Thesis (MScFoodSc) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We aimed to determine how canopy position influences fruit quality and consumer preference for the eating quality and appearance of ‘Forelle’, ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ pears. Our hypothesis was that consumer preference would be higher for the appearance and eating quality of outer canopy fruit. Our first trial investigated the effect of canopy position and cold storage duration on quality attributes and consumer preference for ‘Forelle’ pears. Mealiness was much more prevalent in outer canopy fruit in 2012 and after 9 and 12 weeks cold storage in 2011. In 2011, consumers preferred the eating quality of inner canopy pears that had been subjected to 12 and 16 weeks of cold storage while inner canopy pears were generally preferred in 2012. This study provides support for the mandatory 12 weeks cold storage of ‘Forelle’ pears. Our second trial investigated the effect of canopy position and harvest maturity within the commercial picking window on the quality attributes and consumer preferences for ‘Forelle’ pears. Inner canopy pears of harvest 1 (23 February) and harvest 2 (27 February) were significantly preferred in terms of eating quality. The general dislike for harvest 3 (13 March) pears and outer canopy fruit seemed to relate to an incidence of mealiness. Our results suggest that harvesting ‘Forelle’ pears at a firmness ≈6.2 kg will ensure that both inner and outer canopy pears have acceptable eating quality. In our third trial, fruit were harvested at commercial firmness from two orchards in each of Elgin and Ceres to assess the effect of orchard site on quality attributes of ‘Forelle’ pears. Total soluble solids (TSS) were higher in Elgin while flavour attributes were more pronounced in Ceres. In both areas, outer canopy pears were higher in TSS and lower in titratable acidity (TA) but canopy position had no effect on sweet and sour taste. Mealiness incidence was high in outer canopy fruit from Elgin, as well as in one Ceres orchard. Further research over consecutive seasons is needed to determine the reasons for orchard differences in mealiness incidence. Our fourth trial investigated the effect of canopy position on quality attributes and consumer preference for ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ pears. Despite a higher TSS:TA ratio in outer canopy ‘Bon Rouge’ pears and a higher TSS and dry matter concentration in outer canopy ‘Bon Chrétien’ pears, canopy position did not affect sensory eating quality attributes. Seen overall, results indicate that canopy position has a minor effect on consumer preference for ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ eating quality. No significant differences in colour and consumer preference for appearance were found between outer and inner canopy ‘Bon Chrétien’ pears. Consumers slightly preferred the redder outer canopy ‘Bon Rouge’ pears over the less red inner canopy fruit. Although consumers preferred the red blush colour of outer canopy ‘Forelle’ pears, inner canopy pears also received high scores. Inner canopy ‘Forelle’ pears should not be viewed as inferior to outer canopy fruit with regard to both eating quality and appearance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons het gepoog om die effek van boomposisie op vrugkwaliteit en verbruikersvoorkeur vir die eetkwaliteit en voorkoms van ‘Forelle’, ‘Bon Chrétien’ en ‘Bon Rouge’ pere te ondersoek. Ons hipotese was dat verbruikersvoorkeur hoër sou wees vir die voorkoms en eetkwaliteit van pere van die buitekant van die boom se blaredak. Ons eerste proef se doelstelling was om die effek van boomposisie en koelopberging op die kwaliteitseienskappe en verbruikersvoorkeur vir ‘Forelle’ pere te bepaal. Melerigheid was beduidend meer aanwesig in buitevrugte in 2012 asook na 9 en 12 weke koelopberging in 2011. Verbruikersvoorkeur vir eetkwaliteit was die hoogste vir binnevrugte na 12 en 16 weke koelopberging in 2011 terwyl binnevrugte in die algemeen voorkeur geniet het in 2012. Hierdie studie steun die bevindinge van vorige studies dat ‘Forelle’ pere vir ten minste 12 weke koelopgeberg moet word. Die doel van ons tweede proef was om te bepaal of ‘Forelle’ pere wat by verskillende ryphede binne die kommersiële oesperiode geoes is, verskille toon in kwaliteitseienskappe en of hierdie