• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.29
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• pp.13.1-13.11
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• 2014

Objectives This study examined variations in the perceptions of dioxin risk among social groups defined by geographical living location, environmental education, and occupation. Dioxin risk perceptions were analyzed according to values, risk awareness, knowledge, and behavioral preferences. Methods A quasi-experimental survey was designed and conducted on individuals from seven experimental groups in Jeonju city, South Korea, including: people living near incineration facilities; people living far from incineration facilities; governmental experts; non-governmental organization members; office workers in developmental institutes or banks; students who were enrolled in environmental-related classes; and students who were enrolled in business-related classes. Results The results show variations among groups in values, awareness and behavioral preferences. Particular attention should be given to the result that groups with higher connectedness-to-nature values show higher willingness-to-act (WTA) for risk reduction. Result s can be summarized as follows. First, awareness is associated with one's geographical setting. Second, values and WTA behaviors are related to one's environmental-related education and occupation. Third, values are significantly related to WTA behaviors. Conclusions Different cultures, in terms of values or worldview, among groups influence their perceptions of dioxin risk and choices of risk reduction behaviors. It is important to consider values in communicating complicated long-term risk management involving public participation. Further research should be continuously conducted on the effects of multiple dimensions of values on one's WTA for risk reduction behaviors.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.758-769
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze the traditional embroidery in India by region based on Bourdieu's cultural theory. As the research methods for this study, literature and case studies were conducted. The results of the study are summarized as follows. First, India's regions could be divided into four distinct regions based on language and religion. The main concepts of Bourdieu's cultural theory, namely the sub-dimensions of field and habitus, were the field of social system, the field of goods & economy, the field of environment/region, culture, and ethnicity. Second, Eastern India's embroidery was influenced by Hinduism and traditional art. The embroidery used various fabrics such as the Applique work, and vivid colors and patterns were mainly used in the Hindu myths, animals, and flower patterns of the embroidery. Third, embroidery in Western India was influenced by exotic cultures like Persian due to geographical conditions, and embroidery via the use of gold threads and various ornaments was developed. Symbolized flower patterns and geometric patterns were used a lot in the respective embroidery. Fourth, embroidery in southern India was influenced by the Dravidian culture and their architectural style, which saw the emergence of an embroidery that used simple colored cross-stitch. Most of the patterns in this embroidery are geometricized. Fifth, Northern Indian embroidery has historically served as the center of power, resulting in an embroidery that uses various forms and materials. In this embroidery, flower patterns are mainly used. Finally, the characteristics of the traditional embroidery of India's each region is based on Bourdieu's cultural theory, which could be summarized as ethnic religiosity, exotic splendor, structural formality, and symbolic power.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.296-309
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• 2023

This study gathered basic information on the development of Jiu-Jitsu uniforms suitable for players in Korea. Detailed data were collected between December 20^th and December 30^th, 2022 on 21 selected brands sold in online shopping malls. For each, information was recorded on the production country, product type, price, colors, material, and sizing system. A total of 612 datasets were analyzed using frequency analysis, cross-tabulation, and Chi-square tests. Jiu-Jitsu uniforms were classified as either standard or limited edition. Limited edition uniforms were more expensive than regular uniforms. International brands had a higher price range than domestic brands. The most commonly used colors for Jiu-Jitsu uniforms were the regulation colors associated with the sport: white, black, and blue. Domestic brands were more likely to use non-regulation colors than international brands. The material used for the top half of the uniform was predominantly pearl weave, while the bottom half was usually ripstop. International brands used a more diverse range of materials than domestic brands. The Jiu-Jitsu uniform sizing system incorporated a range of sizes between A00 and A6. While sizing designations differed according to the established sizing systems of different countries, the sizes remained the same, as did the range of sizes available. Where size guides were provided, height and weight were used to help the customer determine the appropriate size. The dimensions of each size varied between brands. Overall, we found that international brands offer a more diverse range of Jiu-Jitsu uniform designs than domestic brands.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.586-606
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• 2023

This study initiated research aligned with the body positivity movement, aiming to explore size diversity for groups facing relative size discrimination due to their deviation from average body types. Using KS adult women's apparel dimensions as a reference, jackets were developed for women in their 20s to 30s who belong to the small petite-size (S[P]) category, which is characterized by a height under 155cm (petite) and a bust-circumference from 72cm to less than 82cm (small). Using 3D virtual-fitting, we conducted experiment-pattern production and refinement and subsequent real-fitting evaluations by participants to objectively validate aesthetics and comfort. The study's findings are as follows: First, utilizing a 3D virtual-fitting program by identifying 'creases' and 'garment pressure points' in the jacket appearance, experiment patterns were refined and real jackets were produced. This approach addressed challenges in recruiting participants with specific body types and allowed for efficient research in terms of cost and time. Second, through real-fitting evaluations, basic-fit and slim-fit jackets labeled as <79-88-150> were developed for the S(P) size. we presented 'size spec' and 'ease allowance' for jackets by waist fit. Both fits received positive evaluations with approximately 53.5cm sleeve length, and 11.7cm shoulder length. The ease allowances for the basic-fit jacket were approximately 9.2cm at the bust circumference, 12.8cm at the waist circumference, and 6cm at the hip circumference. Similarly, the slim-fit jacket exhibited ease allowances of about 4.8cm at the bust circumference, 4cm at the waist circumference, and 4cm at the hip circumference, receiving positive evaluations for aesthetics and comfort.

