This study investigates the intricate relationship between environmental knowledge (EK), adoption barriers, and sustainable consumption (SC) behavior among young adults in Sweden. Utilizing cognitive dissonance theory (CDT) as a framework, the research aims to explain the mechanisms behind the intention-behavior gap in sustainable consumption. The Moderated Multiple Regression (MMR) analysis of survey data reveals a significant positive association between environmental knowledge and sustainable consumption behavior, with income level moderating this relationship – individuals with lower-income face barriers to sustainable consumption despite their knowledge.  Although product availability and psychological factors (control/self-efficacy) were not significant moderators, their importance in shaping sustainable consumption choices is highlighted, emphasizing the complexity of barriers. The study also finds that sustainable consumption behavior moderates the relationship between environmental knowledge and cognitive dissonance (CD), suggesting that aligning actions with knowledge reduces psychological discomfort. This research provides valuable insights for developing interventions to promote sustainable consumption among young adults in Sweden. Despite these insights, the persistence of the intention-behavior gap calls for further investigation.

The current research examines the use of social media and its security settings using the Social Exchange Theory (SET) within a Saudi student environment. This research includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion with the results section presenting the findings from the three essays. The first essay employs the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology of SET. PRISMA's systematic and exhaustive approach to literature evaluation increases the likelihood of obtaining high-quality, reproducible findings. In the second essay, which focuses on awareness of X's (Twitter) security settings, a quantitative research approach was utilized. A sample of former and current Saudi students (graduate and undergraduate) at the University of North Texas participated in the investigation. This research provides an empirical examination of the use of X (Twitter) and its security features within this community by employing statistical analysis of the data from respondents. Likewise, the same sample of Saudi students from the University of North Texas was used for the third essay in which the use of Facebook's security settings was examined. Having a consistent sample across both studies enables a comparison and a greater understanding of the security awareness and practices of this group across various social media platforms. The findings across the different studies extend our understanding of the role of culture in privacy and security concerns related to social media.

Background: The digitalisation and rise of social media completely transformed the dynamics of communication where marketers lost full control over the marketing message to consumers. Companies have adapted by utilising Online Brand Communities (OBCs) with an open environment facilitating their consumer relationship with mutual benefits. Recently, companies have started to fear social media, due to the increased spread of negative word-of-mouth (WOM). Recent research reveals that consumers are more prone to share negative WOM than positive WOM, where certain consumers intentionally seek to harm brands by spreading misinformation. This underscores the need for further exploration of the dark side of OBCs.    Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the presence and impact of negative WOM within OBCs focusing on negative expressions concerning product quality, identity and intention. Specifically, it examines what negative expression has the most significant impact on consumer outcomes in the form of loyalty, intention and emotional attachment. Method: A mixed methodology approach was conducted for this study. The qualitative approach involved conducting a netnography to analyse the dynamics within OBCs and identify negative comments present within the communities. The quantitative approach was then implemented through a survey, incorporating the selected comments from the netnography to understand their impact on consumer outcomes.  Conclusion: The netnography findings showed that negative expressions regarding product quality were predominant within OBCs. The survey revealed that negative expressions concerning consumer identity exert the most significant impact on consumer outcomes. Although product quality discussions dominate OBCs, it was shown to not be the ultimate factor to impact consumer outcomes.

Vår intention med arbetet är att upptäcka olika metoder för att främja arbetet med högläsning. Syftet med litteraturöversikten är därför att granska tidigare forskning som redogör för olika metoder om högläsning för att gynna elevernas läsförmåga. Detta syftet leder till forskningsfrågan som litteraturöversikten utgår ifrån: Vilka metoder för högläsning gynnar utvecklingen av elevers läsförmåga? Datainsamlingen består av systematiska sökningar genom söksträngar i olika databaser som bland annat ERIC (EBSCO), Swepub, Scopus och DiVA. Forskningen är både internationell och nationell. Tematisk analys används för att analysera datainsamlingen. Utifrån analysen identifieras teman som utgör våra rubriker i resultatdelen. Studiens resultat visar att interaktiv högläsning är en metod som gynnar elevers literacyutveckling. Även andra faktorer såsom valet av bok och vid vilken tidpunkt på dagen påverkar främjandet av läsutvecklingen. Slutsatsen av litteraturstudien är att interaktiv högläsning, val av bok och tidpunkt med flera, främjar läskunnigheten och förståelsen. Ett aktivt lärande bidrar till en ökad motivation hos eleverna. / Our intention with this study is to discover different methods to promote the work with reading aloud. The purpose of this study is therefore to review previous research that outlines different approaches to reading aloud to benefit students' reading skills. This purpose leads to the research question on which this study is based: What methods of reading aloud benefit the development of students' reading skills? Data collection consists of systematic searches through search strings in various databases such as ERIC (EBSCO), Swepub, Scopus and Diva. The research is both international and national. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the data collection. Based on the analysis, themes are identified and form our headings in the results section. The results of the study shows that interactive reading aloud is a method that benefits students' literacy development. Other factors such as the choice of book and the time of day also influence the promotion of reading development. The conclusion of this study is that interactive reading aloud, choice of book and time of day, among others, promotes literacy and comprehension. Active learning contributes to increased motivation among students.

This master’s thesis deals with topic of financial planning of the company. The first part of the thesis describes the theoretical background, whose knowledge is necessary for drawing up the financial plan. Subsequently, the thesis is focused on introducing the selected company Then the necessary analyzes, strategic and financial, will be carried out to evaluate the current situation of the company, which serves as a basis for the financial plan itself. That will soon be drawn up for the next three marketing years. The final part of the thesis includes evaluation and feedback of this financial plan.

Diploma thesis consists of three basic parts. The first is the theoretical part which is focused on issues on financial planning. In the following section are performed analysis of external and internal area businesses, which serve for establishing long term financial plan. The last part is focus on the establishment of components of the plan which are planned profit and loss account, planned balance sheet and planned cash flow. In conclusion of this paper is checked the plan and its confrontation with the real achievements.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Elizabeth B. Barrett / The primary purposes of this research were to 1) use the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)to assess Millennial generation wine consumers attitudes, perceived behavioral controls, and subjective norms related to purchasing wine in casual dining restaurants (CDR), and 2) use Conjoint Analysis (CA) to analyze Millennials’ preferences for wine information on the restaurant menu. An instrument was designed based on the TPB and CA and was sent online to 216 consumers using the database of a market research firm (e-rewards). Independent variables (attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms) were analyzed to predict behavioral intentions to purchase wine. Principal component analysis was combined with multiple linear regression to assess intention. Results identified attitudes and subjective norms as being significant in predicting behavioral intention, perceived behavioral controls was partially significant. Millennial’s believe ordering wine with their friends and family in casual dining restaurants will make them feel smart and sophisticated and will increase the enjoyment of food. However, they do not believe wine consumption is appropriate in CDR’s; they had strong perceptions that wine is purchased for special occasions and consumed in fine dining restaurants. Part II of the study employed conjoint analysis to determine Millennials preferences for wine information on the menu. Results indicated that Millennials prefer menus that provide wine/food pairing information, wine flavor descriptors located near food listings and quality wines at an affordable price. Millennials attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls support previous research that this generation is interested in wine and wine is a social experience that increases their enjoyment of food and time spent with their friends and family. Through the use of CA, the present study suggests wine information on the menu is important to this segment of consumers. Additional research should be conducted to understand the stereotypes this generation has about wine consumption in casual dining restaurants. These operators and owners should consider focusing their marketing efforts showing Millennials enjoying wine while celebrating special occasions with their friends and family. In addition, redeveloping menus in their operations to add wine information may increase interest in wine and generate profit.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychological Sciences / Gary Brase / Brand Equity is a common phrase in consumer research, but there is still a lot of ambiguity surrounding the measurement of this concept (Keller, 2008). Several methods of measurement have been proposed over the years, but no one method has been adopted as the ideal way to predict purchase intent and measure brand equity. The current research tested three theories—Social Exchange Theory (SET), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the Yoo and Donthu model—to see which is the best predictor of purchase intent and brand equity. SET assumes consumers weigh the costs and rewards of purchasing the product. TPB uses consumers’ attitudes over purchasing the product, subjective norms of what others would do, and the perceived behavioral control consumers have in actually purchasing the product. The Yoo and Donthu model has been used most often of the three theories in measuring brand equity and includes measures of brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness/associations, and overall brand equity. Study 1 assessed consumer durable products (TV and athletic shoes) and Study 2 assessed consumer non-durable products (soap and toothpaste). Consumers evaluated these products online based on a picture of the product, the brand name, price, customer reviews, quality ratings, and an advertisement and then indicated their likelihood to purchase the product. Theory of Planned Behavior was the best predictor of purchase intent across all four products assessed indicating that consumers look at external factors such as what others would do as well as how much control they have over purchasing the product as much as they consider their own attitudes.