verskille, indien enige, verband hou met verbruikersvoorkeur vir eetkwaliteit. Die eetkwaliteit van binnevrugte van oes 1 (23 Februarie) en oes 2 (27 Februarie) is verkies bo buitevrugte. Die algemene afkeur vir oes 3 (13 Maart) en buitevrugte kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan die hoë voorkoms van melerigheid. Ons resultate dui aan dat beide binne- en buitevrugte aanvaarbare eetkwaliteit behoort te hê indien ‘Forelle’ pere by ‘n fermheid van ≈6.2 kg geoes word. Vir ons derde proef is ‘Forelle’ pere geoes by kommersiële fermheid (≈6.4 kg) vanaf twee boorde in elk van Elgin en Ceres. Totale opgeloste vastestowwe (TOV) was hoër in Elgin pere terwyl geur-eienskappe meer prominent was in Ceres pere. In beide areas het buitevrugte hoër TSS en laer titreerbare sure (TS) gehad, maar boomposisie het egter geen effek op soet en suur smaak gehad nie. Die voorkoms van melerigheid was hoog in buitevrugte van die Elgin boorde, sowel as in een van die Ceres boorde. Verdere navorsing oor opeenvolgende seisoene word benodig om redes vir die verskille in die voorkoms van melerigheid tussen boorde te ondersoek. Die doelstelling van ons vierde proef was om die effek van boomposisie op die kwaliteitseienskappe en verbruikersvoorkeur vir ‘Bon Chrétien’ en ‘Bon Rouge’ pere te ondersoek. Ondanks ‘n hoër TOV:TS ratio in ‘Bon Rouge’ buitevrugte en ‘n hoër TOV en droë massa konsentrasie in ‘Bon Chrétien’ buitevrugte, het boomposisie ‘n minimale impak gehad op sensoriese eetkwaliteitseinskappe en verbruikervoorkeur vir die pere. Boomposisie het geen effek op die kleur en verbruikersvoorkeur vir die voorkoms van ‘Bon Chrétien’ pere gehad nie. Verbruikers het ‘n effense hoër voorkeur getoon vir die rooier ‘Bon Rouge’ buitevrugte. Alhoewel verbruikers die aantreklike rooi bloskleur van ‘Forelle’ buitevrugte verkies het, het die groen tot geel binnevrugte ook hoë voorkeurpunte behaal. Rakende voorkoms en eetkwaliteit, is ‘Forelle’ binnevrugte glad nie minderwaardig teenoor buitevrugte nie.

Thesis (MScAgric (Horticulture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In order to develop a novel pink- or red-fleshed apple for the fresh consumer market,the red-fleshed genotype, ‘KAZ 91’ (Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck.), was crossed with ‘Meran’ (M. domestica Borkh) at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) apple breeding programme in South Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate and quantify colour variability in the flesh and peel of this progeny (Family 1), to assess quality traits (i.e., acidity and total soluble solids) and phenolic levels in fruit peel and flesh, and to investigate consumer preference for the taste and appearance of redfleshed apples. All data, except for consumer preference, were also collected on two white-fleshed M. domestica Borkh families, i.e., ‘Reinette Burchardt’ x ‘Treco Red Gala’ (Family 2) and ‘Meran’ x ‘Treco Red Gala’ (Family 3). Fruit of Family 1 seedlings were on average darker red with greater blush coverage and higher anthocyanin and phenolic levels compared to fruits of Family 2 and 3. The proportion of bearing trees with red-fleshed fruits in Family 1 increased from 25% in 2007 to 35% in 2008. The intensity and distribution of red pigmentation in the flesh varied considerably between seedlings and even between individual apples from the same tree. A high intraclass correlation coefficient was found for red-flesh coverage within Family 1, indicating a high level of genetic determination that can be used in breeding. When only red-fleshed seedlings were considered, an intermediate repeatability coefficient (0.54) for red-flesh coverage indicates that the extent of red flesh coverage varies to some extent between seasons. The effect of environmental factors on red flesh colour needs to be assessed and breeders need to take care to select for genotypes with stable flesh colour intensity and coverage. Small intraclass correlations were found between families for other traits. No correlation was found for anthocyanin and total phenolics in both peel and flesh or between anthocyanin levels in the peel and flesh of Family 1 fruit. This suggests that red-fleshed fruit will not necessarily be high in antioxidants – since phenolics is by far the greatest contributor to fruit antioxidant capacity. The lack of a correlation between