• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-175
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• 2010

Most of the service industries including finance and telecommunications have become matured and saturated. The competitions have become severe while the differences among brands become smaller. Therefore maintaining good relationships with customers has been critical for the service providers. In case of credit card and debit card, the similar patterns are shown. It is important for them to maintain good relationships with customers, and therefore, they have used marketing program which provides customized services to customers and utilizes the membership programs. Not only do they build and maintain good relationships, but also highlight their brands from the emotional aspects. For example, KB Card or Hyundai Card uses well-known designers' works for their credit card design. As well, they differentiate the designs of credit cards to stress on their brand personalities. BC Card introduced the credit card with perfume that a customer would like. Even though the credit card is small and not shown to public easily, it becomes more important for those companies to touch the customers' feelings with the brand personalities and their images. This is partly because of changes in consumers' lifestyles. Y-generations becomes highly likely to express themselves in many different ways and more emotional than X-generations. For the Y-generations, therefore, even credit cards in the wallet should be personalized and well-designed. In line with it, credit cards with good design can be seen as an example of brand identity, where different design for each customer can be used to recognize the membership groups that customers want to belong. On the other hand, these credit card companies offer the special treatment benefits for those customers who are heavy users for the cards. For example, those customers who love sports will receive some special discounts when they use their credit cards for sports related products. Therefore this study attempted to explore the relationships between relational benefits, brand identification and loyalty. It has been well known that relational benefits and brand identification lead to loyalty independently from many other studies, but there has been few study to review all the three variables all together in a research model. Furthermore, as reviewed above, in the card industry, many companies attempt to associate the brand image with their products to fit their customers' lifestyles while relational benefits are still playing an important role for their business. Therefore in our research model, relational benefits, brand identification, and loyalty are all included. We focus on the mediating effect of brand identification. From the relational benefits perspective, only special treatment benefit and confidence benefit are included. Social benefit is not applicable for this credit card industry because not many cases of face-to-face interaction can be found. From the brand identification perspective, personal brand identity and social brand identity are reviewed and included in the model. Overall, the research model emphasizes that the relationships between relational benefits and loyalty will be mediated by the effect of brand identification. The effects of relational benefits which are confidence benefit and special treatment benefits on loyalty will be realized when they fit to the personal brand identity and social brand identity. In the research model, therefore, the relationships between confidence benefit and social brand identity, and between confidence benefit and personal identity are hypothesized while the effects of special treatment benefit on social brand identity and personal brand identity are hypothesized. Loyalty, then, is hypothesized to have positive relationships with personal brand identity and social brand identity. In addition, confidence benefit among the relational benefits is expected to have a direct, positive relationship with loyalty because confidence benefit has been recognized as a critical factor for good relationships and satisfaction. Data were collected from college students who have been using either credit cards or debit cards. College students were regarded good subjects because they are in Y-generation cohorts and have tendency to express themselves more. Total sample size was two hundred three at the beginning, but after deleting those data with many missing values, one hundred ninety-seven data points were remained and used for the model testing. Measurement items were brought from the previous literatures and modified for this research. To test the reliability, using SPSS 14, chronbach's α was examined and all the values were from .874 to .928 exceeding over .7. Using AMOS 7.0, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to investigate the measurement model. The measurement model was found good fit with χ²(67)=188.388 (p= .000), GFI=.886, AGFI=.821, CFI=.941, RMSEA=.096. Using AMOS 7.0, structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the research model. Overall, the research model fit were χ²(68)=188.670 (p= .000), GFI=.886, AGFI=,824 CFI=.942, RMSEA=.095 indicating good fit. In details, all the paths hypothesized in the research model were found significant except for the path from social brand identity to loyalty. Personal brand identity leads to loyalty while both confidence benefit and special treatment benefit have a positive relationships with personal and social identities. As well, confidence benefit has a direct positive effect on loyalty. The results indicates the followings. First, personal brand identity plays an important role for credit/debit card usage. Therefore even for the products which are not shown to public easy, design and emotional aspect can be important to fit the customers' lifestyles. Second, confidence benefit and special treatment benefit have a positive effects on personal brand identity. Therefore it will be needed for marketers to associate the special treatment and trust and confidence benefits with personal image, personality and personal identity. Third, this study found again the importance of confidence and trust. However interestingly enough, social brand identity was not found to be significantly related to loyalty. It can be explained that the main sample of this study consists of college students. Those strategies to facilitate social brand identity are focused on high social status groups while college students have not been established their status yet.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.33-58
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• 2010

