• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.417-427
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• 1998

Price, one of the marketing 4p's, is a key decision variable affecting market share and the profitability of individual products. For consumers, since price is almost always known to and can be compared, it is one of the most important criteria when they make a purchase decision making. With the consumers' increasing consciousness for price due to economic recession, and the saturation of domestic apparel market, it is expected that the effect of price on consumers' decision making would be greater than ever. This study, the first in two part series, focuses on testing the validity of dimensions of clothing price using Lichtenstein et. at. (1993)'s suggestion. In addition, the effect of demographic variables on the perception of each price dimension was investigated. The subjects were 264 college students living in Seoul, Korea. The data were collected by self -administered questionnaires and analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, regression analysis and Lisrel confirmatory factor analysis. The result supported Lichtenstein et. al. (1993)'s suggestion. That is, consumers' perception of clothing price is not mini-dimensional, but has six dimensions: sale proneness, price mavenism, value consciousness, price consciousness, price -quality schema and prestige sensitivity. Demographic variables partially effect on the consumers' perception of each clothing price dimension. The level of monthly pocket money, however, has influence on all price dimensions. Based on these results, marketing implications for apparel manufacturers were suggested.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1167-1184
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• 2011

The goal of educating consumers regarding food safety is to increase consumer competency in food safety. In order to recognize consumer problems and to develop consumer competency in rapidly changing consumer environment, it is necessary to cultivate consumer knowledge, attitude, and ability on food safety required in performing the consumer role effectively. Within this context, it is necessary to develop consumer-oriented education programs which aim to change consumer values and behaviors with regard to food safety. Based on information obtained from focus group interviews, the need for educational programs for food safety, which are related to the whole process of food consumption, have been raised. The process of food consumption is divided into buying, cooking/eating, and after eating, based on the process of consumer decision making and consumer behavior. Scenarios for consumer education on food safety were developed depending on the process of food consumption. This study developed a pilot consumer education program which included the whole process of food consumption. The program of this study was designed to induce consumers to change their behavior through establishing values on food safety and may contribute to lay the foundation for the realization of food safety culture. The results will be utilized to provide future directions for consumer education programs and efficient educational materials on food safety. Finally, it is hoped that empirical evaluation and analysis on the effects of consumer education programs will be investigated in future studies.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.15-41
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• 2012

Recently, there happens many purchasing cases encouraged by friends' recommendation in SNS (Social Network Service). This study investigates the effect of friend recommendation on consumers' purchasing heuristic. For this purpose, we compare the effect of friend recommendation with consumer recommendation in terms of trustworthy, specialty, relevancy. Usually, the frequency of friend recommendation is far lower than that of consumer recommendation. Hence, we examine how the effect of information source (friend recommendation or consumer recommendation) is moderated by the frequency of recommendation, as well. As results, this study finds out that, under the same frequency, friend recommendation does not have significantly stronger effect on the purchasing heuristic, although friend recommendation is evidenced as one of significant heuristic inducers. However, in terms of trustworthy, friend recommendation is significantly superior to the consumer recommendation. Moreover, under sufficiently higher frequency, friend recommendation works as better heuristic factor than consumer recommendation. The results deliver managerial implications in the perspective of understanding consumers' purchasing decisions and responding strategies of firms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2012

The need for evidence-based decision making in immunization programs has increased due to the presence of multiple health priorities, limited human resources, expensive vaccines, and limited funds. Countries should establish a group of national experts to advise their Ministries of Health. So far, many nations have formed their own National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs). In the Republic of Korea, the Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP), established by law in the early 1990s, has made many important technical recommendations to contribute to the decline in vaccine preventable diseases and currently functions as a NITAG. It includes 13 core members and 2 non-core members, including a chairperson. Core members usually come from affiliated organizations in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, microbiology, preventive medicine, nursing and a representative from a consumer group, all of whom serve two year terms. Non-core members comprise two government officials belonging to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and the Korea Food and Drug Administration. Meetings are held as needed, but at least twice a year, and sub-committees are formed as a resource for gathering, analyzing, and preparing information for the KECIP meetings. Once the sub-committees or the KCDC review the available data, the KECIP members discuss each issue in depth and develop recommendations, usually by a consensus in the meeting. The KECIP publishes national guidelines and immunization schedules that are updated regularly. KECIP's role is essentially consultative and the implementation of their recommendations may depend on the budget or current laws.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.49-58
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• 2019