• Journal of Consumption Culture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.143-169
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• 2012

Consumption is the most important cultural keyword in the modern society. This study tried an exploratory comparison of consumer culture of Korea, USA and Sweden in response to the needs on cultural comparison research perspective. Triandis's cultural dimensions were adopted to explore each country's cultural characteristics. A qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to consumers who lived both in Korea and USA, or in Korea and Sweden, which enabled them to get familiar with each country's consumer culture. The research found that the culture is projected to the consumer culture in a micro domain. The individualism allowed consumers in USA and Sweden to be unconscious of other's eyes. But collectivism in Korea made Korean consumers locked in other's judgement. In contrast, in a macro domain of consumer culture such as donation and pro-environmental consumption, consumption practices were in a dissonance with their cultural orientation, where includes interaction with society and environment. In addition, in a post-materialistic society, symbolism of consumption goods gets weakened and experiential consumption evolves with a transition from mass consumption society to plural culture society. Lastly, consumer culture functions as a creative mechanism of new culture by consumer's reflexive planning, which is one of the clues of an autonomous consumer culture. This study tried to explore the consumer culture of Korea, USA and Sweden as an exploratory trial for the comparison of consumer cultures. To increase empirical consumer culture study, refined questionnaire item pool is to be extracted through various exploratory researches, which can be utilized commonly in various cultures. Moreover, an additional research is in need about a consumer culture in a macro domain and experiential consumer culture in a post-materialism society.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.29-56
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• 2008

Since the execution of National Health Insurance system in Taiwan, the competition of medical industry is becoming more and more severe. The ways the hospital operate knowledge management (KM) concept, combine current human resources and professional knowledge by information techniques and upgrade the competitiveness through reinvention of organizational culture have become the important issues. This research is based on the relationship between KM and organizational operation, integrates the characteristic of medical institutions and framework of medical knowledge cycle and starts the research subject by questionnaires from three dimensions: current situation of KM construction in medical organizations, executive effect of KM activities and the challenges faced by KM; subsequently, from qualitative interview, this research attempts to understand how a medical organization executes and adjusts in the consideration of theory and reality as well as quality and costs when actually operates the organization. This research accesses to KM system application of medical institutions and the empirical executive benefits and difficulties through questionnaires. The research results are as follows: (1) having initial understanding toward current KM establishment of medical institutions; (2) confirming the most important items of KM establishment of medical organizations; (3) understanding the most difficulty which the medical organizations encounter when executing KM; (4) establishing medical knowledge cycle figure of the hospitals receiving interviews. Through case interview, this research profoundly accessed to the actual operation of KM application of medical organizations. The target hospitals intended to try many medical KM measures; however, during to complicated hospital organizations and cultural characteristics, the promotion was not successful and the results were not apparent. The most difficulty was to change the employees’ behavior. The targets believed that only the continuous promotion of KM can allow it to be an important aspect of organizational culture and the competitiveness could constant be upgraded.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.113-145
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• 2009

