The barrier efficacy of protective surgical gowns has gained importance due to the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C viruses in the patient population. Most surgical gown fabrics are tested and categorized using standard laboratory conditions which are different from the conditions encountered in the surgical area. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) have published regulations that indicate surgical apparel should protect wearers ''under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time [for] which it will be used'' (Federal Register 56, p. 64177). This research examined factors influencing the liquid penetration of surgical gown fabric during use. Two fabrics currently in common use for surgical gowns, a disposable material and a reusable material, were tested using AATCC 42 (the Impact Penetration Test) and AATCC 127 (Hydrostatic Pressure Test) called for in ASTM F2407 (Specification for Surgical Gowns Intended for Use in Healthcare Facilities). Variables in this study were ambient/fabric temperature, challenge liquid type, challenge liquid temperature, and wetness of fabrics. Results indicated that ambient/fabric temperature, challenge liquid type and challenge liquid temperature did impact the liquid penetration of fabric. Increasing ambient/fabric temperature led to increases in liquid penetration of fabrics. Type of challenge liquid significantly influenced liquid penetration of fabrics, with higher penetration when fabrics were challenged by synthetic blood. There were also significant increases in liquid penetration of fabrics after pre-wetting the inner or outer surface of the fabric. The overall conclusion drawn from this study was that protective clothing materials need to be evaluated under normal condition of use; standard testing procedure may give a false measure of the protective performance of products when conditions of use vary from conditions in the test method. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2007. / Date of Defense: August 2, 2007. / Perspiration, Synthetic Blood, Temperature, Liquid Penetration, Pre-Wetting, Surgical Gown / Includes bibliographical references. / Rinn M. Cloud, Professor Directing Dissertation; Xufeng Niu, Outside Committee Member; Mary Ann Moore, Committee Member; Emily Haymes, Committee Member; Kay Grise, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of age-ambiguous and sexualized clothing styles (ASCS) on the development of early adolescent females' self-concept. Both the socialization and consumer socialization models were utilized to address the factors contributing to the development of early adolescent females. Thirty-one young adult female college students participated in in-depth interviews consisting of retrospective questions concerning the clothing styles adopted in early adolescence and an evaluation of their current self-concept through the "Who am I?" test. All of their mothers were also interviewed in regards to the clothing styles their daughters adopted in early adolescence and the relationship they perceived those styles had with their daughters' current self-concept. For data analysis the constant comparative method and open-coding were used, resulting in the following findings. First, ASCS in the US were typically represented by spaghetti straps, low-rise jeans, midriff bearing tops, short skirts or shorts, and logo tees emblazoned with sexual innuendos. Second, the reasons early adolescent females adopted ASCS were in order to fit-in, to be "cool" and popular. Both sets of participants believed that the styles were the result of a cultural ideal of beauty and appearance that is more sexual and body-oriented. Third, there was a difference in the self-concept scores of the young adult females who adopted ASCS during early adolescence and those who did not. Those who wore the styles showed signs of being more appearance oriented and less concerned with the sexual connotations associated with the styles. There was also a consensus amongst both sets of participants that wearing ASCS at a younger age could possibly delay the developmental process. Finally, most of the sixty participants considered the parents and the apparel industry, as well as society at large, responsible for creating the sexualized environment in which young girls are being raised. They hoped the apparel industry would recognize the impact of ASCS on young girls and willingly decide to offer age-appropriate and less sexualized styles to early adolescent females. Overall ASCS of early adolescent females not only have an impact on psychological and social development but also on the formation of consumer behavior profiles through the consumer socialization process. This study provides insight into the impact of ASCS on the self-image of early adolescent females, especially in relation to the current cultural ideal of beauty and appearance. The findings of this study can contribute to a variety of fields both within and outside the area of textiles and clothing. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2007. / Date of Defense: July 9, 2007. / Consumer Socialization, Age Compression / Includes bibliographical references. / Eundeok Kim, Professor Directing Thesis; Marsha Rehm, Outside Committee Member; Jeanne Heitmeyer, Committee Member; Mary Ann Moore, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to investigate the relationship between commitment to soccer and satisfaction with soccer uniforms; 2) to investigate gaps in functional uniform needs, and 3) to investigate the relationship between functional and aesthetic satisfaction of soccer uniforms for adolescents. Studies of golf, basketball, in-line skating, bicycling, tennis, and dance have identified gaps in satisfaction aimed at improving the design of designated uniforms, however, a very limited knowledge base exists for soccer. Using the design process mode, adolescent soccer players (ages 14-18) were surveyed regarding satisfaction of their team uniforms. Measures included commitment to soccer, satisfaction with comfort, fit, mobility, and impact protection of recent soccer uniforms. Satisfaction of functional and aesthetics components were also comparatively weighed and measured. Gaps in satisfaction were found, with results indicating less than 50% of the adolescents were comfortable in their uniforms. Additionally, the fit of shorts were satisfactory to only 35% of the soccer players, and 40% found aesthetics could be improved. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2007. / March 22, 2007. / Uniforms, Soccer, Aesthetics, Functional Apparel / Includes bibliographical references. / Catherine Black, Professor Directing Thesis; Rinn M. Cloud, Committee Member; Emily Haymes, Outside Committee Member.

