• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.902-912
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• 2010

This study compares and contrasts the consumer decision-making styles (CDMS) of South Korean and American Generation Y females. A total of 117 American female and 206 Korean female consumers completed self-report survey questionnaires to assess their consumer decision making styles. Exploratory principal components factor analysis using varimax rotation was used to categorize the items into an underlying set of American and Korean decision-making characteristics. Two-tailed independent t-tests were conducted to examine the differences between the two groups when items appeared to have common factors. Factor analysis identified five common factors between the two samples (i.e., enjoyment, shopping aversion, price consciousness, brand consciousness, and quality consciousness). The t-test results report significant differences in the items reported in each factor between American and Korean females. Some of the factors are more indicative of American female Generation Y consumers than Korean female Generation Y consumers. For example, the American female sample seemed to enjoy shopping and prefer brand names more than the female Korean sample. Koreans females seem to have a higher aversion to shopping than Americans; in addition, Koreans females seem to be more accepting of discount and outlet stores, will wait until the price is low before buying a product, and prefer sales when shopping. Based on the findings, the instrument identified varying CDMS between the two samples used. Previous studies using the Sproles and Kendall (1986) instrument experienced the same issue (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2004, 2006; Bauer et al., 2006; Durvasula et al., 1996; Fan & Xiao, 1998; Hanzaee & Aghasibeig, 2008; Mitchell & Walsh, 2004; Siu et al., 2001; Walsh et al., 2001). The results support the idea that no single instrument can be used to examine CDMS in different cultures. This suggests that each country has a CDMS with internal characteristics. Limitations and research for future studies are also discusse.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.309-320
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the consumption values of fast foods among American consumers and compare the consumption values according to the levels of health consciousness. Methods: An online survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 351 American consumers. Based on the median health consciousness score (3.83 out of 5 points), the subjects were classified into the low health-conscious group (Low group) and the high health-conscious group (High group). Factor analysis was used to extract factors for the five consumption values (functional, social, emotional, conditional, and epistemic values). The differences in the consumption values between the two groups were analyzed. Results: A total of 14 factors were extracted for the five consumption values and 9 factors among them (convenience, healthiness, and taste in functional values; health-conscious people, young, busy, obese people, low class, and budget restricted people in social values; guilt in emotional values; accidental situations in conditional values) showed significant differences between the two groups. The Low group had a higher perception of the factor of healthiness (P < 0.001) than the High group. The High group had a relatively higher perception of the factors of convenience (P < 0.001), taste (P < 0.001), and guilt (P < 0.001). In addition, the High group perceived the social values of fast foods more negatively. The High group consumed fast foods less frequently than the Low group and perceived their health status and healthiness of eating habits more positively. Conclusions: The results reveal that the health consciousness level significantly influences consumption value perceptions about fast foods in American consumers. Policymakers and marketers can develop effective strategies based on the results of this study.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.286-298
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to determine potential associations among consumer preference for American beef, consumers' involvement in selection of desired beef, and their intentions to purchase beef. In order to meet the above purpose, this study surveyed the visitors who shopped at 2 big discount stores selected in each of 3 metropolitan cities(Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu) from July 11 to 13, 2008. Total 278 sheets of the questionnaire were collected and used for final data analysis. As a result, it was found that the consumers responded most sensitively to the safety of food when buying beef but didn't care much about the amount of fat and beef brand. In terms of imported beef, it was found that Australian beef was considered reliable by consumers, and their preference for Korean beef was positively correlated with that for Australian beef. In addition, in regard to the attributes of beef selection, it was found that low involvement group had higher intentions to purchase American beef than high involvement group. In order to determine the potential effects of consumers' involvement in the attributes of beef selection on their intentions to purchase American beef, this study conducted data analysis in control of consumer preference for American beef. As a result, it was found that consumers' involvement in the attributes of beef selection had significant effects on their intentions to buy American beef. And sex was found to be one of the demographic characteristics associated with involvement in the attributes of beef selection, particularly associated with low involvement. Depending on sex, it was found that women had lower preference for American beef than men.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.910-923
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• 2008

This study investigated the difference in the influence of shopping orientations, attributes evaluation, and benefits sought on brand loyalty between Korean and American consumers within a clothing purchase context. Questionnaires were administered to 237 Korean consumers and 184 American college students who had purchase experience of casual wear in recent six months through off-line. The results were as follows. First, the hedonic shopping orientation had a positive impact on brand loyalty in both groups, whereas efficient shopping orientation had a positive impact on brand loyalty in American group. Second, the aesthetic attribute had a positive impact on brand loyalty in both groups, whereas utilitarian attribute had a positive impact on brand loyalty in Korean group. Third, brand value benefit sought had a positive impact on brand loyalty in Korean group and body expression/complement had a positive impact on brand loyalty and economic benefit sought had a negative impact on brand loyalty in American group.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2009

In this treatise, a survey was conducted on American female consumers to confirm the possibility of segmenting the American cosmetic industry by classifying lifestyles and analysing differences in consumer behavior, and also to provide global marketing strategy for entry into the American cosmetics industry by Korean companies. The results of the analysis provided three categories of American female consumer lifestyles. The first is the "practical conservative" type(58 people) who are fairly indifferent to or uninterested in external changes. The second is the "pro-active sensitive" type(48 people) who are interested in external changes and want to live a leading life. The last is the "neutral economical" type(54 people) who resemble characteristics that are in between the previous two types. The study has showed there was a difference in consumer motivation, considerations during selection, factors associated with shop choice according to consumer classification. It provides evidence that lifestyles can be a criteria in segmenting the American cosmetics market.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2012

The purpose of the study is to examine the importance and performance degrees between Selection Attributes of American beef by IPA(Importance-Performance Analysis) for university students in Seoul and Gyeonggi Area. A total of 590 questionnaires were distributed, and 481 questionnaires were used in the study (81.5% of response rate). According to the IPA results of 12 selection attributes for American beef, the selection attributes with relatively low satisfaction but high importance(II quadrant) were 'country of origin', 'safety', 'cleanliness and hygiene'. The factor to be improved relatively through to the results of IPA was consumer confidence factor ('country of origin', 'safety', 'cleanliness and hygiene') and it was confirmed that university students had a low satisfaction in large degrees compared to the significance of American beef. Therefore, recovery of consumer confidence of American beef is urgent as well as the need to increase satisfaction of consumers. From now on, based on these results, it is considered that many efforts are necessary to increase the trust of consumers by planting awareness that American beef is safe by setting institutional conditions to vitalize purchase of American beef. Moreover, it is considered that these efforts would be significant for the vitalization of restaurants with beef as their main menu, and vitalization of consumption of Korean beef as well as American beef henceforth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.431-444
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• 2020

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to understand the health interest of consumers in the United States and Japan and thus understand the motivation of food choices, in order to provide basic data on the country's strategy based on healthy and correct food choices in the future. Methods: A customer survey was conducted in 2019 from October 18 to 31, and it targeted 115 American and 120 Japanese local consumers between the ages of 20- to 64-years-old. Eight questions were formed using General Health Interest. Based on food choice motivation, 27 questions were reconstructed and asked about demographic information. All data were analyzed by SPSS Statistics (ver. 25). Results: Health consciousness was categorized into 2 types: nutrition-seeking type and preference-seeking type. Based on these 2 factors, customers were grouped into 3 clusters: healthy dietary life-seeking group, nutrition balance-seeking group and health indifference group. Food choice motivation was categorized into 4 types: health, efficiency, value, and mood. All 3 groups showed a high tendency for efficiency in common. The results show that consumers want higher satisfaction with their time and money invested in food consumption. It is believed that the focus and investment of market segmentation strategy should be focused on product development, especially for American and Japanese consumers who are interested in health. Conclusion: The results of this study reflect consumer needs that can assist in the selection of healthy and correct foods in the future.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.413-416
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• 2003

Hair fragility is a major concern to most people of African decent due to frequent chemical treatments, thermal appliance use and environmental exposure. It is extremely important to both cosmetic scientists and African-American consumers to understand the internal and external hair damage caused by these factors.(omitted)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.807-816
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• 2001

The purpose of this research was to compare American Korean consumers perceptions or evaluations of womens formal wear and casual wear. Results revealed that two groups classified differently the products in formal wear, not casual wear. In general, compared to Korean subjects, Americans rated the Korean business formal wear as more fashionable, attractive, stylish and of having higher quality than U.S. formal wear, indicating they were more likely to purchase. On the other hand, compared to U.S. subjects, in general, Koreans rated higher the U.S. casual wear as more liking, purchasing, comfortable, and appealing than Korean casual wear. Regarding clothing image toward each picture, there was a statically difference in both groups. To increase American or Korean exports of apparels, companies must look globally to develop new markets for their products.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
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• 1998.08a
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• pp.1-3
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• 1998