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Title: THE DARK SIDE: STUDY OF THE ROLE OF SKIN TONE ON CONSUMER PERCEPTION.
Creator: Sablon, Kelcey, McConnell, Daniel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The intent of this thesis is to explore the effects and influencers of skin tone on consumer perception. Firstly we conducted a primary study to test the effects of skin tone on service provider quality. The results showed that while skin tone had little effect, gender and ethnicity were more indicative. Therefore our study seeks to re-test the relationship between skin tone and consumer service perception as well as the effects of ethnicity and tipping behavior, and if a consumer's cultural...
Show moreThe intent of this thesis is to explore the effects and influencers of skin tone on consumer perception. Firstly we conducted a primary study to test the effects of skin tone on service provider quality. The results showed that while skin tone had little effect, gender and ethnicity were more indicative. Therefore our study seeks to re-test the relationship between skin tone and consumer service perception as well as the effects of ethnicity and tipping behavior, and if a consumer's cultural identity strength plays a role in consumer perception. We examined the differences across ethnicities i.e. White, Hispanic, and African American. Specifically we were interested in any potential differences across skin tone (light skinned vs. dark skinned) within African American and Hispanic service providers. Firstly we sought out stock images that portrayed easily identifiable ethnicities. We exposed the respondents to those images in which we asked them to identify the ethnicity of the image as a manipulation check for ethnicity. In the actual study, all respondents were given the same service scenario with the image of one of the ten (White, light or dark skinned Hispanic, light or dark skinned African American, male or female) stock photos. Respondents were asked to rate the service quality, satisfaction, and tip amount. The data was analyzed as a 2 way independent-groups design.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004603, ucf:45307
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004603

Title: THE EFFECT OF LOVESTYLE ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: ATTRACTING A PARTNER AND FORMING A RELATIONSHIP.
Creator: Yeh, Fonda, Massiah, Carolyn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Erotic stimuli in the consumer's environment can lead to affective responses, which produce traits such as erotophobia-erotophilia and lovestyle. Individuals can be classified as one of six main lovestyles, as well as erotophilic (having a positive view towards sexual behaviors) or erotophobic (having a negative view towards sexual behaviors). A person's style of loving may affect which products he or she perceives to be helpful in attracting potential sexual and relationship partners. I...
Show moreErotic stimuli in the consumer's environment can lead to affective responses, which produce traits such as erotophobia-erotophilia and lovestyle. Individuals can be classified as one of six main lovestyles, as well as erotophilic (having a positive view towards sexual behaviors) or erotophobic (having a negative view towards sexual behaviors). A person's style of loving may affect which products he or she perceives to be helpful in attracting potential sexual and relationship partners. I investigated this possible correlation by examining (1) whether each lovestyle is erotophilic or erotophobic and (2) which products erotophilic individuals are more likely to buy as opposed to those that erotophobic individuals are more likely to buy in (a) attracting sexual partners and (b) attracting relationship partners. The study indicated that lovestyle did not predict erotophobia-erotophilia, nor did the erotophobia-erotophilia trait predict which products an individual bought. However, a significant relationship was found between gender and erotophobia-erotophilia, as well as between gender and many of the products. Overall, the findings suggest that gender is the biggest predictor of what products were perceived as helpful in attracting sexual and relationship partners.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004528, ucf:45168
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004528

Title: EVALUATION OF ADVERTISEMENTS: THE ROLE OF MALES' SELF-IMAGE AND ITS EFFECT ON ATTITUDE TOWARD ADVERTISEMENTS.
Creator: Carrel, Ashley, Massiah, Carolyn, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As consumers, we are bombarded daily with companies advertising their products and services. A growing concern is the unethical use of partially-clothed or nude models and their effects on consumers who often are not even actively searching for information about these products or services. No matter the ethical implications many companies choose this method of promoting their products to the general population. Much research has been done to study the effects that these risque images have on...
Show moreAs consumers, we are bombarded daily with companies advertising their products and services. A growing concern is the unethical use of partially-clothed or nude models and their effects on consumers who often are not even actively searching for information about these products or services. No matter the ethical implications many companies choose this method of promoting their products to the general population. Much research has been done to study the effects that these risque images have on consumers' self-image and feelings, most commonly though, on females. This research focuses on males as consumers and their attitudes towards advertisements and how it compares to the female consumer. Only when we understand the attitudes toward advertisements can we effectively inform our customer of products and services. The purpose of this thesis is to explore males and how their self-image and exposure to images in advertising can affect their attitude towards the advertisement. Through the analysis of consumer surveys completed by both males and females, this thesis evaluates how males feel towards authentic advertisements and compare that to their female counterpart. Evidence shows that a consumer's attitude towards an advertisement has an impact on their attitude towards the brand. By discovering how males' attitudes towards advertisements are formed and comparing that to females' attitudes towards advertisements, this thesis aims to make an impact in the marketing discipline to improve advertiser's knowledge and ability to create advertisements that serve a purpose and are considered appealing by consumers- leading them to purchase.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0003791, ucf:44730
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0003791