This dissertation presents a better understanding and conceptualization of retail place attachment in relation to consumer patronage. This exploratory study proposes an empirical look at the meaning of place attachment for the retail consumer and studies its role in on-line shopping patronage. A theoretical framework was developed from a review of the literature which guides this research. This study design incorporated quantitative and qualitative methods using a within-stage, mixed-model design. The dependent variables being associated with one another in this study were: retail place attachment and online retail patronage. The outcome of the study was to validate constructs of retail place attachment and identify its influence on online retail patronage. Survey participants were recruited from Facebook, a social-networking database and two professional organization databases. A snowball sampling technique was used to collect responses from four hundred twenty-nine participants from a social-networking database and two professional organization databases. Inclusion criteria for this sample included gender, an age range of 18 and up, and all ethnic backgrounds. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Retail Merchandising and Product Development in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2011. / May 26, 2011. / online, retail, online shopping, place attachment / Includes bibliographical references. / Pauline Sullivan, Professor Directing Dissertation; Mary Ann Moore, Professor Co-Directing Dissertation; James Carson, University Representative; Billie J. Collier, Committee Member; Elizabeth Goldsmith, Committee Member.

From the early presentation by Rosenberg and Hovland (1960), three components- affect, cognition and conation- of attitude are introduced. Moreover, attitude is a result of learning and is strongly influenced by personal experience, family and friends, and marketing strategy. Several studies have provided support for the interrelated nature of these affective, cognitive and conative attitudinal components (Fishbein & Ajzen 1975, Hilgard 1980, Breckler & Wiggins 1989, Miniard & Barone 1997). Some research includes additional variables in models for consumer purchase behavior such as social factors, situational or personal control, and advertising and brand attitude. This research utilized the Triandis behavioral model and Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action as a framework to exam consumers' apparel purchase behavior. Triandis's model treats attitude toward the act and social-normative considerations as determinants of intentions. However, departing from the TRA model, Triandis separates attitude toward the act into two terms: affect toward the act and the value of the perceived consequences of the act. Instead of testing Triandis model's broadest constructs, this research presents a general framework focus on the subset of the model that includes the variables that are the most relevant to explaining consumers' apparel purchase intention. The purpose of this study was to examine the emotional responses while consumers are shopping, consumer attitudes toward apparel shopping, subjective norms, individual differences, and demographic factors for U.S. and Taiwan consumers' apparel purchase intentions and purchase behavior. The results indicated that the emotions while consumers are shopping for apparel have an effect on consumers' apparel purchase intention in both U.S. and Taiwan consumers. Consumer attitude toward apparel shopping had a significant effect on Taiwan consumers' apparel purchase intention, but not on U.S. consumers. Another finding was the subjective norm had a positive effect on consumers' apparel purchase intention for U.S. consumers, but not for Taiwan consumers. Consumers' purchase intention mediates between the purchase antecedent variables, attitude, emotion, and subjective norm, and apparel purchase behavior in both U.S. and Taiwan consumers. Since the study found consumers' emotional responses while shopping had an effect on consumer's apparel purchase intention, the Triandis model, which states that the attitude toward the act, social-normative, and affect toward the act are the determinants of consumer purchase intention (Triandis, 1982), was supported. The result of this research found the Triandis Model can predict consumer apparel purchase intention more accurately than the TRA model. Other results found in this research were the consumers' need for emotion had a moderating effect on apparel purchase intention and negative emotions when consumers are shopping for U.S. consumers. The U.S. respondents who had high need for emotion and low negative emotional responses held the highest level of purchase intention. On the other hand, the lowest level of consumer purchase intention was held by those consumers who had a high need for emotion and high negative emotional responses. In Taiwan, respondents who had low apparel involvement and low positive emotional responses held the highest level of purchase intention. Conversely, the lowest level of consumer purchase intention was held by those with low apparel involvement and high positive emotions while consumers are shopping for apparel in Taiwan. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2006. / March 20, 2006. / Consumer Attitudes, A Cross-cultural, Apparel Purchase, Emotional Responses / Includes bibliographical references. / Jeanne Heitmeyer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Leisa Flynn, Outside Committee Member; Susan S. Fiorito, Committee Member; Bonnie Greenwood, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the leadership style of retail executives was related to the perceived benefits of electronic data interchange (EDI). Data for this study was collected online. Two previously validated instruments: The multi-factor leadership questionnaire and the technology acceptance scale were used to collect data. The 2002 International Counsel of Shopping Centers Advanced Registrants Directory was used to obtain 1,000 email addresses for this study sample. After a pre-notice was sent to each of the 1,000 email addresses, a total of 774 surveys were sent via email to retail executives from around the country who did not refuse to participate. A total of 90 surveys were completed and useable for a response rate of 13.18%. The leadership positions of the retail executives ranged from mid to top level. There was a positive and significant correlation between leadership style and the perceived benefits of EDI. A linear regression test was conducted and revealed that there was a significant relationship between transactional leadership and both dependant variables, which were EDI ease of use & usefulness. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2004. / May 17, 2004. / Supply Chain Management, Management Style, Quick Response, Electronic Data Interchange, Leadership, Retail, Technology Acceptance Scale, Theory of Reasoned Action / Includes bibliographical references. / Susan S. Fiorito, Professor Directing Dissertation; Larry Giunipero, Outside Committee Member; Jeanne Heitmeyer, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new methodology of on-line optical spun yarn count analysis and control (OYCA) by use of on-line optical yarn diameter measurements and to carry out method comparison study against the ASTM D 1907 – 89. The result of the study showed sufficient agreement between OYCA and the ASTM D 1907 – 89. Inter-plant comparison of method difference was not significant, which is an indication of the robustness of OYCA across plants with similar technologies and process parameters. Significant predictive relationship between optical yarn volumes (OYV), twist and linear density was demonstrated by a factorial experiment where factors of twist and linear density were set at high and low levels of ±10 % augmented by center points from regular production set up. Optical fiber volumes in skeins were verified using gas pycnometer volume measurements. Significant correlation r (60) = 0.96, p / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Retail Merchandising and Product Development in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2010. / October 11, 2010. / On-line, Method Comparison, Optical Diameter, Spun Yarn, Fiber Volume / Includes bibliographical references. / Mary Ann Moore, Professor Directing Dissertation; Eric Chicken, University Representative; Pauline Sullivan, Committee Member; Jeanne Heitmeyer, Committee Member; Elizabeth Goldsmith, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between apparel product development (APD) team characteristics and APD team effectiveness. Apparel product development (APD) describes the process of designing and engineering serviceable, producible, saleable, and profitable apparel products (Glock & Kunz, 2000). This research identified APD team characteristics that contribute to APD team effectiveness, based on the model developed by Campion, Medsker, and Higgs (1993). A total of 160 participants who were APD team managers and their APD team members completed the survey instrument. The participants worked in the areas of design, merchandising, and sales/marketing and represented 22 apparel manufacturers in the U. S. Both factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to accomplish the study's objectives. Factor analysis resulted in two themes for team characteristics: team interaction and team interdependence. Based on multiple regression analysis, these two themes predicted team member job satisfaction (TMJS) and team member judgment of effectiveness (TMJE). However, multiple regression analysis with these two themes did not predict manager judgment of effectiveness (MJE). This study also examined the correlations between the 11 APD team characteristics measured (potency, workload sharing, communication/cooperation within the team, social support, managerial support, training, self-management, participation, independent feedback/rewards, goal interdependence, and task interdependence) and the three measures of APD team effectiveness (TMJS, TMJE, and MJE). Among the 11 APD team characteristics, potency, workload sharing, communication with teams, and social support