Soyeon Shim

An online prepurchase intentions model: The role of intention to search: Best Overall Paper Award—The Sixth Triennial AMS/ACRA Retailing Conference, 2000☆

Abstract In this study, an Online Prepurchase Intentions Model is proposed and empirically tested in the context of search goods. The focus of this research is to determine whether intent to search the Internet for product information is a key element for marketing researchers to employ in predicting consumers’ Internet purchasing intentions. Data were collected through a mail survey to computer users who resided in 15 U.S. metropolitan areas. Two-stage structural equation modeling was employed to test hypotheses. The results show that intention to use the Internet to search for information was not only the strongest predictor of Internet purchase intention but also mediated relationships between purchasing intention and other predictors (i.e., attitude toward Internet shopping, perceived behavioral control, and previous Internet purchase experience). Direct and indirect relationships between two antecedents (attitude toward Internet shopping and previous Internet purchase experience) and Internet purchase intention were also found. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

An empirical investigation of the relationship between product involvement and brand commitment

Strong brand commitment has often been associated with high levels of involvement. However, empirical evidence supporting the conceptual distinctiveness of the two constructs has been equivocal. The findings of this study indicate that product involvement and brand commitment are not highly related and, indeed, represent unique constructs. Four distinct consumer segments emerged from the data analysis based upon low to high levels of product involvement and weak to strong brand commitment. Furthermore, various differences were revealed among the four groups with respect to product orientations, sources of brand information, and the importance of product attributes.

Financial Socialization of First-Year College Students: The Roles of Parents, Work, and Education.

This cross-sectional study tests a conceptual financial socialization process model, specifying four-levels that connect anticipatory socialization during adolescence to young adults’ current financial learning, to their financial attitudes, and to their financial behavior. A total of 2,098 first-year college students (61.9% females) participated in the survey, representing a diverse ethnic group (32.6% minority participation: Hispanic 14.9%, Asian/Asian American 9%, Black 3.4%, Native American 1.8% and other 3.5%). Structural equation modeling indicated that parents, work, and high school financial education during adolescence predicted young adults’ current financial learning, attitude and behavior, with the role played by parents substantially greater than the role played by work experience and high school financial education combined. Data also supported the proposed hierarchical financial socialization four-level model, indicating that early financial socialization is related to financial learning, which in turn is related to financial attitudes and subsequently to financial behavior. The study presents a discussion of how the theories of consumer socialization and planned behavior were combined effectively to depict the financial development of young adults. Several practical implications are also provided for parents, educators and students.

The hierarchical influence of personal values on mall shopping attitute and behavior

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to employ a value-attitude-behavior model in order to investigate the role personal values play in the patronage of regional shopping malls. A secondary objective was to examine whether ones ethnic group membership and ethnic identification serve as important factors that influence personal values as well as attitudes and patronage behavior in the context of regional shopping malls. The sample of regional mall shoppers consisted of white and Hispanic consumers residing in ten metropolitan cities of the southwest. Structural equation modeling indicated that both self-actualizing and social affiliation personal values were positively related to a favorable attitude toward regional shopping malls, and that the social affiliation value played a greater role in influencing attitude than did the self-actualizing value. Individual attitudes toward shopping malls, in turn, were a direct predictor of mall shopping behavior and mediated the relationship between personal values and attitudes. The findings indicate that, independent of ethnic group membership, both self-actualizing and social affiliation values can be used effectively to position regional malls in such a way as to reinforce these views and to provide a strong means for shoppers to satisfy these needs.

A Typology of Apparel Shopping Orientation Segments Among Female Consumers

The purposes of the study are (1) to segment female apparel shoppers into unique apparel shopping orientation groups; and (2) to develop a profile for each segment with respect to information sources, importance of store attributes, lifestyle activities, patronage behavior, and demographics. Data (N = 482) were collected via a questionnaire sent to a nationwide random sample of 1,400 females. By cluster analysis of apparel shopping orientation factors, three groups are identified: (1) Highly Involved Apparel Shopper (46%); (2) Apathetic Apparel Shopper (34%); and (3) Convenience-Oriented Catalog Shopper (20%). These three groups were then compared on several characteristics through multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and chi-square statistics. The results indicate that shopping orientations are a base for segmenting female apparel shoppers and these groups are unique in consumer buying characteristics. These characteristics include: (1) three factors of information sources (Store Fashion Service/Promotion, Fashion Publications, and Mass Media); (2) five factors of importance of store attributes (Store Personnel, Visual Image of Store, Customer Service, Easy Access, and Brand/Fashion); (3) two factors of lifestyle activities (Cultural and Grooming), and (4) other variables (patronage behavior, annual wardrobe expenditure, occupation, housing area and income).

