• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.282-296
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• 2012

This study identified the types of motives for reading consumer reviews of apparel products for online stores and classified shoppers into the groups based on motives. Data were collected from eleven Korean women by a focus group interview and from 313 females by an online survey. Respondents were in their 20s' and 30s' with significant experience reading consumer reviews of apparel products for online stores. The seven motives found by interviews were reduced to four types of motives by factor analysis: Right product choice and judgment of product value, risk reduction, saving time and money, and fun/killing time. The motive for the right product choice and judgment of product value was the highest and the motive for fun/killing time was the lowest. Consumers were classified into four groups based on motives: Utilitarian shoppers (25.8%), shopping-task oriented shoppers (36.8%), multiple-motive shoppers (19.7%), and moderate-motive shoppers (17.7%). There were significant differences among age groups and the amount of reading reviews posted on a product and the duration of reading reviews for online stores. In addition, managerial implications were developed.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.119-138
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• 2023

Purpose - This research is to empirically explore the differences in apparel consumption among male and female teenagers and college students in Korea and China. By conducting a survey to understand customers' needs and behaviors, fashion businesses will be able to improve their customer satisfaction and avoid redundancy, inventory, and the waste of resources, effort and money. Design/methodology - The research design considers the consumption patterns of male and female high school and college students in Korea and China. To analyze the data, the study employs decision trees, a type of machine learning algorithm. A decision tree model was developed to examine the relationship between the explanatory and response variables, which can be either quantitative or qualitative in nature. Findings - The main findings of this study indicate that there are differences in shopping behavior among different customer segments. The results show that men have a simpler shopping behavior compared to women. Additionally, cultural factors and the difference in fashion needs between students and non-students have a significant impact on the shopping choices of Chinese and Korean individuals. Originality/value - Existing studies often assume that the shopping behavior of high school and university students is similar and that there are no significant differences in clothing purchases between men and women across countries. The results provide valuable insights into the unique shopping behavior of different customer segments, and can inform fashion businesses in their efforts to meet the needs of their customers.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2003

Microalgae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms and abundant in every ecosystem in the biosphere. They are common in aqueous environments including marine, brackish and fresh waters and in some habitats that lack eukaryotic life such as some hot springs and highly alkaline lakes. Microalgal biotechnology that is focused on the microalgae-based production of a variety of useful materials such as pharmaceutical comfounds, health foods, natural pigments, and biofuels is considered as an important discipline with the development of biotechnology. In addition, the mass cultivation of microalgae can also contribute to improving the environmental quality by reducing the concentration of $CO_2$ which is one of major gases lead to global warming. Consequently, it seems that the microalgae can be used as an efficient, renewable, environmentally friendly source of high-value biomaterials such as chemicals, pigments, energy, etc. and the microalgal biotechnology will most likely represent a larger portion of modern biotechnology.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.43-58
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• 2015

Compulsive hoarding becomes a problem when the spaces hoarded items are stored in become unusable due to clutter, health, or safety issues. Our research purpose was to document relationships between two non-normative consumer behaviors (compulsive hoarding, compulsive buying tendency) and two shopping-related variables: hedonic shopping motives and emotional attachment to possessions with everyday consumers. As hedonic shopping motives have been related to compulsive buying, we predicted these motives (e.g., adventure, gratification, role, value, social, and idea) are related to compulsive buying. We also examined the relationship between compulsive buying and compulsive hoarding tendency and whether emotional attachment to possessions moderated this relationship. Participants were 280 undergraduate and graduate students attending a Midwestern university in the U.S. Regression analysis revealed the enhancing emotion motive (a combined motive of adventure and gratification) positively influenced compulsive buying whereas the value motive negatively influenced compulsive buying. All other hedonic shopping motives were non-significant. Participants who tended to buy compulsively were likely to hoard compulsively. This relationship, however, was moderated by participants' emotional attachment to possessions. Participants with high emotional attachment to possessions showed a higher level of hoarding behavior than those with low emotional attachment to possessions. However, the increase in hoarding tendency among participants with low emotional attachment to possessions was larger between those who were low in compulsive buying and those who were high in compulsive buying than the increase between these two groups among participants with high emotional attachment to possessions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.501-512
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• 2011

