Purpose The purpose of this master’s thesis is to investigate consumers’ perceptions of the end-of-life stage of a garment. Overall, the objective is to determine influencing factors that impact consumers’ disposal decisions to conceive a better understanding of post-purchase consumer behavior and formulate implications for both business and society. Design/Methodology/Approach The research of this study follows a deductive approach, whereby hypotheses are derived from existing literature and the Theory of Planned Behavior. A single quantitative data collection method is applied to collect primary data, namely, a cross-sectional self-administered online questionnaire. An effective sample size of 398 respondents is statistically analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The conducted descriptive research design investigates the causal relationships between the latent variables and the Behavioral Intention. Findings The empirical findings reveal that consumers’ Attitude positively and individuals’ Subjective Norm negatively influences the intention to dispose of garments. The Personal Value of consumers highly negatively impacts the Attitude and therefore indicates an indirect relationship to an individual’s behavioral intention. There is no significant correlation between consumers’ Endeavor to Change to their Attitude towards garment disposal and between Perceived Behavioral Control and an individual’s disposal intention. Implications Fashion enterprises are advised to act as educators to raise awareness of the adverse effects of frequent garment disposal and elucidate lifetime-extension measures, such as creating emotional attachment through customization or co-creation. Furthermore, emphasizing longevity during the production phase is crucial to hinder the influential factor of disposal due to damage. Therefore, policymakers’ importance is decisive in establishing industry-wide standards regarding garment production and lifetime-extension practices. Furthermore, societal education about garment disposal opportunities should be provided, for example, through implementation in the general curriculum of schools and governmental or nongovernmental organizations’ campaigns. Originality/Value By taking the general development toward a throwaway society into account, a connection to the textile industry is drawn in this thesis. When looking at the literature, it is visible that increasing attention is placed on the post-consumer phase. However, the technical constitution and the actual disposal approaches were mostly covered in this context. Therefore, the authors of this thesis examine the particular consumers’ determination of the end-of-life stage of garments to contribute to current circumstances and related literature.

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the persuasive effects personal stories have on the university recruitment process. Specifically, this study explored how Fisher's (1984) concepts of narrative probability and fidelity influenced Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior model using a four-staged quasi-experimental study. Jablin's (1982) anticipatory socialization phase of organizational assimilation theory acted as a context for this applied dissertation. This study evolved over four stages while working with the North Dakota State University Office of Admission. The first stage provided qualitative data exploring students' opinions of using story-based recruitment material. Focus groups also revealed what types of stories would be helpful for prospective students during the college admission process. Stage two developed and tested the narrative probability and fidelity scales based on Fisher's (1984) narrative paradigm. These newly created scales were used to determine the level of narrative probability and narrative fidelity in each of the experimental conditions. Stage three consisted of the creation and testing of the recruitment videos used in each experimental condition. The final stage tested the story-based recruitment and control videos on prospective students visiting North Dakota State University. The results of this dissertation were obtained using a series of ANOVAs, regression analyses, and path model testing techniques. Overall, the results suggested that high levels of narrative probability and narrative fidelity do positively influence prospective students' attitudes toward choosing a university and have a less powerful, but still positive, influence on their subjective norms beliefs and perceived behavioral control of choosing a university. The theory of planned behavior model was also supported by this data. The results of each stage of this study produced theoretical and practical implications. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the results, implications, limitations, and future research opportunities.

Syfte: Studiens syfte var att öka förståelsens för unga vuxnas förhållningsätt till kreditkort som genomfördes genom att undersöka dess attityder, köpintentioner och kunskaper. Studiens resultat kan vara betydande för banksektorn som har en potentiell lång affärsrelation med kundsegmentet.   För att syftet skulle kunde uppnås ställdes tre olika forskningsfrågor:   Hur kan unga vuxnas attityder till kreditkort beskrivas? Hur kan unga vuxnas köpintentioner till kreditkort beskrivas? Hur kan kunskapsnivån hos unga vuxna gällande kreditkort beskrivas?   Metod: Fallstudie med kvalitativ ansats genom enskilda intervjuer.   Resultat: Studiens resultat visade att det föreligger en korrelation mellan bristfällig kunskap och negativ attityd, som även påverkar köpintentionen. Dessutom visade fallstudiens resultat att rädsla var den betydande attityden mot kreditkort som produkt. Ett fynd var att WOMM (Word of Mouth Marketing) påverkade köpintentionen till att teckna kreditkort samtidigt som bankernas marknadsföring inte alls påverkade köpintentionen. / Purpose: This study aimed to find out young adults’ approach regarding credit cards which was done by studying their attitudes, purchase intentions and knowledge towards the product. The results from the study could be of importance for the bank sector which have a potentially long business relation with the youth segment.   The research questions that needed to be answered to reach the purpose was as follows:   How can young adults’ attitudes be described? How can young adults’ purchase intentions be described? How can the knowledge level from young adults’ regarding credit cards be described?   Method: Case study with qualitive approach though separate interviews.   Results: The results from the case study suggested that there was a connection between inadequate knowledge and negative attitude towards credit cards, which in turn effect the purchase intention. Also, fear was the most common attitude against credit card as a product. A finding was that WOMM (Word of Mouth Marketing) affected the purchase intention to sign up for a credit card, while the bank marketing did not affect the purchase intention at all.