The growth of the ecotourism industry has resulted in increased demand for ecotourism and, consequently, the demand for one of the most renowned ecotourism destinations in South Africa, the Kruger National Park. Eco-tourists are highly educated and expect information-rich experiences which can be addressed with interpretation services. Previous studies indicated that the Kruger National Park‟s management neglects the importance of interpretation and, thus, the expectations of interpretation services exceeded the actual experience thereof. Additionally, the Kruger National Park is faced with a decline in public funding and consequently shifted their focus to ecotourism management to support successful conservation management of the park. Interpretation, however is not only considered to be an important educational tool that addresses visitors‟ expectations for educational services, but also contributes to national parks‟ conservation mandate since it influences visitors‟ behaviour to be more in line with respect for the environment, philanthropic support for conservation and general environmental behaviour. Clearly the Kruger National Park should address interpretation services with the aim of addressing visitor expectations but also to contribute to conservation management. The aim of this study is therefore to develop an interpretation framework for the Kruger National Park. To achieve this aim, this study made use of a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed in the southern and northern regions of the park during December 2011 and June 2012 respectively. Only one questionnaire per travelling group was distributed and resulted in 855 completed questionnaires for this study. Furthermore, the aim of the study was realised by means of several objectives. The first objective was to conduct a thorough literature analysis on the components, theories and goals related to interpretation within ecotourism related products. This was accomplished in Chapter 2 and provided a conceptual framework which was tested in the subsequent chapters to provide an interpretation framework for the Kruger National Park. The second objective explored all the methodological considerations for the subsequent chapters (i.e. articles). Due to the limited space available in the articles, Chapter 3 provided additional information or methodological considerations not captured in the articles of the study. The third objective of this study determined the interpretation expectations and experiences of visitors to the Kruger National Park. This was done in Chapter 4 of the study. Factor analyses revealed visitors‟ expected and experienced interpretation services and compared these factors by means of paired sample t-tests for the park as a whole as well as between the northern and southern regions of the park. The results revealed that there is a gap between visitors‟ expectations and experiences with interpretation services of the park, however, there are no significant differences between the northern and southern regions‟ interpretation services. In addition to determining the visitors‟ expectations and experiences with the Kruger National Park‟s interpretation services; the fourth objective determined market segments for the Kruger National Park based on expected interpretation services. This was accomplished in Chapter 5 of the study by means of cluster analyses (i.e. hierarchical and non-hierarchical) that revealed four distinct markets (i.e. Inquisitive, Eager, Comfort and Quasi-interested seekers). A factor analysis also determined several motivations for visitors to visit the Kruger National Park and by means of ANOVAs and Chi-square analyses, the differences between the market segments based on socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics as well as motivations, expected and experienced interpretation services were determined. The fifth objective of this study determined whether the Kruger National Park‟s interpretation services have an impact on the visitors‟ behaviour to be more in line with the park‟s conservation practices and was accomplished in Chapter 6. This chapter made use of structural equation modelling to determine the multiple relationships between expected interpretation services as well as attitudes and behaviour. Results revealed that visitors to the Kruger National Park are inclined towards positive attitudes towards conservation practices but that the current interpretation services influenced the attitudes as well as the behaviour of visitors negatively and needs to be addressed. Lastly, the results of this research suggest several recommendations for the Kruger National Park as explained in Chapter 7 of this study. Clearly the Kruger National Park needs to address the gap between interpretation expectations and experiences by planning for interpretation in the form of a policy or strategy. The interpretation policy or strategy should also be re-evaluated and amended periodically since visitor‟s needs and markets change. An interpretation framework is presented for the Kruger National Park based on the results of this study to address the current dilemmas of the park in terms of interpretation. Not only did this study provide practical contributions to the Kruger National Park but made several distinct contributions. An interpretation framework was developed that can not only assist the Kruger National Park but which also contributes to the body of knowledge on the topic and can also assist other ecotourism destinations in the same position as the Kruger National Park. This study also confirmed a general classification of interpretation services as well as suggested interpretation typologies that can be used for future ecotourism research. Since there was no guideline available to segment interpretation visitors, this study also made a methodological contribution by proving that expected interpretation can be a viable segmentation base and that the selection of a variable should be based on statistical calculations. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The growth of the ecotourism industry has resulted in increased demand for ecotourism and, consequently, the demand for one of the most renowned ecotourism destinations in South Africa, the Kruger National Park. Eco-tourists are highly educated and expect information-rich experiences which can be addressed with interpretation services. Previous studies indicated that the Kruger National Park‟s management neglects the importance of interpretation and, thus, the expectations of interpretation services exceeded the actual experience thereof. Additionally, the Kruger National Park is faced with a decline in public funding and consequently shifted their focus to ecotourism management to support successful conservation management of the park. Interpretation, however is not only considered to be an important educational tool that addresses visitors‟ expectations for educational services, but also contributes to national parks‟ conservation mandate since it influences visitors‟ behaviour to be more in line with respect for the environment, philanthropic support for conservation and general environmental behaviour. Clearly the Kruger National Park should address interpretation services with the aim of addressing visitor expectations but also to contribute to conservation management. The aim of this study is therefore to develop an interpretation framework for the Kruger National Park. To achieve this aim, this study made use of a self-administered questionnaire which was distributed in the southern and northern regions of the park during December 2011 and June 2012 respectively. Only one questionnaire per travelling group was distributed and resulted in 855 completed questionnaires for this study. Furthermore, the aim of the study was realised by means of several objectives. The first objective was to conduct a thorough literature analysis on the components, theories and goals related to interpretation within ecotourism related products. This was accomplished in Chapter 2 and provided a conceptual framework which was tested in the subsequent chapters to provide an interpretation framework for the Kruger National Park. The second objective explored all the methodological considerations for the subsequent chapters (i.e. articles). Due to the limited space available in the articles, Chapter 3 provided additional information or methodological considerations not captured in the articles of the study. The third objective of this study determined the interpretation expectations and experiences of visitors to the Kruger National Park. This was done in Chapter 4 of the study. Factor analyses revealed visitors‟ expected and experienced interpretation services and compared these factors by means of paired sample t-tests for the park as a whole as well as between the northern and southern regions of the park. The results revealed that there is a gap between visitors‟ expectations and experiences with interpretation services of the park, however, there are no significant differences between the northern and southern regions‟ interpretation services. In addition to determining the visitors‟ expectations and experiences with the Kruger National Park‟s interpretation services; the fourth objective determined market segments for the Kruger National Park based on expected interpretation services. This was accomplished in Chapter 5 of the study by means of cluster analyses (i.e. hierarchical and non-hierarchical) that revealed four distinct markets (i.e. Inquisitive, Eager, Comfort and Quasi-interested seekers). A factor analysis also determined several motivations for visitors to visit the Kruger National Park and by means of ANOVAs and Chi-square analyses, the differences between the market segments based on socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics as well as motivations, expected and experienced interpretation services were determined. The fifth objective of this study determined whether the Kruger National Park‟s interpretation services have an impact on the visitors‟ behaviour to be more in line with the park‟s conservation practices and was accomplished in Chapter 6. This chapter made use of structural equation modelling to determine the multiple relationships between expected interpretation services as well as attitudes and behaviour. Results revealed that visitors to the Kruger National Park are inclined towards positive attitudes towards conservation practices but that the current interpretation services influenced the attitudes as well as the behaviour of visitors negatively and needs to be addressed. Lastly, the results of this research suggest several recommendations for the Kruger National Park as explained in Chapter 7 of this study. Clearly the Kruger National Park needs to address the gap between interpretation expectations and experiences by planning for interpretation in the form of a policy or strategy. The interpretation policy or strategy should also be re-evaluated and amended periodically since visitor‟s needs and markets change. An interpretation framework is presented for the Kruger National Park based on the results of this study to address the current dilemmas of the park in terms of interpretation. Not only did this study provide practical contributions to the Kruger National Park but made several distinct contributions. An interpretation framework was developed that can not only assist the Kruger National Park but which also contributes to the body of knowledge on the topic and can also assist other ecotourism destinations in the same position as the Kruger National Park. This study also confirmed a general classification of interpretation services as well as suggested interpretation typologies that can be used for future ecotourism research. Since there was no guideline available to segment interpretation visitors, this study also made a methodological contribution by proving that expected interpretation can be a viable segmentation base and that the selection of a variable should be based on statistical calculations. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015