Title: FARM WOMEN AS PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS IN THE 20TH CENTURY U.S. SOUTH.
Creator: Kaminski, Joseph J, Lester, Connie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The intent of this thesis is to examine white, rural women of the South who were directly affected by home demonstration between 1920 - 1950 and to discuss their roles as producers and consumers in the expanding market economy. Home demonstration, a three-tiered bureaucratic agency that provided domestic education and production techniques to Southern women, played a major role in guiding women toward the expanding market economy. Agents often had to temper their programs in order to...
Show moreThe intent of this thesis is to examine white, rural women of the South who were directly affected by home demonstration between 1920 - 1950 and to discuss their roles as producers and consumers in the expanding market economy. Home demonstration, a three-tiered bureaucratic agency that provided domestic education and production techniques to Southern women, played a major role in guiding women toward the expanding market economy. Agents often had to temper their programs in order to compromise with the women they served to accommodate rural restrictions on capital, capability, and confidence. By integrating rural women into a more modernized, less isolated, and more urbanized environment, home demonstration hoped to improve the lives of women through its focus on sanitation, nutrition, and efficiency within household production.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000509, ucf:45653
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000509

Title: A MODEL OF LOW-RISK PIRACY.
Creator: Camilo, Amil, Burguet, Roberto, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Heterogeneous consumers make the decision to buy a durable good or to download a replica, and a monopolist chooses to price and protect their intellectual property in the form of an authentication cost. An optimal price and authentication cost is derived, and shown to be higher than the efficient outcome for a uniform distribution of consumers. The optimal selection of price and protection are shown to be commensurate with his authenticating technology, and the searching ability of consumers....
Show moreHeterogeneous consumers make the decision to buy a durable good or to download a replica, and a monopolist chooses to price and protect their intellectual property in the form of an authentication cost. An optimal price and authentication cost is derived, and shown to be higher than the efficient outcome for a uniform distribution of consumers. The optimal selection of price and protection are shown to be commensurate with his authenticating technology, and the searching ability of consumers. As an extension, a layout for a monopolist problem where consumers have different searching abilities is shown to be indistinct from a homogeneous case when consumers are uniformly distributed.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFH2000495, ucf:45647
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000495

Title: Johnson (&) Johnson's Recall Debacle.
Creator: Eaddy, Lashonda, Holladay, Sherry, Neuberger, Lindsay, Coombs, Timothy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Johnson (&) Johnson (J(&)J) has been viewed as a role model by many organizations for its successful handling of a 1982 crisis involving cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules that resulted in seven deaths. The public relations community applauded J(&)J for a swift response and for promptly implementing actions to prevent a similar crisis from occurring in the future. However more recently, J(&)J has become a poster child for poor crisis communications amidst a flood of recalls that started in...
Show moreJohnson (&) Johnson (J(&)J) has been viewed as a role model by many organizations for its successful handling of a 1982 crisis involving cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules that resulted in seven deaths. The public relations community applauded J(&)J for a swift response and for promptly implementing actions to prevent a similar crisis from occurring in the future. However more recently, J(&)J has become a poster child for poor crisis communications amidst a flood of recalls that started in November 2009. The present study used concepts from Coombs' (2004) Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and media framing research to develop a coding scheme for a content analysis of newspaper coverage surrounding the 1982 Tylenol recall as well as current recalls issued by J(&)J from November 2009 through April 2012. The samples included newspaper articles from New York Times and Chicago Tribune. Results showed that most of the stories in both samples did not evaluate J(&)J's operational response or reputation overall. However, when the news coverage did evaluate J(&)J, coverage from the 1982 sample was positive and evenly balanced between favorable and unfavorable, compared to negative and unfavorable in the current sample. Additionally, when crisis type was mentioned in the coverage, the 1982 crisis was more likely described as a victim crisis while the current crises were more likely described as an accident or preventable crisis. When the 1982 sample was examined for mentions of previous recalls there were none compared to 80.5% of the current sample mentioning a previous recall. The results support the tenets of SCCT, information giving strategies and reputation management strategies. Additionally, the results provide valuable information for crisis managers regarding the media's inclusion or, lack thereof, organizations' controlled media such as news releases.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004372, ucf:52880
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004372

