Evaluative criteria for purchasing leisurewear: Taiwanese and U.S. students in a U.S. university
The purpose of this research was to provide exploratory information relating to the young consumer market in terms of purchase criteria for leisurewear. Data were obtained from 105 Taiwanese and 126 U.S. students at a major mid-western U.S. university. Direct hand-in questionnaires were employed to obtain a higher usable questionnaire rate. Purchase criteria used for this survey were price, style, brand, fabrication, size/fit, media exposure, colour, country of origin, and quality. Several factors under each criterion were provided. Students were asked to rank the importance of each criterion/factor. Results indicated that much similarity existed between these two groups of students in purchasing leisurewear. However, U.S. students rated highest (in descending order) price, size/fit, style and quality while Taiwanese students ranked highest (in descending order) price, style, quality and size/fit.
Comparative Analysis of Sources and Drivers of Information Search Behaviour of the UK and India
This article compares the information search behaviour of the consumers on the aspect of total information search efforts, sources of information and drivers of search behaviour of two different countries namely the UK and India for FMCG products. First of all, total amount of information search has been compared for the two countries to determine the variation in total amount of information search undertaken by the two consumer groups having different nationalities. Then a comparison of various sources of information used by respondents of the two countries was made. After this, information search behaviour was compared on the basis of drivers of search. Comparison between the countries was made with the aid of t-test. Results depict that Indians conduct more information search and also consult a large number of sources of information except past experience, which is more used by the consumers in the UK. An investigation of the drivers of information search reveal that Indians undertake more search efforts because they perceive more risk and are more involved with the product purchase. This article enhances the knowledge of marketing managers on how to segment the consumers on the basis of their unique behaviour and then develop their communication strategies that are customized for each market.
HRTEM study of orthorhombic zirconia in MgO-PSZ
High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was used to study the phase of orthorhombic ZrO2 formed in magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (MgO-PSZ) during HRTEM specimen preparation. Based on the three reported crystal structures of orthorhombic ZrO2, with the space groups Pbcm, Pbc21 and Pbca, here it is shown that orthorhombic ZrO2 formed in MgO-PSZ has the Pbcm structure.