CONSUMER RESPONSES TO ONLINE FOOD RETAILING

Consumer behavior in the context of online food retail channels is analyzed. The research is a follow-up to an earlier study conducted in early 1998 on consumer response to online food shopping. In the 1998 study (N=243), a majority of the sample (51 percent) were "new" users of online food shopping (<6 months); 35 percent were "intermediate" users (1-6 months); and only 14 percent were "experienced" users (>6 months). In contrast, the new user segment in the follow-up study (N=412) was 29 percent; the intermediate segment was 28 percent; and the experienced group was 43 percent. Demographic profiles and shopping behaviors of respondents in the two studies are compared. Using cluster analysis, four distinct segments of online food shoppers are identified. Marketing strategy implications for online retailers and store retailers are discussed.Consumer/Household Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

College Students’ Attitudes toward Debt

College student debt has gained much attention. This article uses survey data to examine the influence of psychological factors on college student attitudes toward debt. In the sample of 283 undergraduates enrolled in a personal finance elective course, financial self-confidence was significantly related to debt attitude, indicating that less financially self-confident students tended to have more positive attitudes toward debt. Two other psychological factors, ability to delay gratification and comparing oneself to others, were not significantly related to debt attitudes. Among the control variables, only gender was significantly related; women had more negative attitudes toward debt than men. College major, involvement with parents about personal finance, and financial knowledge were not significantly related to student attitudes toward debt. Future researchers should consider reexamining the use of the scales used in this research. Although the scales had been used by previous researchers, they may have less relevance to young adults whose debt attitudes were no doubt influenced by the Great Recession of 2007-2009

College Students’ Attitudes toward Debt

College student debt has gained much attention. This article uses survey data to examine the influence of psychological factors on college student attitudes toward debt. In the sample of 283 undergraduates enrolled in a personal finance elective course, financial self-confidence was significantly related to debt attitude, indicating that less financially self-confident students tended to have more positive attitudes toward debt. Two other psychological factors, ability to delay gratification and comparing oneself to others, were not significantly related to debt attitudes. Among the control variables, only gender was significantly related; women had more negative attitudes toward debt than men. College major, involvement with parents about personal finance, and financial knowledge were not significantly related to student attitudes toward debt. Future researchers should consider reexamining the use of the scales used in this research. Although the scales had been used by previous researchers, they may have less relevance to young adults whose debt attitudes were no doubt influenced by the Great Recession of 2007-2009.Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Brenda J. Cud

The Value of Understandable Consumer Insurance Contracts

Insurance consumers, the intermediaries who serve them, and the regulators who protect them all would benefit from understandable consumer insurance contracts. This article outlines the benefits of understandable insurance contracts, identifies the regulatory tools that are or can be used to ensure such comprehensibility, and reviews the existing literature about how well consumers comprehend their insurance policies within the context of personal lines insurance in the U.S. The article concludes by proposing an empirical research strategy to study consumers’ understanding of the terms of homeowners insurance policies and, even when they have not read their policies, their expectations about coverage

Buying a car? : be in the driver's seat

Cover title.Bibliography: p. 19

Partnering with Local Employers to Meet Housing Needs

Low- and moderate-wage earners in Georgia have difficulty finding quality, affordable housing. This article describes one way to help the workforce improve their housing situation. Working with an employer to survey a representative sample of their new employees, University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center researchers collected primary data regarding housing needs and preferences. The survey methodology and logistics are described in detail, and a descriptive summary of the data is included. Survey findings reveal valuable information about housing capacity and desire, and can be used to plan effective, educational programs designed to help workers obtain housing

Local telephone service

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Telephone purchase and repair

Cover title

AN OBJECTIVE METHOD OF DETERMINING THE RELEVANCY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS IN PURCHASE DECISIONS.

Abstract not availabl