displayed the highest correlation (in descending order) with APD team effectiveness. This research proposed a model describing the relationship between APD team characteristics and APD team effectiveness. This model may serve as a theoretical framework for future APD team research. Results of this study reveal the major APD team characteristics that impact team effectiveness; these characteristics are team spirit and social interaction team characteristics (workload sharing, communication/cooperation within teams, and social support). Results of this study contribute to the knowledge to enhance APD team effectiveness as apparel manufacturers meet the current challenges in product development (e.g. shortening the product-development life-cycle) and in consumer demands (e.g. high-quality, diverse, and competitively-priced products). / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2004. / May 21, 2004. / Measurement, Workgroup, Group Context, Job Design, Industry, Process / Includes bibliographical references. / Catherine Black, Professor Directing Dissertation; Lee Stepina, Outside Committee Member; Susan S. Fiorito, Committee Member; Rinn M. Cloud, Committee Member.

The purpose of this research was to investigate and record the current life cycle stages of the private label apparel brands in department stores utilizing Levitt's (1965) model of the product life cycle theory. In addition, an investigation was conducted of the strategies of possible automatic replenishment programs used for private label apparel brands in the different stages of the life cycle. The research was conducted using a mailed questionnaire with questions pertaining to (1) the demographics of buyers in two department stores, (2) private label apparel brands and their sales, market share, and years on the market, an (3) the automatic replenishment system in place for the private label apparel brands in the specific areas of the department stores participating in the survey. Of the 31 questionnaires sent out, 19 were completed and returned. A relative life cycle index was developed for placing each private label apparel brand into a stage in the product life cycle. A modified version of Levitt's product life cycle was developed for more accurate placement of the private label apparel brands with eight life cycle stages rather than Levitt's four stages. Correlation and two-sample t-tests were used to evaluate the relationships between private label apparel brands and the use of automatic replenishment programs. The results indicated that there was no relationship between the use of an automatic replenishment program and the current life cycle stage of private label apparel brands. The analysis also indicated that there was no relationship between the use of an automatic replenishment program and stock turnover, but a relationship did exist between the relative life cycle index and stock turnover. Further research is needed to investigate other areas of private label apparel brands and automatic replenishment programs. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Textiles and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2005. / June 13, 2005. / Automatic Re, Brands, Apparel, Private Labels / Includes bibliographical references. / Susan S. Fiorito, Professor Directing Thesis; Jeanne Heitmeyer, Committee Member; Larry Guinipero, Outside Committee Member.

The purpose of this study is to predict consumers' purchase intentions toward mass customized apparel products by assessing consumers' 1) attitudes toward behavior, 2) perceptions of social pressures by others (i.e., subjective norm), 3) perceptions of ease or difficulty in the co-design process (i.e., perceived behavioral control), 4) desire for uniqueness, and 5) perceived risk. In the context of apparel mass customization, due to the lack of relevant studies regarding three major determinants (attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control), the Theory of Planned Behavior (Azjen, 1985, 1991) was used with a mock mass customized business wear Internet shopping site. The findings of this study indicated that attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, desire for uniqueness, and perceived risk significantly combined together to predict purchase intention. Attitude, subjective norm, and desire for uniqueness, among the five predictors, had significant relationships with purchase intention toward customized products on a mass customized apparel Internet shopping site. This modified T.P.B. with addition of desire for uniqueness yielded an improvement on the basic T.P.B. structure. The results of this study supported the T.P.B. as a prediction tool in examining purchase intention, and desire for uniqueness can be considered as a theoretical contribution of this study. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Textile and Consumer Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2008. / May 27, 2008. / Mass Customization / Includes bibliographical references. / Eundeok Kim, Professor Directing Thesis; Susan S. Fiorito, Committee Member; Leisa R. Flynn, Outside Committee Member.