This study investigates the changeability of transport-related attitudes and mode choice of early adolescents. Data on attitudes and travel behavior were collected in Austria and Germany in two consecutive survey waves with an interval of one year. The approach is based on a before-after control group experiment with an intervention promoting active travel modes. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior we used structural equation modeling analyzing effects of the intervention; the potential for behavioral changes was modelled as moderator variable between intention and behavior. Findings suggest that the intervention was effective in changing attitudes, perceived behavioral control (PBC) and intentions to use non-motorized travel modes more, and car less. Difference models show that changes of attitude, subjective norm, and PBC accounted for 29% (car passenger) to 92% (walking) of the variance in changes in intention. The changes in intentions are however weak predictors of changes in reported behavior.

<p>This dissertation aimed at examining the predictors of HPV vaccination intentions of college students in a Kenyan university and those in a Midwest university in the United States of America (USA). Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the dissertation investigated the most salient factors that predict the vaccination intentions of college male and female students in Kenya and the USA. A mixed method approach was utilized to collect data from the participants. Specifically, interviews with 43 students (22 from Kenya and 21 from USA) were used to collect the qualitative data from the students. The quantitative data were collected using closed-ended surveys with 512 Kenyan students at a large university in Uasin Gishu County and 522 students at the Midwestern university, USA. The qualitative findings revealed that identification had a major influence on how students sought health, ate, and related with their peers. In particular, identification through religiosity influenced the students’ attitudes toward sex and perception of oneself. Thus, many respondents reported viewing their bodies as the temple of God and sex as an activity for married couples. Thus, when they engaged in premarital sex, they often felt disconnected with God and they resulted to seeking forgiveness, minimizing their actions, and normalizing their actions.</p><p>Overall, the quantitative results suggested that college students in Kenya and the USA converged in certain health trends but differed in several others. For example, the Kenyan participants depicted a low understanding of HPV and HPV vaccine compared to the participants at the Midwestern university. The country of the participant also moderated the relationships between subjective norms and intentions, sex attitudes, vaccine attitudes, and intention to get vaccinated. The participants from the USA, for example, reported a stronger relationship between subjective norms and the intention to be vaccinated compared to the participants from Kenya. The results of this study also showed that the gender of the participant had an influence on the attitudes of students toward sex, with male participants having more favorable attitudes toward sex compared to female participants. Overall, subjective norms and cancer worry were the only common vaccine predictors among both female and male participants from Kenya and the USA. Surprisingly, although religiosity was correlated with other variables under consideration, it did not emerge as a direct predictor of the intention to get vaccinated. This might suggest it as a probable indirect predictor.</p><p>Being a comparative study of students in two countries, this dissertation offers unique insights that can inform theory, research, practice, and policy development. Specifically, the results point to the need for health practitioners designing health campaigns to consider the unique differences that exist among male and female students in Kenya and the USA. Some of the weaknesses of the study include use of self-report measures, which are limited to the memory of participants. This study suggests that researchers continue to explore the role of religiosity in influencing health-seeking behaviors among college students.</p>