Title: CRITICAL REVIEWS AND MARKET PERFORMANCE.
Creator: Pomirleanu, Elena, Ganesh, Jaishankar, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Firms invest significant resources to improve the quality of their products but also to communicate to consumers about their efforts. However, information regarding quality of product offerings is now increasingly being generated by short or long term users of products or services. The growing popularity of critical reviews has prompted attention from both academics and practitioners alike. Current academic findings do not seem conclusive with respect to the impact critical reviews have on...
Show moreFirms invest significant resources to improve the quality of their products but also to communicate to consumers about their efforts. However, information regarding quality of product offerings is now increasingly being generated by short or long term users of products or services. The growing popularity of critical reviews has prompted attention from both academics and practitioners alike. Current academic findings do not seem conclusive with respect to the impact critical reviews have on product performance on the market. The current dissertation aims to clarify the role critical reviews have in relation to economic outcomes such as sales, category market share, price premiums and product success. Using four years of cross-sectional data from the automobile market, the first essay of this dissertation conceptualizes consumer and expert ratings as market-based signals and investigates the impact critical reviews have on product performance of new and used automobiles. Results show that both consumer and expert ratings are positively related to market performance (sales and category market share of new automobiles) but they exhibit a non-synergistic interaction. More specifically, at higher levels of consumer ratings, the impact of expert ratings on product performance is decreased and vice-versa. Furthermore, results show that critical ratings are significantly associated with the firm's ability to command higher price premiums. Comparatively, a firm-based driver of product performance, product improvement failed to show a significant association with product market performance but it exhibited a non-linear relationship with price premiums. Moreover, the impact of expert ratings proved to be significantly higher for utilitarian products than hedonic products whereas consumer ratings do not have a differential effect across product types. Finally, the results did not show that the impact of consumer ratings on sales of used automobiles is increasing over time. The second essay focuses on expert reviews (entertainment critics) and provides a more nuanced examination of the role of critics and critical reviews and their impact on probability of product success. Based on qualitative data, two types of expert reviews are distinguished to be influential (opinions and evaluations), however, their role differs in importance over time. The hypotheses are tested using data from the fourth season of American Idol. Results show that on average, opinions are significantly impacting the probability of success whereas evaluations do not. Moreover, the numbers of statements that contain evaluation negatively impact the success in early periods. Overall, the results highlight the facts that critical reviews from both experts and consumers should be monitored, that they are a key driver of product market-success and that select expert reviews may influence product success in early stages of product existence.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002788, ucf:48131
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002788

Title: TWO ESSAYS ON PRODUCT DESIGN AND CONSUMER EVALUATIONS.
Creator: Lee, Sangwon, Echambadi, Raj, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This paper is about the central role of product design on consumer evaluations. While the design literature has articulated two different types of design, i.e. form-based design and function-based design (Khalid 2004), most extant marketing literature has mostly focused on the impact of functional design on performance (see Chitturi, Raghunathan, and Mahajan (2007) for a notable exception). In this paper, I examine the individual and joint effects of the two design dimensions: form design and...
Show moreThis paper is about the central role of product design on consumer evaluations. While the design literature has articulated two different types of design, i.e. form-based design and function-based design (Khalid 2004), most extant marketing literature has mostly focused on the impact of functional design on performance (see Chitturi, Raghunathan, and Mahajan (2007) for a notable exception). In this paper, I examine the individual and joint effects of the two design dimensions: form design and functional design on consumer evaluations of new products. In the first essay, employing theoretical underpinnings from processing fluency theory, I investigate four major research questions. First, all else equal, does form design matter? Second, how does form design interact with functional design? Third, does the interaction between form and functionality change in an innovation context? Specifically, given a certain level of functionality, what type of form is more advantageous for a radically new product (RNP) or an incrementally new product (INP)? Fourth, is there an individual difference in consumer evaluations to innovative products with various form designs? Results from the four experiments conducted demonstrate that (1) more typical form design leads to more positive attitudes toward the product than less typical form design, (2) a more typical design compensates for the average functionality of the product and hence a product with average functionality is evaluated as well as highly functional products in the more typical design condition. In a less typical design condition, a product with high functionality leads to much lower consumer attitudes towards the product, (3) whereas the form design for incremental innovations must be closer to the incumbent products for favorable evaluations, less typical form is evaluated as good as more typical form for radical innovations. (4) Form design of an innovative product matters more to the technologically more sophisticated consumers (experts) than technologically less sophisticated consumers (novices). In the second essay, I examine the issues involved in using form design to nullify first mover advantage. Pioneers or first movers can be defined as the first firm to sell in a new product category. Despite the proliferation of the pioneering advantage research, there are few empirical studies which examined how the product design enables the later entrants to nullify the first mover advantage. Employing theoretical underpinnings from categorization theory, I investigate the following research questions. First, what type of form is more likely to enhance consumer evaluations and nullify first mover advantage when the followerÃ‚Â's product is featured with higher or lower functionality? Second, how does form design interact with functional design for the followerÃ‚Â's product? Results from the experimental study conducted demonstrate that (1) if the followerÃ‚Â's functionality is not superior to the pioneerÃ‚Â's, follower had better focus on design differentiation which can compensate for the lower functionality of the follower (2) if the followerÃ‚Â's functionality is superior to the pioneerÃ‚Â's, follower had better follow the pioneerÃ‚Â's design for the better product evaluation. The managerial implication is clear: Form design is a critical determinant of consumer evaluations. Form design helps create and appropriate value for firms.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003249, ucf:48546
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003249

