Kim K. P. Johnson

Compulsive Buying Behavior and Its Relationship to Perceived Social Status Associated with Buying, Materialism, Self-Esteem, and Apparel-Product Involvement

Compulsive buyers are individuals who experience and routinely act on powerful, uncontrollable urges to purchase. The relationships that existed between compulsive buying behavior and perceived social status associated with buying, materialism, self-esteem, and apparel-product involvement for adults between the ages of 18 and 24 were investigated. This age range was selected because it is the average onset age of compulsive buying behavior. A convenience sample of 305 undergraduates completed a questionnaire that contained measures of compulsive buying, perceived social status associated with buying, materialism, self-esteem, and apparel-product involvement. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The full regression model and the regression coefficients for all four of the predictor variables were statistically significant. The compulsive buying behavior of participants was negatively related to self-esteem and positively related to perceived social status associated with buying, materialism, and apparel-product involvement.

Fashion Opinion Leadership, Fashion Innovativeness, and Need for Variety

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between need for variety and four consumer groups: fashion opinion leaders, fashion innovators, innovative communicators, and fashion followers. We predicted that fashion opinion leaders, fashion innovators, and innovative communicators would have a greater need for variety than would fashion followers. Subjects were 425 undergraduate students. Hirschman and Adcocks Measurement of Innovativeness and Opinion Leadership was used to identify the four consumer groups. Need for variety was measured by the Sensation Seeking Scale. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. Results indicated that there was a significant difference between fashion innovators and fashion followers on need for variety as measured by the experience seeking component of the Sensation Seeking Scale. There were no significant differences between fashion opinion leaders or innovative communicators and fashion followers on the Sensation Seeking Scale. Results suggest that part of the psychological makeup of fashion innovators is a greater need for variety in the form of mental stimulation than fashion followers possess.

Exploring differences between Internet apparel purchasers, browsers, and non-purchasers

We investigated whether differences existed among Internet apparel purchasers, browsers, and non‐purchasers in terms of their attitudes about Internet shopping and retailers, willingness to provide credit card information, Internet use behavior, and demographic characteristics. Data were obtained from an Internet survey conducted by the Graphic, Visualization, and Usability (GVU) Center from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Internet apparel purchasers were significantly different both from the Internet apparel browsers and non‐purchasers, but browsers were not significantly different from non‐purchasers.

Appearance and Dress as a Source of Information: A Qualitative Approach to Data Collection

A content analysis of 39 women’s responses to open-ended interview questions revealed a) what impressions they formed of others based on appearance and dress, as well as what cues they chose, and b) that they believed that others also used appearance and dress cues when forming impressions of them. Neither participants’ impressions of others nor participants’ beliefs regarding others’ impressions of them contained information that extended beyond the perceived person to include other people or things associated with the perceived person. Instead, the content of the information inferred included personality characteristics, information about behaviors, biological traits, health and hygiene, and social roles. Most participants believed that both they and others were accurate at decoding information from general appearance and dress cues, although some participants believed that accuracy was dependent upon the situation or related to specific appearance or dress cues.

The Role of Cosmetics in Impression Formation

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of cosmetics use on impression formation. The study was a single factor experiment with three levels of cosmetics (heavy, moderate, none). Eighty-five undergraduate females viewed one of three colored photographs of a professional model wearing either heavy, moderate, or no cosmetics and indicated impressions of her attractiveness, femininity, personal temperament, personality, and morality by checking 7-point Likert-type scales. Analysis of variance revealed no significant difference on impressions of personal temperament or personality traits based on cosmetics use. Cosmetics use did significantly affect impressions of attractiveness, femininity, and morality.

Multi‐channel shopping: channel use among rural consumers

Purpose – The research purpose was to identify whether changes occurred between 2000 and 2003 in the retail channel use of rural consumers for searching product information and for purchasing food and fiber products and to investigate whether differences existed between channel use groups (i.e. store only shoppers, store and catalog shoppers, and multi‐channel shoppers) concerning perceived time property, satisfaction with local offerings, community attachment, shopping criteria, and financial security.Design/methodology/approach – Survey methodology was used. Questionnaires were mailed to participants living in non‐metropolitan statistical areas of the USA with populations less than 12,500. In 2000, 2,198 participants returned the questionnaire. Follow‐up questionnaires were mailed to the same participants during 2003 and returned by 847 participants. The analysis is based on the responses of the 847 participants.Findings – To search for information on apparel, food, or home furnishing products, internet...

Effect of Dress, Cosmetics, Sex of Subject, and Causal Inference on Attribution of Victim Responsibility1

This study investigated the influence of dress, cosmetics, sex of subject, and causal inference on attribution of a rape victims responsibility. Six hundred ten university students served as subjects. Each subject received a questionnaire with a photograph attached, a vignette of a bogus rape victim and a responsibility scale. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Neuman-Keuls test. Results indicated that both dress and causal inference exerted a significant influence on subjects attribution of victim responsibility. Subjects attributed more responsibility for the rape to victims appearing in the most provocative dress than those victims appearing in provocative or least provocative dress. Those subjects who indicated they believed victim ability or effort may have contributed to the rape attributed more responsibility to the victim than those individuals who indicated the situation or chance contributed to the rape. Results are discussed in terms of attribution theory.

Attributions about Date Rape: Impact of Clothing, Sex, Money Spent, Date Type, and Perceived Similarity

This study was designed to investigate the independent and combined effects of clothing, sex of subject, money spent, type of date, and perceived similarity of female subjects to the victim on attributions made about a victim and a perpetrator of a date rape. A convenience sample of 703 college students participated (females = 518; males = 177; information missing = 8). Subjects were asked to read a vignette describing a date rape and to view a photograph of the victim. They were asked to make attributions concerning both the victim and the perpetrator. Males indicated to a greater extent than females that the victim wanted to have sexual intercourse. Males indicated to a greater extent than females that the victim led on the perpetrator. Subjects indicated a rape occurred to a lesser extent when the date was planned as compared to unplanned. Subjects indicated the perpetrator behaved violently to a greater extent when the date was unplanned as compared to planned. Females who indicated they were either like or not like the victim rated the victim higher on being able to do something to prevent the incident than did the females who were neutral. Females who indicated they were not like the victim indicated that the victim led the perpetrator on to a greater extent than those females who indicated they were neutral or like the victim. There were no significant findings related to clothing or money spent.

Keeping customers shopping in stores: interrelationships among store attributes, shopping enjoyment, and place attachment

Our research purpose was to identify and test variables that contribute to customers willingness to continue to shop in brick and mortar stores, hereafter referred to as store loyalty. Specifically, we examined interrelationships among store attributes, shopping enjoyment, place attachment, and store loyalty with apparel shoppers. Significant store attributes that predicted shopping enjoyment included atmosphere, price, leisure, design, and service. Shopping enjoyment was a significant predictor of both place attachment and store loyalty. In turn, place attachment was found to be a significant predictor of store loyalty. The implications for store retailing are discussed as well as limitations and areas for future research.

Factors Related to Engagement in Risky Appearance Management Behaviors

Using self-objectification theory we investigated variables that predict engagement in risky appearance management behaviors among female college students. We found self-objectification was related to engagement in risky appearance management behaviors. Interaction about appearance with friends and family members was also related to engagement in risky appearance management behaviors. Both beliefs about appearance and internalization of appearance ideals were influences on self-objectification.