• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1139-1149
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• 2011

This study tested the validity of a three-factor model of the centrality of visual product aesthetics developed by Bloch, Brunel, and Arnold (2003) and explored the relationships between the centrality of visual product aesthetics and the relevant constructs. It was hypothesized that the path relationships including innovativeness and consumer independent judgment making are relevant constructs of the centrality of visual product aesthetics. Data were gathered by surveying university students in the Seoul metropolitan area (using convenience sampling) and 322 questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis. Correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis were conducted to analyze the data. The findings show the validity of the three factors (value, acumen, and response intensity) of the centrality of visual product aesthetics. Tests of the hypothesized path show that innovativeness influences the centrality of visual product aesthetics both directly and indirectly through consumer independent judgment making. Innovativeness positively influenced consumer independent judgment making and the three factors of the centrality of visual product aesthetics, whereas consumer independent judgment negatively influences the response intensity factor of the centrality of visual product aesthetics. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future study are also discussed.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1247-1258
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• 2011

This study aimed to clarify the relationships among the characteristics of consumers and their influence on fashion leadership. Two kinds of variables were investigated in this study: centrality of visual product aesthetics and consumer innovativeness as personal characteristics, and role-relaxed consumption and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence as interpersonal characteristics. Data were gathered by surveying university students in the Seoul metropolitan area, using convenience sampling, and 322 questionnaires were used in the statistical analysis. In analyzing data, correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis were conducted. Factor analysis on the centrality of visual product aesthetics revealed three sub-factors: value, acumen, and response intensity. Meanwhile, factor analysis for consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence revealed two sub-factors: informative and normative conformities. However, consumer innovativeness, role-relaxed consumption, and fashion leadership revealed only one factor. Regression analysis showed that visual product aesthetics, especially acumen and response intensity, were the most influential factors; furthermore, consumer innovativeness and normative conformity had positive influence on fashion leadership. However, role-relaxed consumption had negative influence on fashion leadership.