Purpose - Consumer behaviors or decision-making process has been changing recently as the consumer environment, including mobile everyday life, has changed. In view of this changing consumer smart environment, this study aims to investigate structural relation about the influence omni-channel propensity and regulatory focus on consideration set formation. Research design, data, and methodology - In order to proceed with this study, we review previous studies and setting hypotheses. The hypothesis was verified through a survey that was conducted for university students with experience in purchasing in less than three months. With reference to previous studies, operational definition was made for the questionnaire design. From 2018 Nov. to 2019 Feb. Survey was conducted on the panel consumers who purchase item within that period. 315 collected survey data were used to verify hypotheses except the data that had incorrect values. This data were used for SPSS/AMOS for confirm hypothesis which developed by researcher. Results - The results of this study are as follows. First, Consumers were considering a more heterogeneous alternatives if they were more omni-channel propensity in the process of forming consideration set. Second, Consumers were more conscious of the price if they were more omni-channel propensity Third, Consumers were considering a more newness alternatives if they were more omni-channel propensity in the process of forming consideration set. Meanwhile, The results of the study on regulatory focus and consideration set relationships are as follows. Consumers were considering a more heterogeneous alternatives if they were more promotion focus tendency in the process of forming consideration set. Second, Prevention focus tendency were more conscious of the price in the process of considering alternatives. Third, Consumers were considering a more newness alternatives if they were more promotion focus tendency. Conclusions - Depending on the changing consumer environment, the omni-channel propensity was shown to influence the formation of the consideration set. Also, Regulatory focus of consumers significantly influence to formation of consideration set. this study also contributes to the development of the theory as well as the practical approach with understanding consumer decision process on smart(mobile) environment.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.57-76
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• 2017

Recently, consumer needs are diversifying as information technologies are evolving rapidly. A lot of IT devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs are launching following the trend of information technology. While IT devices focused on the technical advance and improvement a few years ago, the situation is changed now. There is no difference in functional aspects, so companies are trying to differentiate IT devices in terms of appearance design. Consumers also consider design as being a more important factor in the decision-making of smart phones. Smart phones have become a fashion items, revealing consumers' own characteristics and personality. As the design and appearance of the smartphone become important things, it is necessary to examine consumer values from the design and appearance of IT devices. Furthermore, it is crucial to clarify the mechanisms of consumers' design evaluation and develop the design evaluation model based on the mechanism. Since the influence of design gets continuously strong, various and many studies related to design were carried out. These studies can classify three main streams. The first stream focuses on the role of design from the perspective of marketing and communication. The second one is the studies to find out an effective and appealing design from the perspective of industrial design. The last one is to examine the consumer values created by a product design, which means consumers' perception or feeling when they look and feel it. These numerous studies somewhat have dealt with consumer values, but they do not include product attributes, or do not cover the whole process and mechanism from product attributes to consumer values. In this study, we try to develop the holistic design evaluation model based on consumer values based on three-step approach from product attributes, perceived attributes, to consumer values. Product attributes means the real and physical characteristics each smart phone has. They consist of bezel, length, width, thickness, weight and curvature. Perceived attributes are derived from consumers' perception on product attributes. We consider perceived size of device, perceived size of display, perceived thickness, perceived weight, perceived bezel (top - bottom / left - right side), perceived curvature of edge, perceived curvature of back side, gap of each part, perceived gloss and perceived screen ratio. They are factorized into six clusters named as 'Size,' 'Slimness,' 'No-Frame,' 'Roundness,' 'Screen Ratio,' and 'Looseness.' We conducted qualitative research to find out consumer values, which are categorized into two: look and feel values. We identified the values named as 'Silhouette,' 'Neatness,' 'Attractiveness,' 'Polishing,' 'Innovativeness,' 'Professionalism,' 'Intellectualness,' 'Individuality,' and 'Distinctiveness' in terms of look values. Also, we identifies 'Stability,' 'Comfortableness,' 'Grip,' 'Solidity,' 'Non-fragility,' and 'Smoothness' in terms of feel values. They are factorized into five key values: 'Sleek Value,' 'Professional Value,' 'Unique Value,' 'Comfortable Value,' and 'Solid Value.' Finally, we developed the holistic design evaluation model by analyzing each relationship from product attributes, perceived attributes, to consumer values. This study has several theoretical and practical contributions. First, we found consumer values in terms of design evaluation and implicit chain relationship from the objective and physical characteristics to the subjective and mental evaluation. That is, the model explains the mechanism of design evaluation in consumer minds. Second, we suggest a general design evaluation process from product attributes, perceived attributes to consumer values. It is an adaptable methodology not only smart phone but also other IT products. Practically, this model can support the decision-making when companies initiative new product development. It can help product designers focus on their capacities with limited resources. Moreover, if its model combined with machine learning collecting consumers' purchasing data, most preferred values, sales data, etc., it will be able to evolve intelligent design decision support system.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 2012