peel and flesh anthocyanin levels also suggest that fruit with dark red flesh will not necessarily have a dark red skin colour. Family 1 fruit were more prone to flesh browning and were more acidic compared to fruit of Families 2 and 3. With regard to consumer preference for flesh colour, 74% of South African consumers preferred white flesh while 64% preferred an attractive “floral” pattern created by the combination of a red cortex and white core. Consumers indicated a much lower liking for other distribution patterns and lower intensities of red flesh colour. Consumers preferred the taste of apples that were crisp, crunchy and high in apple flavour irrespective of flesh colour. Red-fleshed fruit were generally acidic or had poor texture, and some were also astringent. However, despite a general dislike in acidic fruit, consumers showed a preference for acidic fruit if that fruit also had high red-flesh coverage. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Appeltelers van die Suid-Afrikaanse Landbounavorsingsraad (LNR) Infruitec- Nietvoorbij poog om unieke appelkultivars met ‘n pienk of rooi vleiskleur te ontwikkel. Vir hierdie doel het hulle die rooivleis genotipe, ‘KAZ 91’ (Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck), gekruis met ‘Meran’ (M. domestica Borkh). Hierdie studie is uitgevoer ten einde kleurvariasie, interne kwaliteitseienskappe (i.e., suurheid en totale oplosbare vastestowwe) en vlakke van fenole in die vleis en skil van bogenoemde kruisingkombinasie se nageslag (Familie 1) te evalueer en te kwantifiseer asook om verbruikersvoorkeure vir die smaak en voorkoms van rooivleis appels te bestudeer. Buiten vir verbruikersvoorkeure, is alle data ook ingesamel vir twee witvleis M. domestica families, naamlik ‘Reinette Burchardt’ x ‘Treco Red Gala’ (Familie 2) en ‘Meran’ x ‘Treco Red Gala’ (Familie 3). Familie 1 saailinge se vrugte was gemiddeld donkerder rooi met ‘n groter rooi blos en hoër antosianien- en fenoolvlakke in vergeleke met vrugte van Families 2 en 3. Van die Familie 1 saailinge wat wel vrugte gedra het, het 25% en 35% in onderskeidelik 2007 en 2008 vrugte met rooi vleis gehad. Die intensiteit en verspreiding van rooi pigmentasie in die vleis het aansienlik varieer tussen saailinge en selfs tussen individuele appels van dieselfde boom. ‘n Hoë intraklas korrelasie koëffisiënt is gevind vir die proporsie van die vleis met rooi pigmentasie in Familie 1 nageslag. Dit dui op ‘n hoë vlak van genetiese determinasie en vinnige vordering met teling vir hierdie eienskap. Indien net rooi-vleis saailinge egter oorweeg word, word ‘n intermediêre herhaalbaarheid koëffisiënt (0.54) vir die proporsie van die vleis wat rooi is verkry, wat dui op aansienlike variasie tussen seisoene in die omvang van rooi pigmentasie. Die effek van omgewingsfaktore op rooi vleiskleur behoort dus bestudeer te word en telers moet let daarop om te selekteer vir genotipes met stabiele vleiskleur intensiteit en bedekking. Die intraklas korrelasies tussen families vir ander vrugeienskappe was klein. Antosianienvlakke en totale fenole in die skil en vleis van Familie 1 vrugte het nie gekorreleer nie. Dit dui daarop dat rooivleis appels nie noodwendig ‘n hoër antioksidantkapasiteit het nie – fenole maak by verre die grootste bydrae tot die antioksidantkapisiteit van vrugte. Antosianienvlakke in die skil en vleis van Familie 1 vrugte het ook nie gekorreleer nie wat daarop dui dat vrugte met ‘n donker rooi vleis nie noodwendig ook ‘n donker skilkleur sal hê nie. Familie 1 vrugte was gemiddeld suurder as vrugte van Families 2 en 3 en Familie 1 vrugte se vleis het gemiddeld ook meer verbruining ondergaan. Ten opsigte van verbruikersvoorkeur vir vleiskleur is gevind dat 74% van verbruikers ‘n wit vleiskleur verkies het terwyl 64% gehou het van die aantreklike “blom” patroon gevorm deur ‘n rooi korteks en wit kern. Verbruikers het aansienlik minder gehou van enige ander verspreiding van rooi pigment in die vleis of van ‘n laer intensiteit rooi kleur. In terme van smaak is geurige appels met ‘n bros tekstuur verkies ongeag hul vleiskleur. Rooivleisappels was oor die algemeen suur met ‘n swak tekstuur. Sommige rooivleisappels was ook frank. Tog, ten spyte van ‘n algemene afkeur in suur appels, het verbruikers ‘n voorkeur getoon vir vrugte met ‘n kombinasie van hoë suur en ‘n hoë proporsie vleis met rooi pigmentasie.

Many consumers are now considering the effects of general corporate behavior (e.g., political views, charitable contributions, environmental disasters) and of the product's manufacture, consumption or disposal (e.g., animal testing, ecological harm) on society's overall well-being. These situations involve the issue of individual social responsibility and are good examples of complex decisions that are not readily explained by traditional decision theories. Abstract attributes (e.g., product "greenness" or lack of harm to the environment) and the active role of the decision maker's values, principles, and ethics are problematic. The primary purpose of this research is to develop a conceptual framework for consumer decision making in the presence of a social responsibility issue. The secondary purpose of the study is to assess the value of image theory for explaining the decision process. Image theory (Beach and Mitchell 1987; Beach 1990), a relatively recent development in decision making, provides a compatible decision framework for these types of decisions due to its emphasis on an individual's values and on the screening of alternatives using value-laden attributes. Survey methodology and consumer preference tasks are utilized, and the hypothesized models are tested by structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that image theory provides a credible explanation of socially responsible consumer choice. In terms of this study's context, a consumer who has a strongly held social responsibility principle, values a clean environment, has a high level of environmental concern, and believes that his/her actions make a difference, is more likely to be committed to a pro-environmental plan of action and to use certain decision processes. These specific processes are screening alternatives to eliminate those that are not environmentally friendly and weighting the greenness attribute heavily in evaluating options. Using image theory's terminology and structure, social responsibility and environmental value form the value image. Environmental concern and perceived consumer effectiveness form the trajectory image. The strategic image is reflected in the plan (commitment to pro-environmental behaviors) and tactics (using the social responsibility attribute in the decision process). This research demonstrates that enduring values and principles guide consumer behavior involving social responsibility issues.

Acompanha : Guia didático: a química na junk food: uma proposta para o ensino de ligações químicas por meio do enfoque CTS / O objetivo deste estudo é propor estratégias de ensino no enfoque CTS para o ensino de Ligações Químicas com ênfase nas Ligações Iônica e Covalente. Nesse sentido o presente estudo foi desenvolvido e aplicado em uma escola da rede pública de ensino do Paraná, na cidade de Telêmaco Borba, em duas turmas da segunda (2ª) série do ensino técnico integrado ao ensino médio, totalizando 42 alunos. A abordagem metodológica foi abordagem qualitativa, de natureza interpretativa com observação participante. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizados: fotos, gravações de arguições orais e vídeos de atividades transcritos na íntegra, anotações de campo em protocolos de observação das interações do dia-a-dia na sala de aula, questionários e atividades desenvolvidas pelos alunos. As atividades foram desenvolvidas em dezoito (18) aulas, as quais interligaram os conceitos químicos de Ligações Químicas ao tema social controverso (Junk Food), de forma a promover as inter-relações dos aspectos da ciência, tecnologia e sociedade. Os principais resultados obtidos evidenciaram que pelas atividades propostas, o ensino de Ligações Químicas, por meio do tema social Junk Food, promoveu a valorização do conhecimento científico extrapolando as barreiras da sala de aula para o contexto social dos educandos. Pois as atividades desenvolvidas nos módulos, proporcionou as relações entre os conteúdos escolares e os aspectos cotidianos dos alunos. Alcançando os objetivos da proposta CTS para a cidadania. Outro resultado alcançado compreende a elaboração de um guia didático que tem por objetivo compartilhar atividades desenvolvidas neste estudo, como sugestão metodológica para os profissionais que lecionam Química, e atuam no ano final do Ensino Fundamental, Ensino Médio e Técnico. / The aim of this study is to propose teaching strategies in CTS approach to teaching with emphasis on Chemical Bonds Ionic and Covalent Links . In this sense the present study was developed and applied in a public school teaching of Paraná, in the town of Telêmaco Borba , in two classes of the second ( 2nd ) series of technical education integrated into the school , totaling 42 students . The methodological approach was qualitative approach, interpretative participant observation . For data collection were used : photos , recordings and videos Pleas oral activities fully