¡§Internet¡¨ not only change our life, also increase a source for information searching before we make decision. However, the quantity of information provided from internet surpass the capability of human. The purposes of the study were to discuss how consumers search information in internet, and how consumer information search behavior be different because of internet. Among all industry in Taiwan, tourism is the best industry in applying e-commence. Further, 95 percent people in Taiwan are backpackers, so backpacker is a trend of people traveling in Taiwan. As a result, the study choose backpacker as subject to observe consumer information search behavior in internet. The study follows Schmidt & Spreng¡¦s model which indicate that perceived risk, perceived benefit, and search ability are variables of information search behavior. Besides, personal character is also a variable of internet information search behavior. According to an on-lined survey at 2003 with 1931 valid samples, 4 factors of internet perceived benefits were extracted. They were ¡§entertainment¡¨, ¡§ease of use¡¨, ¡§efficiency of using information¡¨, and ¡§useful¡¨. The factors of internet perceived risk were ¡¨credibility and significance¡¨, ¡§security¡¨, and ¡§time¡¨. The factors of backpack perceived benefits were ¡§cheerful¡¨, ¡§innovational¡¨, ¡§functional¡¨, ¡§economic¡¨ and ¡§signal¡¨. The factors of backpack perceived risk were ¡§money loss¡¨, ¡§bad route of travel¡¨, ¡§damage to friendship¡¨, ¡§heavy duty¡¨ and ¡§not economic¡¨. Many clusters were formed and they are significant different in information search behavior in internet according to chi-square test. The study result also shows that different personal character has different information search behavior in internet; Both ¡§the composition of travel party¡¨ and ¡§backpacker¡¦s travel ability and experience¡¨ have influence on backpacker¡¦s perception of travel; ¡§the experience and ability of using internet¡¨ and ¡§internet perceived benefit¡¨ are direct proposition, on the contrary, the experience and ability of using internet¡¨ and ¡§internet perceived benefit¡¨ are inverse proposition; most of backpackers are good educated and have good income; the purpose of backpacker is mainly to get flexible route of travel, and the economic factor is the last important of all.

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The aims of the current study are to examine the relation of risk taking behaviors (RTBs) with perceived risk, perceived benefit, and impulsivity and also to investigate the moderator role of impulsivity on the relationships between engagement in RTBs and the predictors of the engagement in RTBs (i.e. perceived risk and benefit) after controlling the effects of age, gender, and self esteem. In order to measure engagement in RTBs, perceived risk, and perceived benefit, Modified Risk Involvement and Perception Scale (&Ouml / zmen, 2006) was adapted to Turkish culture in Study 1 by using Middle East Technical University (METU) students. The sample of Study 2 was composed of 234 METU students and a questionnaire set including demographic information sheet, Modified Risk Involvement and Perception Scale (M-RIPS) (&Ouml / zmen, 2006), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11) (G&uuml / le&ccedil / et al., 2008), and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) (Rosenberg, 1965) was administered. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis was conducted with perceived risk, perceived benefit, and impulsivity as independent variables and engagement in RTBs as the dependent variable. The findings suggested that perceived risk was negatively whereas perceived benefit and impulsivity was positively related to risk taking behaviors. Moreover, as compared to perceived risk, perceived benefit was a more powerful predictor of RTB. However, it was not found any moderator role of impulsivity on the relationships between engagement in RTBs and its predictors. The strengths and limitations, as well as implications of the findings were discussed.

Aim The aim of the thesis is to examine if there are internal variations within generation Y and to what extent it is in their online clothing purchase intention, based on existing knowledge of factors influencing them. Methodology A survey was distributed online to Swedish generation Y residents, born between 1979 and 2000. Thus, primary data totalling 114 responses were collected and analysed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The non-probability sampling technique was applied using convenience and snowball sampling methods. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the effect of perceived risk, perceived benefit and personal factors on purchase intentions within generation Y (Y1, Y2 and Y3 groups) towards online clothing purchase. Practical implication As generation Y is an attractive segment to business managers, this research affirms the previous studies confirming generational cohort as a suitable way of categorising consumers. Thus helping managers in market segmentation strategies. Originality/Value This study contributes to the literature on generational cohorts by questioning the concept of cohort and how reliable it is for business managers to use in market segmentation.

Magister Artium - MA / Despite wide acceptance of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) as a crucial entry point for the prevention, treatment, care and support of HIV-infected persons; the prevalence of testing in Ethiopia remains very low. A review of the literature identifies the set of factors that influence HIV testing of individuals to include socio-economic and demographic factors, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, risk perception, fear of stigma, social capital and the perceived benefit of VCT. By drawing assumptions based on the known literature, this mini-thesis explores the relationship between VCT usage and the above factors in order to explain the status of HIV testing in Moher and Aklil district, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia. The study hopes to address the dearth of material on VCT and contribute to it in a non-clinical and rural context.

