Measuring patent assessment quality-Analyzing the degree and kind of (in)consistency in patent offices' decision making

We argue that consistent decision making in judging a patent's validity and basing this on its underlying technological quality are important elements of patent office service ("assessment") quality. To understand which level of assessment quality patent offices (can) provide, particularly in new technological areas, we study the concordance of the European Patent Office's (EPO) granting and opposition decisions for individual patents. Using the biotechnology industry in the 1980s (an emerging patenting area then) as an example, we find no empirical evidence that the EPO provided maximal or optimal assessment quality as far as can be told from bibliographic indicators. We discuss research limitations and consequences of this first empirical analysis, and suggest ideas for refinements in future work. © 2007

The public opposition to university deregulation

This study examines findings from recent surveys conducted to understand public opinion towards the Federal government’s proposed changes to higher education. Frequently labelled ‘deregulation’, these changes include modifications to the HECS-HELP system, government funding reductions, and provision for universities to determine tuition fees for domestic students. Our research shows that public opinion amongst those familiar with universities strongly oppose deregulation and will impact voting behaviour. The overwhelming feedback is to maintain the existing HECS-HELP system, with possible modifications in the form of flexible repayment parameters and refined tuition bands. With such negative market responses, this study indicates a potential higher education policy failure. However, our findings also indicate alternative policy changes to appease public expectation

Difficult to evaluate product features: Why credible branding matters

This paper examines how difficulty in evaluation affects the role of features in consumer choice. Hsees (1996) work on evaluability of attributes suggests that hard-to-evaluate features become more (less) important in joint (separate) evaluation tasks where other feature levels are (not) present. Extending this, we examine what happens when difficulty in evaluating features remains even when the benchmark of another feature level is present. Using signalling theory, we argue that consumers utilise brand information, but the extent to which this occurs depends on feature evaluability. Preliminary data shows support for the hypothesised effects, suggesting credible branding generates value in terms of an overall effect on product assessment, but can additionally counteract the effects of hard-to-evaluate features being discounted in choice

On the road again: The barriers and benefits of automobility for people with disability

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (PWD) has been signed by over 160 nations to achieve greater social participation, with public and private transport clearly identified as an area to improve accessibility. Whilst the majority of scholarly work has focused on public transport needs, less research has examined the barriers or benefits of access to private modified vehicles for PWD. In this exploratory study, a Delphi technique with health experts, researchers, drivers and funding agencies developed an instrument to examine the barriers and benefits of access to private modified vehicles for PWD. An online survey was completed by 287 drivers and carers to report on barriers to private modified vehicles, whilst a sub-set of 190 drivers with access to a private modified vehicle reported on experientially derived benefits. A factor analytic approach identified how financial and informational barriers vary with respect to several characteristics including disability type and level of support needs. Factors relating to independence, social and recreational benefits are perceived as more valued experientially derived benefits relative to benefits relating to employability and ability to enjoy downtime. Benefits in the form of independence are greater among drivers and owners, those with an acquired condition, less complex mobility and everyday support needs, whilst little difference emerged in terms of the social and downtime benefits. The findings inform policy development and funding opportunities to provide insight and evidence into the barriers, but also benefits and variation in private transport needs among PWD

The multiple benefits of brands and features: Evaluating the position of breads on health, taste, and value

We outline a framework outlining how product positioning occurs in a multi-dimensional consideration of brand benefits, whilst accounting for how product features further shape product positioning. Respondents evaluated supermarket breads described by brands and a variety of features (e.g., flour, claims, price). A holistic evaluation was made with respect to health, taste, value and overall preference. A brand’s relative position on multiple benefits was derived via a discrete choice model, simultaneously accounting for the impact that product features have on these same dimensions. This allows a direct comparison of the drivers of positioning from a holistic, multi-attribute multi-brand perspective. The results show the strong value that brands have in driving positioning, but also the role of some features in furthering this. The research compliments other frameworks and methods in product positioning, and we outline its extension to benefit segmentation

Segmenting consumers’ reasons for and against ethical consumption

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Purpose - This paper aims to quantify the relative importance of reasons used to explain consumers’ selection and rejection of ethical products, accounting for differences in ethical orientations across consumers. Design/methodology/approach - Reviewing previous literature and drawing on in-depth interviews, a taxonomy of reasons for and against ethical purchasing is developed. An online survey incorporating best-worst scaling (BWS) determines which reasons feature more in shaping ethical consumerism. Cluster analysis and multinomial regression are used to identify and profile segments. Findings - Positively orientated consumers (42 per cent of respondents) purchase ethical products more so because of reasons relating to impact, health, personal relevance, and quality. Negatively orientated consumers (34 per cent of respondents) reject ethical alternatives based on reasons relating to indifference, expense, confusion and scepticism. A third segment is ambivalent in their behaviour and reasoning; they perceive ethical purchasing to be effective and relevant, but are confused and sceptical under what conditions this can occur. Research limitations/implications - Preferences were elicited using an online survey rather than using real market data. Though the task instructions and methods used attempted to minimise social-desirability bias, the experiment might still be subject to its effects. Practical implications - Competitive positioning strategies can be better designed knowing which barriers to ethical purchasing are more relevant. The paper challenges the benefits in altruistic-based positioning and outlines shortcomings in communication about ethical products, including those relating to product labelling. Social implications - Through their purchase behaviours across a number of categories, ethical consumers aim to minimise theharmand exploitation of humans, animals and the natural environment. This research provides insights into the potential reasonswhythe uptake of ethical products is not being achieved and how it can be addressed to make improvements in making this movement more mainstream. Originality/value - This research examines an extensive list of reasons for and against ethical purchasing used by a general population of consumers. By forcing respondents to make trade-offs, this is the first study quantifying the relative importance of reasons utilised by consumers. It also highlights the value in using cluster analysis on best-worst scores to identify underlying segments

Modeling the effects of including/excluding attributes in choice experiments on systematic and random components

This paper examines the impact of attribute presence/absence in choice experiments using covariance heterogeneity models and random coefficient models. Results show that attribute presence/absence impacts both mean utility (systematic components) and choice variability (random components). Biased mean effects can occur by not accounting for choice variability. Further, even if one accounts for choice variability, attribute effects can differ because of attribute presence/absence. Managers who use choice experiments to study product changes or new variants should be cautious about excluding potentially essential attributes. Although including more relevant attributes increases choice variability, it also reduces bias. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved