This study tested the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain adolescent fast-food consumption among 349 high school adolescents. Subjective norms were further investigated to identify how parents and friends influenced adolescent fast-food consumption. Study participants completed a paper-based questionnaire measuring adolescent attitude, subjective norms for parents and friends, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. Path analysis revealed that TPB explained adolescent fast-food behavioral intention to consume fast food. The model identified parent subjective norms had the strongest relationship with adolescent behavioral intention to consume fast food. Parent norms differed across age and grade in high school. Older adolescents perceived more approval for eating fast food than younger adolescents. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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Of the fifty foods used by the greatest number of elderly households in the USDA 1977 - 78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, 62 percent were nonconvenience foods. The percentages of nonconvenience and of basic, complex and manufactured convenience food classes reported most frequently by elderly households were similar to the percentages of each class reported by all households in the survey. The greatest share of the food dollar was allocated to nonconvenience foods by nonwhite female meal planners in the South or West in seasons other than winter. Nonconvenience foods supplied an average of 58 percent of the food energy and of most other nutrients to the household food supply. Comparison of the nutrient contribution of each food class relative to the energy supplied indicated complex convenience foods had lower nutrient densities (nutrients per 1,000 kilocalories) than did the other food classes. As the use of complex convenience foods, those foods most commonly thought of as convenience foods, increased, the nutrients per person in the household food supply decreased. / M. S.

Tjia Sau-wah, Susana. / Includes Chinese questionaire. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-83). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF EXHIBITS --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Organization of the Study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- China's Economic Development --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- China's Industries --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Effect of the Economic Development --- p.3 / Chapter l .3 --- Fast Food Industry In China --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Environmental Factors Contributing to the Growth of Fast Food Chains in China --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- High Consumption Power --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- High Population Growth Rate --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Changing Consumer Taste --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.4. --- Social Changes --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Keen Competition within the Hong Kong Fast Food Market --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Investment in China --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Overview of China Foreign Investment --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Doing Business in China --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- The Regional Policy of China --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- China's Tertiary Industry --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- China's Investment Prospects --- p.17 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Research Interest --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Why Study Fast Food in China --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Why Shenzhen? --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2 --- Purpose of the Study --- p.21 / Chapter III. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1 --- Highlights of Consumer Behavioral Studies --- p.23 / Chapter 3.2 --- Consumer Behavior --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Individual Differences --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Environmental Forces --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Psychological Processes --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3 --- Consumer Decision Making Process --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Problem Recognition --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Information Search --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Alternative Evaluation and Decision --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Post-Purchase Assessment --- p.28 / Chapter 3.4 --- Consumer Behavior's Role in the Design of the Marketing Strategy --- p.29 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Market Segmentation --- p.30 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Product --- p.30 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Pricing --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Promotion --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Distribution --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Conclusion --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5 --- Personal Influences --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- The Concept of Group --- p.32 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Primary and Secondary Reference Groups --- p.33 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Group Influences --- p.34 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Word-of-Mouth Influence --- p.35 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Implications of Personal Influence --- p.35 / Chapter 3.6 --- Fast Food Operations --- p.36 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Origin of Fast Food --- p.36 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Considerations in Doing Fast Food Business --- p.36 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- The Definition of Fast Food --- p.37 / Chapter IV. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1 --- Before Starting the Secondary Data Search --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Secondary Data Search --- p.38 / Chapter 4.2 --- Primary Data Collection --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Field Observation --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Personal Interviews --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Questionnaire --- p.42 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Sampling --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Method of Administration --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Data Analysis --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Data Presentation --- p.46 / Chapter V. --- FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS --- p.47 / Chapter 5.1 --- General Purchase and Consumption Patterns --- p.47 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Definition of Fast Food --- p.47 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Brand awareness --- p.48 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Type of Fast Food Available --- p.48 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Frequency of Visits --- p.49 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Time of Consumption and Purchase --- p.49 / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Consumer Expenditure on Fast Food --- p.50 / Chapter 5.1.7 --- The Advertising Strategy --- p.51 / Chapter 5.1.8 --- Channels of Communication --- p.51 / Chapter 5.1.9 --- Ideal Location for Fast Food Shops --- p.52 / Chapter 5.1.10 --- Companions in Visiting Fast Food Shops --- p.53 / Chapter 5.2 --- Cross-Tabulation Analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Style of Food Choice --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Frequency of Visits --- p.57 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Expenditures on Fast Food --- p.60 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Influence on Visits --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3 --- Marketing Mix Influencing Buying Decisions --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Motivating Factors Influencing Buying Decisions --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Impact of Promotional Activities --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Impact of Location Aspects --- p.64 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Impact of Product Attributes --- p.65 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Impact of Service Quality --- p.66 / Chapter VI. --- RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.67 / Chapter 6.1 --- Target Markets for Fast Food --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2 --- Marketing Mix for Fast Food Operators --- p.68 / Chapter 6.3 --- The Recommended Marketing Mix --- p.69 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Product Strategy --- p.69 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Pricing Strategy --- p.71 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Place (Location) Strategy --- p.72 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Promotional Strategy --- p.74 / Chapter 6.4 --- Concluding Comments --- p.76 / Chapter VII. --- LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY --- p.78 / Chapter 7.1 --- Heterogeneous Population in China --- p.78 / Chapter 7.2 --- Time and Resource Constraints --- p.78 / Chapter 7.3 --- Sampling Method --- p.79 / Chapter 7.4 --- Small Sample Size --- p.79 / Chapter 7.5 --- Seasonal Factor --- p.79 / Chapter 7.6 --- Response and Non-response Bias --- p.80 / Chapter 7.7 --- Reliability and Validity --- p.80 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.81 / APPENDICES --- p.84