This study examines the possible differences in satisfaction level according to the attributes classified as product, price, and service among women apparel consumers with the experience of buying global and domestic SPA brands. Data were collected through a survey of 270 women consumers aged 20s and with SPSS 15.0. The results are as follows: The exploration of the difference in product, price, and service attributes between the global and domestic SPA brands revealed that for product attributes, domestic brands scored higher in management quality, while global brands scored higher in design. In addition, for price attributes, domestic brands scored higher in promotion, while global brands scored higher in price value. When it comes to service attributes, only in regards to store policy was there a significant difference, with the score of global brands higher than domestic brands. The analysis of the difference in shopping orientation on domestic SPA brands showed significant difference only in customer convenience for the category of service attributes, while on global SPA brands, there were significant differences of the design for product attributes, promotion for price attributes, and customer convenience for service attributes.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.183-195
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to find out the difference of evaluation of product and service quality according to consumers' attitude toward price in internet clothing purchase. This study surveyed 400 male and female consumers in their 20s-30s for empirical analysis in August 2010 who have ever purchased clothing through internet shopping malls. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, ANOVA analysis, Duncan test and cluster analysis are carried out using SPSS for Windows 12.0. The results are as follows. First, consumers' attitude toward price dimensions in internet clothing purchase are found 6 factors of sales proneness, price-prestige, price-comparison, low price, utility value and pricequality. Second, based on the attitude toward price dimensions, consumers are categorized into utility value seeking, sales price seeking, multi-dimension price seeking, lack price consciousness, low price seeking group. Third, there are significant differences in product quality and service quality depending on attitude toward price-based consumer types. In particular, sales price seeking and multi-dimension price seeking groups have higher values on product and service quality than other groups. The results of this study will help internet fashion mall businesses to develop price strategy and manage product and service quality.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1088-1101
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the outdoor sportswear purchase behavior, outdoorwear sportswear brand preference, functional fabric awareness, and benefits sought. The research was performed through in-depth interview during February to March 2011. Data were collected from 10 consumers who had purchased outdoor sportswear and experienced camping in 6 months. First, the results from study showed that functionality/comfortability, design, color, and brand name were important factors in selecting outdoor sportswear. Offline stores were the main place to purchase, however, internet shopping mall and portal online community were another shopping channel as well. Second, respondents preferred imported outdoor sportswear brand to national brand. According to the study, the respondents trusted the imported outdoor sportswear quality based on the brand name, value, and brand history more than national brand. Third, consumers who had low functional fabric awareness were more likely to evaluate apparel products based on the brand name. Knowledge levels for textile functions were high in elastic, UV protection, air permeable, and antibacterial properties. The essential features for camping were water absorbing and quick dry, water resistance, wind proof, UV protection, and fire retardant properties. Finally the results showed that there were two sportswear benefit soughts: functionality and status ostentation.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.357-372
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to 1) segment female adolescent consumers into consumer groups displaying different consumer decision-making styles 2) to determine the consumer characteristics(clothing involvement information search store patronage and demographic variables) that related to each consumer segment and 3) to identify the interrelationship between the consumer characteristics. Decision-making styles were measured by 32 seven-point Likert type scales adapted from Sproles & Kendall and Shim & Kot A total of 78 statements dealing with three aspects of consumer characteristics was adapted from previous research. Data were collected from 567 2nd grade female middle and high school students in Seoul via self-administered questionnaires. and were analysed by frequency factor analysis ANOVA cluster analysis χ2 -test and Duncan's multiple range test. The results of this study were as follows: As a results of cluster analysis and ANOVA on seven factors of desion-making styles(1. brand-consiousness 2. novelty/fashion-consciousness 3. recreational/hedonis-tic orientation, 4. impulsive/carelessness, 5. price-consciousness/value-for-money, 6. perfectionism/high quality orientation 7. habitual/brand-royal consciousness) three consumer groups were identified and labeled as puality-oriented/non-utlitarian shoppers price-oriented shoppers and apathetic shoppers. Quality-oriented/non-utilitarian shoppers showed the highest clothing involvement scores of all aspects the highest consumer knowledge/experience most active ongoing information search and prepurchase information search. They preferred department store and franchise store for apparel shopping and considered service/reliability atmosphere variety of goods as important store attributes, Price-oriented shoppers showed prepurchase information search and planned purchase behavior actively. They preferred factory outlet store specialty stre and considered price very important as store attributes. Apathetic shoppers showed the lowest scores of all aspects of clothing involvement and most passive behavior in information search activities except showing the highest planned purchase. They preferred regional markets.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1440-1453
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• 2011