Title: The Effect of Food Labeling and Environmental Cues on Food Consumption Judgments and Choices.
Creator: Lefebvre, Sarah, He, Xin, Tafaghodijami, Ata, Rugar, Yael Zemack -, Mao, Huifang, Biswas, Dipayan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As obesity levels reach epidemic levels globally, an understanding of the multitude of factors that influence both eating behavior and food choice is necessary. This dissertation attempts to investigate the role of emerging food categories, namely organic foods, and the influence of environmental cues on eating behaviors and choices. This goal is accomplished through three essays. The first essay focuses on the organic food trend and consumer taste expectations. Specifically, this essay...
Show moreAs obesity levels reach epidemic levels globally, an understanding of the multitude of factors that influence both eating behavior and food choice is necessary. This dissertation attempts to investigate the role of emerging food categories, namely organic foods, and the influence of environmental cues on eating behaviors and choices. This goal is accomplished through three essays. The first essay focuses on the organic food trend and consumer taste expectations. Specifically, this essay explores how the presence of an organic label influences taste expectations differently for minimally processed versus highly processed foods due to the level of consistency (congruency) between the food item and formed organic associations. Moving the focus on food consumption to environmental cues, the second essay of this dissertation investigates how the temperature dimension of ambient scent (i.e., cool or warm) influences food choice and the number of calories consumed. This essay, drawing on literature from physiology and the limited research on the temperature dimension of scent, shows that the temperature dimension of scent generates behaviors that mimic the body's physiological responses to ambient temperature. Lastly, the third essay explores the relationship between organic foods and the discrete emotion of nostalgia. This essay examines how proneness to nostalgia and nostalgia evoked by advertising results in a preference for organic food products. This essay proposes that nostalgia evokes a desire for simplicity that is represented through the traditional production methods used by organic products; this leads to a preference for organic products. In sum, these three essays advance the knowledge on factors that influence food consumption behavior and choice, adding to the theoretical understanding of emerging food trends, labeling, and environmental cues, while providing implications for marketing strategy and consumer well-being.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006615, ucf:51301
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006615

Title: STUDENT PERCEPTION OF BARRIERS TO STUDY ABROAD.
Creator: Walker, Jessica, Valdez, Carlos, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Studying abroad during the collegiate experience is an idea sought by the many high school seniors and college freshmen alike. The social, intellectual, and cultural benefits received from participating makes it a seemingly easy decision. Yet, lack of action plagues the nation as there exists a miniscule number of students who follow through with their desire to study abroad. Prior research exemplifies that students rely on the perceptions of their peers and family when approaching an...
Show moreStudying abroad during the collegiate experience is an idea sought by the many high school seniors and college freshmen alike. The social, intellectual, and cultural benefits received from participating makes it a seemingly easy decision. Yet, lack of action plagues the nation as there exists a miniscule number of students who follow through with their desire to study abroad. Prior research exemplifies that students rely on the perceptions of their peers and family when approaching an unfamiliar subject. These perceptions result in concocted barriers that dissuade the student from participating in study abroad before they seek concrete information. There are a limited number of studies completed at universities to identify these specific barriers. Thus, this research examines the student population at the University of Central Florida, the perceived barriers they possess concerning study abroad, and their sources of these perceptions. This is a qualitative and quantitative study that investigates the effects of perceived cost and graduation delay on the willingness of a student to study abroad. The unexpected ramifications of the marketing mix, utilized by the department of Study Abroad, will shed light upon the steps necessary to revise their position in order to transform student intent into action.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004876, ucf:45418
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004876