by Tang Mui-Yin Helen, Wong Man-Lai Bridget. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 185-188.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3551. Adviser: Carl S. Hacker. Includes bibliographical references.

Food quality is a vital factor for the success of many food facilities, Fast food facilities may, however, depend on factors along with food quality to attract patrons. This study attempted to find out if food quality is a major factor prompting customers to eat at a fast food facility. Burger King Corporation was selected to ascertain to what degree quality served to attract business. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire handed to passersby at the Miami International Mall and the Miami Dade Mall to find out the reason why patrons who ate at Burger King selected it. Six factors were covered: fast service, food quality, price, location, advertising and child preference. Results showed that food quality was fourth in prompting customers to eat at Burger King. Location, fast service and price were ranked first, second and third in importance.

The decision regarding when and to what extent to use convenience food products is a perennial issue in the hospitality industry. Despite the pertinence of this issue in the industry, it has never been explicitly examined in the hospitality literature. Potential advantages of adopting convenience food products in food-service operations include: savings in time and costs, better portion and cost control, ease of training and evaluation, superior customer relationships through product consistency, increased safety, ease of storage, and added eye appeal. On the other hand, noticeable disadvantages may include: staff motivation problems, facilitated labor mobility, increased emotional labor for supervisor, health and nutrition down-sides, and more waste. Therefore, to further explore this issue, a paper and pencil survey was administered to culinary managers in a large university dining setting. Respondents included 132 chefs representing ten dining facilities. The results indicate that even though the time and labor cost savings brought about by the use of convenience food products are perceived as advantageous, the implied consistency of the final product and superior portion control are not as important. Furthermore, customer relationships, catering to special groups, and final products' eye appeal appear to be better facilitated by non-convenience foods. Even though it is easier to train chefs/ cooks/ employees to use convenience food products rather than non-convenience ones and these employees appear to be under less psychological pressure in their jobs, they will conversely be less motivated and worse paid. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed herein. / Master of Science

This research project investigated a method to promote one low-fat, high-fiber choice in a national chain fast-food restaurant. It is an extension of efforts toward large-scale dietary change. A procedural extension of a prompting strategy was used in an attempt to influence customers to choose a salad. A simple visual and print message based on themes derived from formative and pilot research at the restaurant was presented during two intervention phases of a reversal design. The message, "Be Fit and Healthy; Eat a Low-fat SALAD as Your Meal or Add a Side Salad," was displayed in colorful posters and tent cards which were placed on all the tables. Data from a comparison base in a neighboring town were obtained. A one-month follow-up phase was included in the design. Prices and in-store advertisements were identical in both locations. The existing computerized cash register system was used to obtain accurate, objective data. Daily and weekly sales percentages of several entrees were obtained. Results of analysis using a correction procedure indicate that when graphically represented, salad sales across phases increased with the introduction of the prompts, and decreased with their removal. In addition, three entrees not represented by associated prompts remained stable across phases. For Salads-combined, results indicate that sales increased about 15% and 9%, respectively, for the first and second intervention phases. Daily temperature during this project was variable. Although a comparison site was used to control for the effects of weather, results indicate that salad prompting may have increased sales more during warmer temperature. Population demographics were recorded. Analyses of the customer population during this project indicate customers were about equal by gender, and consisted primarily of white, 18-39 years old individuals. The cost for each added salad bought during the intervention was about $.22, and the cost to raise the percent of salad sales, each percent, across the four weeks was about $16.00. Future research should attempt to foster longer term behavior change and integrate multifaceted promotions. / Master of Science