. This research had for objective to evaluate the opinion, the knowledge and the declared consumption of adult consumers of the city of Campinas, with regard to the foods that reduce risks of illnesses, especially those that contains licopene and also to analyze the role of the labeling of foods in the promotion of benefits to the health. Questionnaires were applied to 155 individuals and the joined data were treated statistically, and softwares XLSTAT 2006 and MINITAB 14.2 were used. Women represented 56% of the interviewed ones, were distinguished in the educational level those that had superior level, representing 42% of the sample, whereas with regard to the age band, 71% are between 18 and 39 years. The consumers had told in the choice of foods to value the general quality (38.1%) as the main attribute, beyond the flavor (24.5%) and price (16.8%). With regard to the interest for foods that reduce risks of illnesses, the interviewed ones had demonstrated to greater interest for foods related to the reduction of risks of illnesses of the heart (24.7%), cancers (21.4%), and obesity (16.2%). The television was pointed as the main media with respect to obtain information on benefits to the health (70.3%). With regard to the foods that contain licopene, the consumers although consummate this type of food, they did not know the benefits associated to its ingestion (63.3%) and had informed never to have seen (83.3%) in food labels allegations of functional properties of this carotenoid. When informed on the benefits to the health associated to the licopene, the consumers had the intention to the of its consumption, mainly those that already usually were consumed, standing out that the preference was also related to foods naturally containing licopene (59%). With regard to healthful usages, 44% of the searched consumers had pointed to have difficulties in practicing exercises, avoiding products with high indices of fats (36%), sugars (38%), salt (32%) and to avoid products that increase the cholesterol (32%). The majority of the citizens has interest (77.4%) and consults the food labels (85%) on benefits to the health at least some times, and 70.4% consider it is difficult to identify this information in labels. The majority (84%) is favorable to placing of symbols in food labels to facilitate the identification of benefits to the health. The joined data can guide programs of development of new products for the food industries, programs of consumer information and adjustments of regulation for the government / Mestrado / Consumo e Qualidade de Alimentos / Mestre em Alimentos e Nutrição