Title: AN EXAMINATION OF CONSUMER EXPERIENCE AND RELATIVE EFFECTS ON CONSUMER VALUES.
Creator: Walls, Andrew, Wang, Youcheng, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the ever changing business climate, the service sector has become a major focus of attention. One key aspect of this competitive environment is the effort of many businesses to differentiate themselves by creating unique customer experiences that accompany their products and services. The challenge to creating memorable consumer experiences is the proper identification of specific characteristics that influence experiences and gaining better understanding of how these impact consumers...
Show moreIn the ever changing business climate, the service sector has become a major focus of attention. One key aspect of this competitive environment is the effort of many businesses to differentiate themselves by creating unique customer experiences that accompany their products and services. The challenge to creating memorable consumer experiences is the proper identification of specific characteristics that influence experiences and gaining better understanding of how these impact consumers perceived values. To this end, this study attempted to develop a model that identifies influencing dimensions of consumer experiences and investigates the composition of consumer experiences and the relative outcome on consumer's perceived values in a hospitality setting. To facilitate this research objective, a model was presented which proposed that consumer experiences are composed of both physical and human interaction characteristics. The consumer's perspective of these characteristics, and hence the actual service experience, are affected by situational factors and individual characteristic which in return impact perceived emotive and cognitive values. A set of propositions are presented based on the model and literature review to measure the relationship between these factors. To initiate this research, an intercept survey approach was taken. Four hundred sixty-two (462) surveys were completed by hotel guests staying in one of three market segments in Orlando, FL. Participants completed the self-administered survey by answering questions concerning their current stay experience relating to physical environment, human encounters, trip-related factors, individual characteristics, and perceived values. Overall, the results found that trip-related factors and individual characteristics affect perceptions of physical environment and human interactions consumer experiences during their hotel stay. In addition, the results revealed that both physical environment and human interactions have significant and positive relationship with perceived values. These results can give lodging managers a better understanding of the composition of consumer experiences and how these events influence perceived values.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002760, ucf:48136
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002760

Title: International Students' Expectations of and Satisfaction with Academic Advising at a Community College.
Creator: Chemishanova, Marieta, Owens, J. Thomas, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Hewitt, Randall, Penfold Navarro, Catherine, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study sought to identify what expectations international students' had with regards to academic advising and how satisfied they were with their advising experience at a large community college in a southeastern state in the United States. Previous research on academic advising services (e.g. Belcheir, 1999; Hale, Graham, (&) Johnson, 2009; Mottarella, Fritzsche, (&) Cerabino, 2004; Propp (&) Rhodes, 2006; Lynch, 2004; Smith (&) Allen, 2006) had not distinguished between domestic and...
Show moreThis study sought to identify what expectations international students' had with regards to academic advising and how satisfied they were with their advising experience at a large community college in a southeastern state in the United States. Previous research on academic advising services (e.g. Belcheir, 1999; Hale, Graham, (&) Johnson, 2009; Mottarella, Fritzsche, (&) Cerabino, 2004; Propp (&) Rhodes, 2006; Lynch, 2004; Smith (&) Allen, 2006) had not distinguished between domestic and international students' expectations of and satisfaction with advising especially at the 2-year and community college levels and in organizational structures where the foreign student advisors serve as both the students' academic and immigration advisors. Such research is timely in the face of the highly competitive international education market and the increasing demands for U.S. institutional of higher education to meet students' consumer expectations with regards to educational services. Grounded in Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and employing a quantitative research design, this study investigated how factors such as age, gender, country of citizenship, class standing, and degree program impacted international students' expectations of and satisfaction with academic advising. Descriptive statistics, analyses of variances, and a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) were used to answer the research questions. While the advising literature strongly advocates developmental advising, students in this study expressed a strong desire for elements of prescriptive advising.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006986, ucf:51641
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006986