Recently, due to the globalization of the IT(Information Technology) market, devices and systems designed in one country are used in other countries as well. This phenomenon is becoming the key factor for increased interest on cross-cultural, or cross-national, research within the IT area. However, as the IT market is becoming bigger and more globalized, a great number of IT practitioners are having difficulty in designing and developing devices or systems which can provide optimal experience. This is because not only tangible factors such as language and a country's economic or industrial power affect the user experience of a certain device or system but also invisible and intangible factors as well. Among such invisible and intangible factors, the cultural characteristics of users from different countries may affect the user experience of certain devices or systems because cultural characteristics affect how they understand and interpret the devices or systems. In other words, when users evaluate the quality of overall user experience, the cultural characteristics of each user act as a perceptual lens that leads the user to focus on a certain elements of experience. Therefore, there is a need within the IT field to consider cultural characteristics when designing or developing certain devices or systems and plan a strategy for localization. In such an environment, existing IS studies identify the culture with the country, emphasize the importance of culture in a national level perspective, and hypothesize that users within the same country have same cultural characteristics. Under such assumptions, these studies focus on the moderating effects of cultural characteristics on a national level within a certain theoretical framework. This has already been suggested by cross-cultural studies conducted by scholars such as Hofstede(1980) in providing numerical research results and measurement items for cultural characteristics and using such results or items as they increase the efficiency of studies. However, such national level culture has its limitations in forecasting and explaining individual-level behaviors such as voluntary device or system usage. This is because individual cultural characteristics are the outcome of not only the national culture but also the culture of a race, company, local area, family, and other groups that are formulated through interaction within the group. Therefore, national or nationally dominant cultural characteristics may have its limitations in forecasting and explaining the cultural characteristics of an individual. Moreover, past studies in psychology suggest a possibility that there exist different cultural characteristics within a single individual depending on the subject being measured or its context. For example, in relation to individual vs. collective characteristics, which is one of the major cultural characteristics, an individual may show collectivistic characteristics when he or she is with family or friends but show individualistic characteristics in his or her workplace. Therefore, this study acknowledged such limitations of past studies and conducted a research within the framework of 'theoretically integrated model of user satisfaction and emotional attachment', which was developed through a former study, on how the effects of different experience elements on emotional attachment or user satisfaction are differentiated depending on the individual cultural characteristics related to a system or device usage. In order to do this, this study hypothesized the moderating effects of four cultural dimensions (uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs, collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, and power distance) as suggested by Hofstede(1980) within the theoretically integrated model of emotional attachment and user satisfaction. Statistical tests were then implemented on these moderating effects through conducting surveys with users of four digital devices (mobile phone, MP3 player, LCD TV, and refrigerator) in three countries (US, Germany, and Russia). In order to explain and forecast the behavior of personal device or system users, individual cultural characteristics must be measured, and depending on the target device or system, measurements must be measured independently. Through this suggestion, this study hopes to provide new and useful perspectives for future IS research.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.459-464
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to design a toilet lifting seat to prevent falls accidents in the elderly while using the toilet. Prior to design, laws and national standards related to restroom use were investigated and the available space for the assistive devices to be installed was determined. In additions, considering the body size and operating range of the elderly, the optimal final position of the toilet seat is set so that users can use it more safely and conveniently without external help. Moreover, in order to provide an effective standing assistance function, a complex 4-bar link structure was applied to enable simultaneous seat elevation and angle adjustment when operating the device, and the appropriate link shape and dimensions were determined using a linkage program and UG NX. FEA analysis using ANSYS Workbench is performed to ensure the robustness of the stretched linkage and the feasibility of the lifting seat is verified through fabrication.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.21
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• pp.437-449
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• 2015

The research aims to verify the effects of preference for science and self-directed learning ability of the science puppet show program that the researcher has developed as a STEAM education model. The results for conducting the survey with the same questionnaire before and after the program targeting the students showed that the science puppet show had effects on increasing the science related assignment performance will of the behavioral will among the three sub-dimensions including emotional respond, value cognition and behavioral will, but there was no effect on overall aspects of science preference. It can be interpreted as reflecting the characteristics of the scientific talents who already have a high level of preference for science. In addition, the three sub-dimensions including the cognitive regulation, motivational regulation and behavioral regulation had effects on the self-directed learning ability. Especially it had great effects on the directed learning ability of cognitive regulation, learning motivation of motivational regulation, tool application of behavioral regulation, and cooperation capacity which were greater for female students than male students. It is judged that the three-staged science puppet show program including the 'content integrating stage' that the students integrate the curriculum contents, 'integrated mission stage' of solving the visualization, auralization and performance missions by themselves, and 'process integration stage' of making the stage piece all together.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2023

With the proliferation of the "Untact" culture (non-face-to-face society), advanced technologies have accelerated the cashierless systems in the retail context. Cashierless fashion stores are expected to grow rapidly in the same way automated convenience stores grew in popularity. Applying the extended technology acceptance theory, this study aims to investigate how the attributes of cashierless fashion store influence consumers' acceptance of it and to examine how consumer's technology readiness moderates the model. Two online surveys-preliminary and secondary-were conducted to collect data from consumers in their 20s and 30s who had experienced cashierless stores over the past year. To analyze a total of 423 responses, this study conducted a confirmatory factor analysis, a multi-group factor analysis, a multi-group structure equation modeling, and a descriptive analysis. The results demonstrate that convenience, trustworthiness, and price had a positive impact on perceived ease of use, while service quality had a negative one. Enjoyment, convenience, trustworthiness, and price positively influenced perceived usefulness. Both perceived ease of use and usefulness increased the intention to use. Furthermore, the multi-group comparison confirmed that the positive dimensions of consumer's technology readiness played a moderating role in the model. This study provides a research foundation for consumer acceptance of technologically advanced stores and offers practical implications to companies planning cashierless fashion stores.