Adolescent consumer decision‐making styles: The consumer socialization perspective

This study has attempted to conceptualize the distinct factors that may be said to characterize an adolescents consumer decision-making style from the perspective of consumer socialization. Eight consumer decision-making styles were proposed to be associated with the influence of socialization agents and antecedent variables (e.g., social structural and developmental variables). Influence of socialization agents was also proposed to be associated with antecedent variables. Survey data (N = 1954) collected from 29 high schools in a southwestern state were examined with the use of a series of stepwise multiple regression analyses. Influence of socialization agents—peers, parents, printed media, TV commercials, and consumer education—clearly played an important role in influencing adolescent consumer decision-making styles. Antecedent variables, especially social structural variables such as gender, ethnicity, main reason for working, and the amount of parental allowance, demonstrated significant correlations with consumer decision-making styles. Antecedent variables, however, were in general found to be only distantly related to the influence of socialization agents.

Patronage Behavior of Apparel Shopping: Part I. Shopping Orientations, Store Attributes, Information Sources, and Personal Characteristics

This is the first part of a two-part paper which deals with patronage behavior of apparel shopping. Part I examines the comprehensive relationships among key variables which impact patronage behavior of apparel shopping. Nationwide data (N = 482) were analyzed by utilizing multiple regressions to investigate the relationships among patronage behavior, store attributes, shopping orientations, information sources, and personal characteristics. Based on the results, patronage profiles for discount store, specialty store, department store, and catalog shopping were developed Predictors of store attributes, shopping orientations, and information sources were identified. Marketing implications are discussed

Antecedents and Consequences of Risky Credit Behavior Among College Students: Application and Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior

The Credit Card Act of 2009 reflects increased public policy concern about the risky credit behaviors of young adults. This act promotes increased responsibility of parents and implies that young adults must acquire financial knowledge and practice responsible financial behaviors. This study addresses this public issue by investigating the psychological processes underlying young adults’ risky credit card behaviors and the role of parents and financial knowledge in the financial behavior of young adults. A conceptual model based on an extension of the theory of planned behavior is proposed. The authors collected data from a sample of first-year students at a major public university. The results show that both parental norm and parental socioeconomic status are important factors that influence students’ risky credit behaviors. Furthermore, subjective financial knowledge does more to prevent risky credit behaviors than objective financial knowledge. Finally, behavioral intention is the most important factor in preventing risky credit behaviors and credit card debt accumulation. The authors draw on their findings to provide public policy implications.

Body Cathexis, Clothing Attitude, and Their Relations to Clothing and Shopping Behavior Among Male Consumers

This study was designed to segment male apparel consumers based on the interaction between body cathexis and clothing attitude and to investigate differences in clothing behavior, shopping behavior, and individual characteristics among the four groups identified by adapting Sirgys self image/product-image congruity theory: (a) positive congruity, (b) positive incongruity, (c) negative congruity, and (d) negative incongruity. Data (n = 269) from a national random sample were analyzed. A series of one-wayANOVA analyses revealed that these fourgroups differed in clothing behavior (fashion innovativeness, fashion opinion leadership, sel, f confidence in clothing), shopping behavior (store patronage, shopping interest, attitude toward catalog shopping, satisfactions with ready-to-wear and product variety/stote quality), and individual characteristics (sports lifestyle activity, annual wardrobe expenditure). Based on the findings, the authors discuss theoretical as well as managerial implications.

Women 55 Years and Older: Part I Current Body Measurements As Contrasted to the PS 42-70 Data

This study, sponsored by the Institute for Standards Research and the apparel industry, was undertaken to establish the very first large-scale body measurement database specifically of women age 55 and older. Part I examines differences in body measurements between the new database and the Voluntary Product Standard PS 42-70 database. Data collection and computing methodologies were pilot tested in Arizona with 469 subjects who were 55 years of age and older. State project coordinators (n = 38) and data collectors (n = 391) in 38 states were recruited and provided training during the two-day workshops conducted in 24 regional locations. Measurements of a total of 6,652 ambulatory women, representing 38 states, were included in the final analysis. A specially designed computer program sorted subjects by size based on the same bust, height, and weight criteria as those used in the PS 42-70 database. For the analysis subjects were classified into 7 figure types (Junior Petite, Junior, Misses Petite, Misses, Misses Tall, Women, and Half-Size) in 6 to 10 sizes each. Mean differences of each size within each figure type were compared by using t-tests. Significant differences between the current older womens body measurements and the PS 42-70 database measurements were found in the majority of sizes across the figure types. Body measurements that were significantly greater than the PS 42-70 database across the sizes and figure types were abdominal-extension, waist, sitting-spread, armscye, bust-height (level), back-width, chest-width, hip and hip-arc. Some measurements (e.g., hip-height, inseam, cervical-height, waist-arc, abdominal-arc, and weight) tended to be generally greater than those of the PS 42-70 with a few exceptions in some figure types. Depending on the sizes and figure types, other measurements varied in both directions from the PS 42-70. It can be expected that women 55 and older will have difficulties buying clothing that fits well under the current domestic sizing system. Therefore, it is critically important that this new database be used to develop improved sizing for women 55 and older. Part II explores womens perceptions of fitting problems experienced when buying clothing cut from domestic sizing charts which have evolved from PS 42-70, the industrys only existing large scale female body measurement database established from 1940 body measurement data.