Title: Consumer Engagement in Travel-related Social Media.
Creator: Li, Xu, Wang, Youcheng, Robinson, Edward, Kwun, David, Nusair, Khaldoon, He, Xin, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The term of (")consumer engagement(") is extensively used in the digital era. It is believed that engaged consumers play an important role in products/services referral and recommendation, new product/service development and experience/value co-creation. Although the notion of consumer engagement sounds compelling, it is not fully developed in theory. Different interpretations coexist, resulting in confusion and misuse of the concept. This study attempts to define consumer engagement and...
Show moreThe term of (")consumer engagement(") is extensively used in the digital era. It is believed that engaged consumers play an important role in products/services referral and recommendation, new product/service development and experience/value co-creation. Although the notion of consumer engagement sounds compelling, it is not fully developed in theory. Different interpretations coexist, resulting in confusion and misuse of the concept. This study attempts to define consumer engagement and develop a conceptual framework of consumer engagement, addressing antecedents of consumer engagement in online context. Moreover, some situational and social media usage-related factors are incorporated into the framework. A set of propositions are presented based on literature review and the conceptual framework to illustrate the relationship between consumer engagement and related factors. To provide empirical evidence for the conceptual model, an online survey is conducted. Participants complete the self-administered survey by answering questions concerning their online experience with the travel-related social media website they visit most. Two-step structural equation modeling is employed to analyze the data. The results show that both community experience and community identification have significant and positive relationship with consumer engagement. Community experience is also a strong predictor of community identification. Attitude toward using social media and travel involvement influence the relationship between consumer engagement and its antecedents.With focus on the interactive and experiential nature of consumer engagement, this study expands current understanding of consumer engagement and provides insights for hospitality and tourism businesses regarding how to engage consumers through travel-related social media.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004878, ucf:49657
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004878

Title: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSUMER DEBT AND MENTAL HEALTH.
Creator: Simmons, Jennifer, Abel, Eileen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Consumer debt is a growing phenomenon in the US and throughout the world. The beginning of the 21st century has been defined by such an incredible growth in consumer debt that American families have increased their debt relative to personal income four times faster than in the 1990s. Since the Federal Reserve began measuring the amount of American consumer debt and consumer income in the 1980s, consumer debt never exceeded consumer income until 2004 when it reached 104.8% of income. In the...
Show moreConsumer debt is a growing phenomenon in the US and throughout the world. The beginning of the 21st century has been defined by such an incredible growth in consumer debt that American families have increased their debt relative to personal income four times faster than in the 1990s. Since the Federal Reserve began measuring the amount of American consumer debt and consumer income in the 1980s, consumer debt never exceeded consumer income until 2004 when it reached 104.8% of income. In the last two decades, researchers have observed a significant correlation between debt and mental health. The purpose of this thesis is to examine a comprehensive sample of previous quantitative research conducted on the relationship between debt and mental health. This thesis discusses the research in the following categories: 1) increased debt as a contributor to decreased mental health; 2) decreased mental health as a contributor to increased debt; 3) high correlation between debt and mental health risks.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFH0004407, ucf:45107
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004407

Title: CLAIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY:AN EXAMINATION OF U.S. TELEVISION FOOD COMMERCIALS AND THE ADULT OBESITY ISSUE.
Creator: Delgado, Cristina, DeLorme, Denise, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Obesity is one of the major public health issues in the United States, often regarded as part of a global crisis. Companies invest billions of dollars each year towards television advertising campaigns aimed at convincing audiences how their ground-breaking discovery 'battles the bulge' or somehow offers an increased health benefit. This study examined how advertisers presented health-related claims, including health and nutrient-content claims, in U.S. adult-targeted television food...
Show moreObesity is one of the major public health issues in the United States, often regarded as part of a global crisis. Companies invest billions of dollars each year towards television advertising campaigns aimed at convincing audiences how their ground-breaking discovery 'battles the bulge' or somehow offers an increased health benefit. This study examined how advertisers presented health-related claims, including health and nutrient-content claims, in U.S. adult-targeted television food commercials. The claims were compared to FTC, FDA, and USDA laws, regulations, and recommendations. A content analysis of food advertising was conducted of commercials from major and cable network programs broadcast during prime-time in the first quarter of 2009. The majority of claims match current regulations when compared to Federal references. The results show that Nutrient and Wellness claims were the most frequently cited. The type of benefit, Healthy Eating, emerged almost 3 times more than any other benefit type. This is also similar to those results which suggest advertisers' intentions were to promote overall wellness in their content delivery. As such, the Wellness Approach was identified and conceptualized, leading towards full development of a Wellness Effect theory. Implications and future research opportunities are discussed on both a theoretical and practical level.
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Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002565, ucf:48260
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002565