This research study aims to explore consumer ́s perception of bio-based plastic and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects including knowledge, expectations, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms that influence these perceptions. With increasing environmental concerns related to conventional plastics, there is a growing interest in sustainable alternatives. However, there is limited knowledge regarding consumer perceptions, specifically regarding bio-based plastics. Through semi-structured interviews, this study investigates the overall consumer perception of bio-based plastics compared to conventional plastics while also examining the influence of knowledge, expectations, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on consumer perceptions. By incorporating these aspects, the study addresses a research gap and contributes to the understanding of consumer behavior towards bio-based plastics. The findings highlight the significance of knowledge, social influences, price perception, and product quality in shaping consumer perceptions. Policymakers, marketers, and industries seeking to promote the adoption of bio-based plastics as an alternative to conventional plastics can benefit from the research outcomes.

While the digital market, especially the music streaming market, has rapidly grown in recent years, however the physical music segment still remains relevant in the Thai market. The Thai music market has inimitable characteristics within the market in terms of the physical music record offers, recorded musical works, and a growth trend in physical sales. Moreover, the behaviour in physical music consumption is opposite to that in world markets. Music consumption practices in the Thai market and why physical music, and CDs in particular, remain relevant to the Thai music industry are an enigma. The music industry itself has suggested that the physical music market needs to be revamped and its physical products redeveloped. In addition, the major record companies have also refocused into developing physical markets. However, precisely how this is to be achieved has not been specified. The twin aims of this study are to more fully comprehend Thai music consumption practices in today’s market and to examine how the concepts of product development could be effective in responding to consumer needs and desires. Consumer-led product development is the main concept of this study used to create ideas to enhance music CDs. This study combined many perspectives related to consumer-led product development and then applied them to construct the conceptual framework named “The Seminal Framework for CD Development”. The framework is a roadmap to create a new set of features for a new form of music CD based on the input of the music industry’s representatives and consumers. A new form of music CD which includes a new set of features is named in this study as the “prototype CD”. Also, the framework is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the prototype CD; how the prototype CD is responsive to consumer needs as far as functional and psychological perspectives are concerned. Bearing in mind the aim of this research, the researcher considered the interpretive paradigm to be the most appropriate approach for capturing consumers’ experiences in music consumption practices and for studying the opinions, points of view and ideas derived from the consumers, and the experts in music CD development. In the data collection process, this study employed the technique of purposive sampling for selecting from the population. The purposive sampling technique allows the researcher to judge and select people or prospective participants who: 1) are available to participate I in conducting the research, 2) are knowledgeable about the industry, 3) have experience related to the context of the study, and 4) can provide the reliable and detailed information required to understand the focal themes of the study. This study conducted nine interviews with the music industry’s experts, 60 one-on-one interviews and four group interviews with consumers. For the data analysis, this study adopted the manual coding analysis. The Seminal Framework determined the coding structure, and sets of data could be organised into distinct themes, such as the new features of music CDs or future positive possibilities for music consumption. This enabled, at the end of the process, an easier and more efficient identification of the experiential values derived from prototype music CDs. In addition, in more fully understanding the needs and expectations inherent in music consumption practices, such careful coding analysis helps to re-define the typology of music consumers. The typology and the concepts also facilitated the identification of music consumption behaviour in today’s environment. This study contributes a wider concept in consumer-led product development that has been applied to the context of music consumption practices and music product (CD) development.

Cervical cancer remains the main source of mortality among women around the world. It is a burden in developing countries and generally recognized through the complications of the advanced stages. The aim of this study was to investigate the utilisation of cervical cancer screening services among women living with HIV in Hawassa in order to develop a strategy to enhance cervical cancer screening service utilisation among this population in Ethiopia. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional study design was used in this study. The data were collected using a standard structured questionnaire from 309 women living with HIV attending health care facilities in Hawassa city Administration. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 software was used to analyse data. The results are presented based on the Health belief Model’s construct. The result revealed a low utilisation of cervical cancer screening services. Knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening service were also low. The main reason for being not screened was feeling healthy, lack of awareness, and embarrassment. Knowledge of cervical cancer was affected by factors such as knowing someone with cervical cancer, educational status, and monthly income. The finding indicated that utilisation of screenings could be determined by composite knowledge, perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer, duration on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment and willingness to be screened. The findings of this study, findings from the literature review and relevant legislation guided the researcher to develop a strategy to enhance cervical cancer screening service utilisation among women living with HIV Ethiopia. Relevant recommendations were put forward to promote utilisation of strategy and also for future research. The utilisation of the developed strategy may improve the uptake of screening for cervical cancer, improve early diagnosis and treatment of cervical malignant growth, and decrease mortality among women living with HIV in Hawassa city organization. / Health Studies / Ph. D. (Public Health)