This study explores the changes and implications of identity in social work profession following the introduction of voucher in Korea. For this purpose, it was conducted qualitative research using depth-interview. It was sampled 20 social workers who delivers social services by voucher. The data were analyzed by Glaser and Strauss's coding methods(open coding and axial coding) and thematic analysis. The results of research are follow: 1) The introduction of voucher in social work practice resulted in identity confusion in social work profession 2) Role of social workers(practicing by voucher) was changed into mediator and manager. 3) The relationship between clients and social workers was changed into business centered relationship. 4) The increase of bureaucratic control and mechanism of profit-making resulted in these changes. As a result of this process, autonomy of social workers was decreased. 5) These changes in social work profession can be interpreted as reconstruction of social work practice, increase in repression of managerialism, and establishment of quasi-marketing structure in social work practice.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.225-234
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• 2017

This study was conducted with male/female teenagers to examine the interaction between their attachment to social media and their self-identity in both real space and cyberspace. Among the subjects, male teenagers tended to use social media more than female teenagers. Also, the more friends/followers they have, the more they would use the service itself. In the subordinate correlation of the subjects' self-identity in both cyberspace and real space, most areas showed positive correlation. And each subregion of the areas of real-space ego-identity and social media addiction showed positive correlation with them as well. On the other hand, in areas of social media addiction and cyberspace ego-identity, all areas showed negative correlation except the area of dominance. Through this experiment, it was proven apparent that there needs to be proper management of teenagers that are overusing and are addicted to social media, and that programs should be developed to mediate the subjects in regards to each subregion of real space and cyberspace ego-identity.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Information Technology Applications Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.135-138
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• 2005

Many aspects of the way we work and live in the twenty-first century will be determined by the vast web of Internet. Virtual environments open the door to new identity experiences. Having the possibility to enter in a new community, where any personal information is directly shown to others, is a possibility to experiencing different self and thus to show and build new identities. This paper aims to identify how to relate the perception of cyber identity, loyalty and purchase intention. First, we classified cyber identity into two types, personal and social, and analyzed perception of each identity type. Then we conducted a survey using pre-designed questionnaire and found out factors consisting personal and social identity. Finally we analyzed the effects of these factors on loyalty and purchase intention using Structural Equation Model.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.105-120
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to analyze on effects of midlife ego-identity and crisis on quality of life in married women. The data were obtained through 394 midwife married women who live in Kwangju and Chonnam. The results were as follows. (1) The mean scores of ego-identity and quality of life were higher than the medium point. The mean scores of crisis was a little lower than the medium. (2) The ego-identity was significantly influenced by religion, health condition, social intimacy, marital relations, and parent-child relations. The crisis was influenced significantly by income, health condition, marital relations, and ego-identity. And the quality of life was influenced significantly by religion, health condition, marital relations, parent-child relations, and crisis. (3) On the result of path analysis, religion, health condition, marital relations, parent-child relations, and crisis directly influenced the Quality of life. Besides, income, social intimacy, and ego-identity indirectly affected the quality of life.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.39-50
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of our study is to provide an understanding of the relationships among consumer attention to social comparison information (ATSCI), consumer ethnocentrism (CET), national identity (NI), and consumer purchase intention to domestic brands (PIDB). Drawing on the social comparison theory (SCT) and social identity theory (SIT), we developed a model that is empirically testable and explains consumer behavior of domestic brands and products. Research design, data, and methodology - The conceptual framework was tested with primary data collected through a survey in China. Structural equation modeling was employed to test hypotheses. Results - The results from empirical analyses indicated that the ATSCI positively influenced CET and NI, and CET and NI affect consumer PIDB. In addition, the mediating effects of CET and NI on the relationship between ATSCI and PIDB were identified. Nonetheless, little direct impact of ATSCI on PIDB was reported. Conclusions - We suggested that international marketers use given information to attract consumer attention and develop appropriate promotions, especially for Chinese young generations that would pay much attention to social comparison information in their purchase decisions. Our study originally connected one socio-psychological antecedent, ATSCI, with CET and NI and estimated the relationships among the three antecedents and their effects on PIDB in order to predict consumer behavior in China.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.251-260
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• 2019

This study aimed to examine the associations between family economic status, social relationships, and the career identity of adolescents. The study assessed the mediating effects of social relationships on the relationship between economic status and the career identity of adolescents, utilizing data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). The result indicated that family economic status was related to the quality of the social relationships that significantly affected the career identity of adolescents. These findings suggested that the inequality in career development of adolescents due to family economic status could be reduced by promoting positive social relationships. Convergent interventions that help adolescents to build positive social relationships would be necessary to improve the career outcomes of those from low-income families.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.205-215
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• 2019