Title: PERCEIVED SERVICE QUALITY'S IMPACT ON BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS IN THE TIMESHARE INDUSTRY.
Creator: Pollard, Leonard, Malone, Linda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study created a model using factor analysis and structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship of service quality, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity of individuals who experienced a timeshare mini vacation at a branded timeshare resort. The constructs of service quality were developed by creating a survey tool. A total of 4,797 surveys were electronically sent resulting in a total of 1,275 of the individuals surveyed who met the criteria of staying at a...
Show moreThis study created a model using factor analysis and structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship of service quality, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity of individuals who experienced a timeshare mini vacation at a branded timeshare resort. The constructs of service quality were developed by creating a survey tool. A total of 4,797 surveys were electronically sent resulting in a total of 1,275 of the individuals surveyed who met the criteria of staying at a branded hotel or resort during their mini vacation. Six different variables were created from the ordinal level questions on the survey: Resort Accommodations, Sales Gallery, Sales Presentation, Resort Activities, Resort Staff and Brand Value. These were then used in an exploratory factor analysis to identify latent factors after which structural equation modeling was used to define the relationship between the factors and the independent variables. A total of 44 models were explored and evaluated based on goodness-of-fit metrics. The model that had the best level of fit was a first-order two-factor model. This model was created with an 80% subset and confirmed with a 20% subset of the sample. The factors found represent the Vacation Experience Promise (VEP) and the Vacation Experience Delivery (VED). There was a positive correlation for both VEP and VED with word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity. The research also posited 24 hypotheses of the relationship between the service quality constructs, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity with the demographic characteristics of guest type, gender, stay type, age, marital status, gross income, timeshare ownership and the number of presentations attended. There was not enough information to support a relationship between the service quality constructs, word-of-mouth recommendation and price sensitivity with regards to gender, gross income and marital status. There was a difference in the scores for the service quality constructs and the varying categories within the age, stay type, and timeshare ownership demographic variables. There was a difference only in the VED scores and the varying categories within the guest type and presentations attended demographic variables. There was also a difference in the scores for the word-of-mouth recommendation construct and the varying categories within the age, guest type, timeshare ownership and number of presentations attended demographic variables. Lastly, there was also a difference in the scores for the price sensitivity construct and the varying categories within the guest type, timeshare ownership and presentation attended demographic variables. The research discusses the business implications associated with these findings and proposes next steps for future research.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003475, ucf:48942
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003475

Title: Rhetoric of Imagery: Gendering Identity and Consumption Throughout Interwar American Advertisment.
Creator: Delgado, Natalie, Dandrow, Edward, Crepeau, Richard, French, Scot, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Interwar American advertising rose alongside new levels of hygiene, personal appearance, and technology in order to sell their products to target audiences. Despite the abundance of scholarship on media and gender, few studies have examined the gendered techniques through which interwar advertisers communicated with consumers in response to changing social norms and economic stability. The question this thesis explores is how these changes and communication shifted in response to consumer...
Show moreInterwar American advertising rose alongside new levels of hygiene, personal appearance, and technology in order to sell their products to target audiences. Despite the abundance of scholarship on media and gender, few studies have examined the gendered techniques through which interwar advertisers communicated with consumers in response to changing social norms and economic stability. The question this thesis explores is how these changes and communication shifted in response to consumer culture and how advertisers utilized early market research and persuasion techniques to target their audiences. Building on the studies of gender, consumption, and identity, this thesis examines the relationship between American advertisers and their targeted male and female consumers between 1920 and 1940. By exploring how admen and women within Madison Avenue's top advertising agencies utilized psychology and consumer feedback to develop a two-way communication with middle-classed consumers, this thesis draws from social, cultural, and gendered studies to understand how advertisers communicated with and tried to appeal to their target audiences. Utilizing both copy and imagery as sources of communication, this study examines every issue of the top circulating American magazines between 1920 and 1940 to explain how advertisers rose with early consumer behavioral psychology and new standards of sanitation and hygiene, how a growing consumer culture and American notion of identity and gender affected the selling of selfhood and personal beauty products, and how gendered media representations and persuasion techniques helped advertisers sell modernity and individuality to readers. This analysis surveys specific advertising campaigns before, during, and after the Stock Market Crash to follow shifts in appeals to masculinity and femininity in response to changing social norms. By delving into this intersection of gender, media, and identity, this study finds various nuances through which advertisers and their audiences communicated in and alongside a growing consumer culture.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006870, ucf:51740
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006870