This study employs the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to understand the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on students’ intent to orally cite sources using complete, rather than partial, citations. Undergraduates (N = 326) enrolled in general education oral communication courses completed a self-report survey testing the TPB variables and students’ citation intentions. Findings demonstrate that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control predict student intention to cite sources and do so completely. Tensions between credibility gains and time constraints are also evident. Implications for teaching students in basic courses about oral citations are discussed.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how consumers experience green marketing within the fast fashion industry. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as a foundation for a conceptual framework. A qualitative approach was used, and the empirical data was gathered through three semi-structured focus groups with a total of 17 participants. Participants were acquired through a convenience sampling method, influenced by purposive sampling. Firstly, we concluded that some consumers believe that green marketing within the fast fashion industry is a positive trend that contributes to a more sustainable industry, while some believe it is false, a facade and a sales ploy. Secondly, we found that important reference groups who influence consumers’ experience of green marketing within the fast fashion industry are social norms, trend, social media and influencers. Lastly, consumers sometimes choose to believe in green marketing campaigns since it is too time consuming to check the validity and it eliminates the search for further information. Due to the daily exposure of these campaigns, some consumers associate these with sustainable collections. However, some are more critical toward the use of green marketing within the fast fashion industry and believe that it contradicts sustainability. Previous scandals within the industry are also affecting consumers’ experience of fast fashion in relation to sustainability. The findings have contributed to understanding of how consumers experience green marketing within the fast fashion industry. Also, it provides useful insights that fast fashion companies can use to conduct a more trustworthy and genuine green marketing.

Medical errors have been detrimental in the field of medicine. They have impacted both patients and doctors. While physicians recognized that error disclosure was an ethical and professional obligation, most remained silent when mistakes happened for different reasons. Guided by the theory of planned behavior and Kant's deontological theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the perceived barriers affecting physicians' willingness to report major medical errors. An association was tested between the independent variables physician fear of disclosure of errors, organizational culture toward patient safety, physician apology, professional ethics and transparency, physician education, and the dependent variable physician willingness to disclose major medical errors. Using a cross-sectional method, 122 doctors out of 483 surveyed, completed the online and paper-based survey. Multiple linear regression and descriptive statistics models were used to analyze and summarize the data. The results showed there was a statistically significant relationship between the independent variables organizational culture toward patient safety, physician apology, professional ethics and transparency, and physician education and the dependent variable physician willingness to disclose major medical errors. There was no relationship between the independent variable fear of disclosure of errors and the dependent variable. The findings added to the knowledge base regarding barriers to physicians' medical errors disclosure. The results and recommendations could provide positive social change by helping hospitals raising doctors' awareness regarding major medical errors disclosure.

According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is natural and the most effective way of nourishment to feed infants and young children to ensure child health and survival. Currently, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. Although exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the occurrence of adverse health outcomes to the infant and mother, the duration of exclusive breastfeeding remains relatively low in the United States. The theory of planned behavior was used as a theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of the project was to identify the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding among mothers during the first four weeks after delivery. A descriptive research design and a convenient sampling method were used to conduct this study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data from 75 mothers who met the inclusion criteria and who attended 3 selected obstetric and gynecologic private practice physicians' offices. Data analysis was performed by using descriptive and correlational statistics. The findings showed that only 8 mothers continued exclusive breastfeeding during the first 4 weeks postpartum. The major maternal problems identified for not continuing exclusive breastfeeding were (a) insufficient breast milk, (b) sore or painful nipples, (c) return to work or school, and (d) poor latching. Findings suggested that healthcare professionals use the model of the theory of planned behavior to develop interventions that promote a positive attitude toward breastfeeding. A positive attitude toward breastfeeding will create a social change within the community to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

Dental decay is a preventable disease, but it remains the most unmet healthcare need of American children. Untreated dental decay has adverse and long-lasting effects on a child's quality of life. Healthy oral habits among preschool children are essential for a healthy permanent dentition and are achieved primarily by 3 oral health related behaviors: proper dental hygiene, a healthy noncariogenic diet, and regular dental visits. This quantitative study, based on the theory of planned behavior, explored the relationship between these 3 oral health behaviors and 4 determinants: attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention, using a 71-item questionnaire. The study utilized convenience sampling. A total of 436 parents or caregivers of children enrolled in the North East Independent School District Early Childhood Education program participated in this study; 81.5% were low-income, and 66% reported Hispanic identity. The relationship between variables was evaluated using multiple regression analysis. This study indicated that attitude alone toward a healthy diet and dental hygiene was not a significant predictor of behavior, but the attitude toward dental attendance was significant. Subjective norm, perceived behavior control, and intentions individually and combined were significant predictors of all 3 behaviors, except for subjective norm towards hygiene. Meaningful social change can be achieved by identifying and understanding the underlying motives that evoke planned and deliberate oral health behaviors among parents of preschool children. Targeted messages and cost-effective early interventions can be developed to prevent the onset of dental disease and improve the quality of life for low-income children.