The purpose of this study aimed to investigate the gender differences in the mediating effects of perceived social support and negative comparison in the relation between social networking sites and depression. For this analysis, 483 samples were collected and conducted by multi-group structural equation model. The findings of this study were as follows: (1) Collective identity was observed both in Facebook and in Internet Cafe activities. (2) Collective identity was positively related to perceived social support, but perceived social support was negatively related to depression. Also, negative comparison was positively related to depression. (3) In terms of gender differences, the Facebook activities were negatively related to depression for male while the internet cafe activities were positively related to depression for female. Lastly, (4) The collective identity was positively related to negative comparison for female.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.59-72
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• 2016

Purpose - This study expands the corporate social responsibility (CSR) model and concepts by adding to it the concepts of corporate identity and public existence responsibility. Then, this study examines the structural relationship between corporate identity and public existence responsibility. This study contributes to expanding CSR to give customers a different perspective from previous studies in that it specifically measures corporate public existence responsibility, corporate identity, and corporate value creation and investigates the structural relationship. Research design, data, and methodology - This study addresses specific research questions. First, it asks whether non-financial performance is a component of CSR; second, it asks if the improvement in the corporate image should be treated as its corporate identity; and third, it tries to expand CSR concepts from corporate citizenship and public market awareness to public existence responsibility. The research hypothesis is formulated to confirm the relationships among CSR, corporate value creation, corporate identity, and public existence responsibility. Result - This study confirms that CSR has a positive correlation with corporate value creation and that CSR has a relatively positive correlation with corporate identity and public existence responsibility. Additionally, it confirms a positive correlation between corporate identity and public existence responsibility. However, corporate identity and public existence responsibility do not have an effect on corporate value creation. However, the influence of public existence responsibility confirmed the influence of corporate value creation through corporate identity as a mediating variable. Conclusion - This study argues that CSR produces more general performance including both financial and non-financial performance. It also confirms that the goals and performance of CSR can substitute for corporate value creation from general performance. It further confirms that public existence responsibility includes market public awareness, corporate images, and corporate associations. It suggests that corporations should see themselves as having public existence responsibility. Further, they should devise strategies to build corporate identities that associate with corporate goals and visions. Finally, this study contributes to the expansion of perspectives on CSR theoretical concepts and goals of performance of the corporation throughout the corporate value creation process.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-79
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• 2010

In a virtual community, one can possess multiple identities and pretend to be different by creating self-identity in contrast with his or her actual self. Does false identity undermine the qualitative growth of a virtual community by reducing members' accountability? Or does it stimulate their contributive behaviors by ensuring freedom of speech? It is imperative to understand the effects of multi-identity considering the distinct properties of a virtual community in which people easily change their identities at little or no cost. To answer these questions, we adopted the concept of self-discrepancy from the social psychology theory rooted in the concept of the self and developed a theoretical model to predict quality of contribution of the individual member in virtual communities. Based on the self-discrepancy theory, we first identified two different domains of the self: (1) an "actual self" that consists of attributes that the person believes he or she currently possesses in real life and (2) a "cyber self" that consists of attributes the person believes he or she possesses in a virtual community. Next, we derived an index for two different types of self-discrepancy by using the differences between the actual and the cyber identities: Personal Self-discrepancy and Social Self-discrepancy. Personal Self-discrepancy reflects the degree of discrepancy between actual and cyber identity regarding a person's intelligence, education, and expertise. Social Self-discrepancy reflects the degree of discrepancy between actual and cyber identity regarding a person's morality, sociability, and accordance with social norms. Finally, we linked them with sense of virtual community, perceived privacy rights, and quality of contribution to examine how having a multi-identity influences an individual's psychological state and contributive behaviors in a virtual community. The results of the analysis based on 266 respondents showed that Social Self-discrepancy negatively influenced both the Sense of Virtual Community and Perceived Privacy Rights, while Personal Self-discrepancy negatively influenced only Perceived Privacy Rights, thereby resulting in reduced quality of contribution in virtual communities. Based on the results of this analysis, we can explain the dysfunctions of multi-identity in virtual communities. First, people who pretend to be different by engaging in socially undesirable behaviors under their alternative identities are more likely to suffer lower levels of psychological wellbeing and thus experience lower levels of sense of virtual community than others. Second, people do not perceive a high level of privacy rights reflecting catharsis, recovery, or autonomy, even though they create different selves and engage in socially undesirable behaviors in a virtual community. Third, people who pretend to be different persons in terms of their intelligence, education, or expertise also indirectly debase the quality of contribution by decreasing perceived privacy rights. The results suggest that virtual community managers should pay more attention to the negative influences exercised by multi-identity on the quality of contribution, thereby controlling the need to create alternative identities in virtual communities. We hope that more research will be conducted on this underexplored area of multi-identity and that our theoretical framework will serve as a useful conceptual tool for all endeavors.