transcribed , field notes on observation protocols of interactions of day- to-day classroom , quizzes and activities for students . The activities we developed in eighteen (18) classes, which interlinked the chemical concepts of Chemical Bonds to controversial social issue (Junk Food), in order to promote inter - relations aspects of science, technology and society. The main results showed that the proposed activities, the teaching of Chemical Bonds, through social theme Junk Food, promoted the appreciation of scientific knowledge surpassing the barriers of the classroom to the social context of the learners. For the activities in the modules, provided the relationships between school subjects and everyday aspects of students. Achieving the goals of the proposed CTS for citizenship. Another result obtained includes the preparation of a didactic guide which aims to share activities developed in this study as methodological suggestion for professionals who teach chemistry, and act in the final year of elementary school, high school and technical.

This study seeks to examine whether a relation can be found between the number of shoreline exemptions and the development of Umeå municipalities population, or not. The weight of this paper will be focusing on the importance of place attractiveness and social place identity for people’s desires and ambitions to live near a lake or the coast. The policies of planning will also be highlighted in order to receive greater understanding of why people apply for shoreline exemptions. Four semi- structured interviews with planners from Umeå municipality were therefor held with the ambition to complement the quantitative findings of the development of exemptions. The presenting results indicates that an increase of shoreline exemptions can be stated as well as the actions within the exemptions. The population has steadily increased trough out the studied years, 2014-2017. The relation between these findings can be argued have had a similar development, but we cannot be sure to say that they solely affect each other. Therefor the findings will be explained by earlier research regarding residential preferences, the desire to live with water view and planning policies that responds to these factors.

In their continuous search for improved explanations of why consumers engage with certain brands more than with others, academics and managers have placed significant importance on self-brand congruence theory, which suggests that consumers are drawn to brands with characteristics that align with their own characteristics. Although this theory has been extensively investigated and supported by previous research, it has hitherto been assumed that the alignment of characteristics exhibits a similarity configuration, that is, consumers are drawn to brands with traits that mirror their own traits. By adopting a relational view of consumer-brand interactions and drawing from the literature on interpersonal relationships, specifically from theories of interpersonal attraction, the thesis explores the possibility that besides similarity, self-brand personality alignment may also exhibit a complementarity configuration, whereby consumers are drawn to brands with traits that complement their own. Using a two-phase empirical study of mixed methods [in-depth interviews and online survey (n=206)], the thesis first explores the structure of consumers’ perceptions of their own personalities and those of their favourite brands using Exploratory Factor Analysis. Results reveal that although brand personality has the same five factor structure as human personality, the composition of dimensions is distinct. The patterns of alignment between the two sets of traits are then examined through Canonical Correlation Analysis, which reveals the existence of both similarity and complementarity configurations in self-brand personality alignment. A new method for measuring the magnitude of self-brand personality alignment is then devised, which captures both configurations. The predictive power of this new measure is then compared against existing, similarity-based measures for a range of desirable brand behaviours, using Discriminant Analysis and Linear Regression. Results indicate the new measure performs well, especially for emotionally-related brand behaviours.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic health resources are becoming prevalent. However, consumer health information is still predominantly text based. Relying on text alone to deliver health information may not be the most effective way to promote learning or sufficient to meet consumer needs. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed a) whether adding images to text and/or replacing text with narration influenced memory for Consumer Medication Information (CMI), b) if participants perceived CMI formats differently in terms of comprehensibility, utility, or design quality, and if they preferred one format overall c) what participants’ information needs were with respect to CMI. METHODS: Participants’ (N = 36) remembered CMI presented in three formats: 1) Text, 2) Text + Images, and 3) Narration + Images. Additionally, participants rated the three CMI formats in terms of comprehensibility, utility, design quality and overall preference. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate participants’ opinions and preferences regarding the CMI formats, as well as their experiences with CMI and information needs. RESULTS: No significant differences in memory were observed, F(2, 70) = 0.1, p = 0.901. Thus, this study did not find evidence that Mayer’s (2001) multimedia or modality principles apply to CMI. Despite the absence of effects on memory, CMI format impacted perceptions of the material. Participants rated the Text + Images format highest in terms of comprehensibility, X2(2) = 26.5, p < .001 and design quality, X2(2) = 35.69, p < .001. However, after correcting for multiple comparisons, no significant differences in utility ratings between the three formats were observed, X2(2) = 8.21, p < .016. Further, overall preferences revealed that the most participants’ chose the Text + Images format as their favourite (n = 27, 75%) and Text as their least favourite (n = 23, 63.8%). Directed and conventional content analysis were used to explore participants’ CMI preferences and information needs. Various aspects related to provision, comprehensibility, utility, and design quality all appeared to affect perceptions of CMI and whether or not participants used or would use it. Results of this analysis, paired with evidence from other studies, were used to develop a model proposing factors that influence CMI use. CONCLUSION: This study investigated the potential impact of design and distribution changes on perceptions of CMI. Despite the lack of differences in memory, participants’ perceptions of the formats differed. Findings from this study could be used to inform future research on how CMI could be designed to better suit the needs of consumers and potentially increase the likelihood it is used. / Graduate

The practice of promoting food to children via advergames is a highly topical issue which attracts much concern due to the low nutritional value of the promoted foods. This thesis examines the effects of customised food advergames on children’s affective, cognitive and conative responses. It also investigates the role persuasion knowledge and prior brand usage have in children’s interaction with advergames. In particular, whether children’s persuasion knowledge acts as a barrier to those responses. This research is situated within the domains of marketing communications, consumer behaviour and consumer socialisation. It adopts an affect transfer theory, the Dual Mediation Hypothesis (DMH), to explain the transfer of affect from an advergame to children’s responses. Three versions of the same advergame were designed for the purpose of this thesis with different levels of customisation (i.e. control, low and high experimental conditions). An experiment among younger (5-7 year olds) and older (11¬12 year olds) children reveals that customisation in advergames has a detrimental effect on children’s affective, cognitive and conative responses. It was the control condition, without customisation options, that rendered a positive impact on brand attitudes and preferences relative to the other two experimental conditions. Persuasion knowledge does not influence children’s affective, cognitive or conative responses. This implies that children’s understanding of the persuasive intent of an advergame does not act as a barrier against its effects. Age had a significant role on children’s attitudes towards the advergame, but not on their other responses to it. Finally, prior brand usage has a positive impact on children’s responses apart from on advergame attitudes. This thesis has implications to policy and practice. It is evident that children from two distinct age and cognitive developmental groups cannot protect themselves from advergames’ effects. Therefore, regulators should broaden the scope of concern to older and younger children alike.

Debating over efficiency-enhancing but inequality-increasing reforms accounts for the routine business of democratic institutions. Fernandez and Rodrik (1991) hold that anti-reform bias can be attributed to individual-specific uncertainty regarding the distribution of gains and losses resulting from a reform. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate that anti-reform bias arising from uncertainty is mitigated by social preferences. We show that, paradoxically, many who stand to lose from reforms vote in favor because they value efficiency, while many who will potentially gain from reforms oppose them due to inequality aversion.

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