Proper consumer segmentation is receiving more attention from industry professionals as markets become more diverse and consumer-centered. Researchers have recognized the limitations of the traditional cluster analysis technique and this research study analyzes market segmentation using Mixture-model or latent-class segmentation. This study used a questionnaire to determine the characteristics of clothing shoppers using a new technique that proved its superiority over traditional techniques. Questions included items measuring fashion shopping behavior, store choice criteria, apparel consumption styles, price perception by product type, and demographic characteristics. Data were collected from 1074 males and females in their 20s and 30s through an online survey. SPSS 16.0 and Latent GOLD 4.0 were used to analyze the data. The ideal typology of clothing shoppers using the Mixture-model were: 'brand loyalty orientated group', 'group of conservative late 30s', 'group of pleasure-emotion early 20s', 'value oriented consumer product with high-income group', 'group of eco/symbol oriented consumer', and 'group of utility/goal oriented male consumer'. This study showed differences in fashion product purchasing behavior by conducting market segmentation for clothing shoppers using the Mixture-model.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.25-57
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• 2012

This study identified motives for writing apparel product reviews in online stores, and determined what motives increase the behavior of writing reviews. It also classified store customers based on the type of writing motives, and clarified the characteristics of internet purchase behavior and of a demographic profile. Data were collected from 252 females aged 20s' and 30s' who have experience of reading and writing reviews on online shopping. The five types of writing motives were altruistic information sharing, remedying of a grievance and vengeance, economic incentives, helping new product development, and the expression of satisfaction feelings. Among five motives, altruistic information sharing, economic incentives, and helping new product development stimulate writing reviews. Store customers who write reviews were classified into three groups based on their writing motive types: Other consumer advocates(29.8%), self-interested shoppers(40.5%) and shoppers with moderate motives(29.8%). There were significant differences among three groups in writing behavior (the frequency of writing reviews, writing intent of reviews, duration of writing reviews, and frequency of online shopping) and age. Based on results, managerial implications were suggested. Long Abstract : The purpose of present study is to identify the types of writing motives on online shopping, and to clarify the motives affecting the behavior of writing reviews. This study also classifies online shoppers based on the motive types, and identifies the characteristics of the classified groups in terms of writing behavior, frequency of online shopping, and demographics. Use and Gratification Theory was adopted in this study. Qualitative research (focus group interview) and quantitative research were used. Korean women(20 to 39 years old) who reported experience with purchasing clothing online, and reading and writing reviews were selected as samples(n=252). Most of the respondents were relatively young (20-34yrs., 86.1%,), single (61.1%), employed(61.1%) and residents living in big cities(50.9%). About 69.8% of respondents read and 40.5% write apparel reviews frequently or very frequently. 24.6% of the respondents indicated an "average" in their writing frequency. Based on the qualitative result of focus group interviews and previous studies on motives for online community activities, measurement items of motives for writing after-purchase reviews were developed. All items were used a five-point Likert scale with endpoints 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree). The degree of writing behavior was measured by items concerning experience of writing reviews, frequency of writing reviews, amount of writing reviews, and intention of writing reviews. A five-point scale(strongly disagree-strongly agree) was employed. SPSS 18.0 was used for exploratory factor analysis, K-means cluster analysis, one-way ANOVA(Scheffe test) and ${\chi}^2$-test. Confirmatory factor analysis and path model analysis were conducted by AMOS 18.0. By conducting principal components factor analysis (varimax rotation, extracting factors with eigenvalues above 1.0) on the measurement items, five factors were identified: Altruistic information sharing, remedying of a grievance and vengeance, economic incentives, helping new product development, and expression of satisfaction feelings(see Table 1). The measurement model including these final items was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis. The measurement model had good fit indices(GFI=.918, AGFI=.884, RMR=.070, RMSEA=.054, TLI=.941) except for the probability value associated with the ${\chi}^2$ test(${\chi}^2$=189.078, df=109, p=.00). Convergent validities of all variables were confirmed using composite reliability. All SMC values were found to be lower than AVEs confirming discriminant validity. The path model's goodness-of-fit was greater than the recommended limits based on several indices(GFI=.905, AGFI=.872, RMR=.070, RMSEA=.052, TLI=.935; ${\chi}^2$=260.433, df=155, p=.00). Table 2 shows that motives of altruistic information sharing, economic incentives and helping new product development significantly increased the degree of writing product reviews of online shopping. In particular, the effect of altruistic information sharing and pursuit of economic incentives on the behavior of writing reviews were larger than the effect of helping new product development. As shown in table 3, online store shoppers were classified into three groups: Other consumer advocates (29.8%), self-interested shoppers (40.5%), and moderate shoppers (29.8%). There were significant differences among the three groups in the degree of writing reviews (experience of writing reviews, frequency of writing reviews, amount of writing reviews, intention of writing reviews, and duration of writing reviews, frequency of online shopping) and age. For five aspects of writing behavior, the group of other consumer advocates who is mainly comprised of 20s had higher scores than the other two groups. There were not any significant differences between self-interested group and moderate group regarding writing behavior and demographics.