Title: THE KIOSK CULTURE: RECONCILING THE PERFORMANCE SUPPORT PARADOX IN THE POSTMODERN AGE OF MACHINES.
Creator: Cavanagh, Thomas, Kitalong, Karla, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Do you remember the first time you used an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)? Or a pay-at-the-pump gas station? Or an airline e-ticket kiosk? How did you know what to do? Although you never received any formal instruction in how to interact with the self-service technology, you were likely able to accomplish your task (e.g., withdrawing or depositing money) as successfully as an experienced user. However, not so long ago, to accomplish that same task, you needed the direct mediation of a service...
Show moreDo you remember the first time you used an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)? Or a pay-at-the-pump gas station? Or an airline e-ticket kiosk? How did you know what to do? Although you never received any formal instruction in how to interact with the self-service technology, you were likely able to accomplish your task (e.g., withdrawing or depositing money) as successfully as an experienced user. However, not so long ago, to accomplish that same task, you needed the direct mediation of a service professional who had been trained how to use the required complex technology. What has changed? In short, the technology is now able to compensate for the average consumer's lack of experience with the transactional system. The technology itself bridges the performance gap, allowing a novice to accomplish the same task as an experienced professional. This shift to a self-service paradigm is completely changing the dynamics of the consumer relationship with the capitalist enterprise, resulting in what is rapidly becoming the default consumer interface of the postmodern era. The recognition that the entire performance support apparatus now revolves around the end user/consumer rather than the employee represents a tectonic shift in the workforce training industry. What emerges is a homogenized consumer culture enabled by self-service technologies--a kiosk culture. No longer is the ability to interact with complex technology confined to a privileged workforce minority who has access to expensive and time-consuming training. The growth of the kiosk culture is being driven equally by business financial pressures, consumer demand for more efficient transactions, and the improved sophistication of compensatory technology that allows a novice to perform a task with the same competence as an expert. "The Kiosk Culture" examines all aspects of self-service technology and its ascendancy. Beyond the milieu of business, the kiosk culture is also infiltrating all corners of society, including medicine, athletics, and the arts, forcing us to re-examine our definitions of knowledge, skills, performance, and even humanity. The current ubiquity of self-service technology has already impacted our society and will continue to do so as we ride the rising tide of the kiosk culture.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001348, ucf:46989
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001348

marketing (4)	+ -
advertising (3)	+ -
consumer behavior (3)	+ -
gender (3)	+ -
consumers (2)	+ -

Academic advising (1)	+ -
American Advertising (1)	+ -
Behavioral Intention Battery (1)	+ -
Consumer Behavior (1)	+ -
Consumer Evaluations (1)	+ -
Consumer Experience (1)	+ -
Culture (1)	+ -
Do-It-Yourself (1)	+ -
EPSS (1)	+ -
Electronic Performance Support (1)	+ -
Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (1)	+ -
Experience (1)	+ -
Federal regulation (1)	+ -
First Mover Advantage (1)	+ -
Food Consumption (1)	+ -
HPT (1)	+ -
Hotel Experience (1)	+ -
Human-Machine Interaction (1)	+ -
International students (1)	+ -
J. Walter Thompson (1)	+ -
Johnson & Johnson (1)	+ -
McNeill Consumer Healthcare (1)	+ -
Mental health (1)	+ -
New Product (1)	+ -
Organic Foods (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (11)	+ -
Honors Collection (7)	+ -

University of Central Florida (18)	+ -
He, Xin (2)	+ -
Massiah, Carolyn (2)	+ -
Wang, Youcheng (2)	+ -
Abel, Eileen (1)	+ -

Biswas, Dipayan (1)	+ -
Burguet, Roberto (1)	+ -
Camilo, Amil (1)	+ -
Carrel, Ashley (1)	+ -
Cavanagh, Thomas (1)	+ -
Chemishanova, Marieta (1)	+ -
Cintron Delgado, Rosa (1)	+ -
Coombs, Timothy (1)	+ -
Crepeau, Richard (1)	+ -
Dandrow, Edward (1)	+ -
DeLorme, Denise (1)	+ -
Delgado, Cristina (1)	+ -
Delgado, Natalie (1)	+ -
Eaddy, Lashonda (1)	+ -
Echambadi, Raj (1)	+ -
French, Scot (1)	+ -
Ganesh, Jaishankar (1)	+ -
Hewitt, Randall (1)	+ -
Holladay, Sherry (1)	+ -
Kaminski, Joseph J (1)	+ -
Kitalong, Karla (1)	+ -
Kwun, David (1)	+ -
Lee, Sangwon (1)	+ -
Lefebvre, Sarah (1)	+ -
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