Electricity is the basic building block of economic development, and constitutes one of the vital infra-structural inputs in socio-economic development. The demand for electricity has been increasing due to extensive urbanization, industrialization, and a rise in the standard of living, as is the case with residential electricity consumption. This paper attempts to estimate the consumer surplus and the economic value of the residential consumption of electricity in Seoul to assist in decision-making in electricity management. The estimated consumer surplus represents the value of the area under the demand curve, above the actual price that is paid for residential electricity consumption. The estimated annual consumer surplus and economic value for the year 2005 amount to 2,144.7 and 3,727.4 billion won, respectively. The estimates per kWh were 184.9 and 316.0 won, respectively, which imply that the consumer surplus and the economic value of residential electricity consumption significantly outweigh the average price of electricity in 2005 of 91.1 won per kWh.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2017

Purpose - The study verified the effects of consumers' knowledge perception upon word-of-mouth intention and purchase intention of consumers who were exposed to a lot of information, and examined consumer's behavior from multi-dimensional points of view. Research design, data, and methodology - The study conducted the test of difference between consumer's cognition on importance and satisfaction of HMR product by gap of HMR (Home Meal Replacement) product for IPA analysis. The consumer's reliability and words-of-mouth were measured by the questionnaire method with 4 questions according to Likert 7-point scale. Conversion into z-score removed the difference of variables. Results - The causal relation model for importance, satisfaction and gap, not relying upon multi-dimensional scaling and others, could construct causal relation model to give implications. Difference (d) of the products could lessen consumer's reliability to increase consumer's knowledge perception, word-of-mouth intention, knowledge perception, and purchase intention. Therefore, enterprises should make an effort to lessen consumers' complaint for the products and to elevate consumers' reliability. Enterprises also try to give consumers exact information and to promote purchase intention. Conclusions - Difference (d) of consumers' complaint and/or disappointment decreased consumers' reliability to increase knowledge perception. Enterprises should supply consumers with products according to their requirements to minimize the gap and to give them proper information.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1989

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of fashion information source and the consumer dissatisfaction factors in the purchase and use of clothing, and to explain the relationships between the use of fashion information source and the consumer dissatisfaction factors of young man. For the study, data were collected from 254 freshman, 258 male seniors, and 229 unmarried male workers using the questionaire method. The data from 741 respondents were analyzed by Pearson's Product-moment coefficient corrleation, ANOVA, T-TEST, and Scheff Test. The results of the study are as follows : 1. There were significant differences in the use of information source such as. 1) according to the group, the impersonal advocate source, and the impersonal independent source. 2) according to the job, the impersonal advocate source. 2. There were significant differences in the consumer dissstisfaction factor such as. 1) according to the group, the "product assortment" related factor. 2) According to the job, the "quality" related factor. 3. There were partly significant relationships between the use of information source and consumer dissatisfaction factor. 1) In the young men, the use of the impersonal advocate source, impersonal independent source, personal independent source, and observation had correlated with the dissatisfaction factor related to "purchase-decision making".

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.12
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• pp.55-67
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• 1988

The purpose of this study lies in giving a help to the rational life of clothing of consumer and presenting some measures for solving problems of the marketing policy of knitwear and the searching of feasibility of the women's knitwear market. The results of this study are as follows; 1. The characteristics of each brand is not clearly introduced to the consumer. This is owing to the lack of the establishment of the policy that emphasize the special feature of each brand. 2. The target of brand almost coincides real consumer, but fashion mood and age group are declined to specific area. So, the scarcity of casual and young age brand is prominent. 3. All brand ought to treat design as the supreme priority other than anything else on the product differentiation strategy dispite the characteristics of the brand. 4. The distribution centered department store is observed very desirable in this study. 5. According to the result of the consmer's behaviors, it has been clarified that display is the most effective sale promotion. 6. Consumer is used to make improvised decision making in the purchasing activities. Thus, it is required to improve consumer's ability of appraisal for quality and material and to establish the calculable, rational consumption pattern.