The devil you know: The effect of brand recognition and product ratings on consumer choice

Previous research on the role of recognition in decision-making in inferential choice has focussed on the Recognition Heuristic (RH), which proposes that in situations where recognition is predictive of a decision criterion, recognized objects will be chosen over unrecognized ones, regardless of any other available relevant information. In the current study we examine the role of recognition in preferential choice, in which participants had to choose one of a pair of consumer objects that were presented with quality ratings (positive, neutral, and negative). The results showed that participants’ choices were largely based on recognition, as the famous brand was preferred even when additional star ratings rendered it as less attractive. However, the additional information did affect the proportion of chosen famous items, in particular in the cases when star ratings for the recognised brand were negative. This condition also resulted in longer response times compared to neutral and positive conditions. Thus, the current data do not point to a simple compensatory mechanism in preferential choice: although choice is affected by additional information, it seems that recognition is employed as an initial important first step in the decision-making process

Spider Plant (Cleome gynandra L.): An Emerging Weed in the Sweet Corn–Brassica Cropping System

Spider plant (Cleome gynandra L.) is an emerging noxious weed, affecting cultivated vegetables in Queensland, Australia. It is a prolific seed producer, forming large seedbanks with variable seedling emergence. A study was carried out to investigate the seed biology of spider plant, focusing on its seed germination ecology, viz., influence of temperatures, illumination conditions, medium salinity, pH, substrate moisture, burial depth, and after-ripening. Freshly harvested seeds were negatively photoblastic and had combinational dormancy. Improved germination was obtained by physical scarification followed by soaking for 16 h, by dry storage for over 6 months, and by the imbibition of gibberellic acid. Maximum germination percentages of 70 to 80% were recorded under constant darkness at alternating day/night temperatures of 20/30 °C, or with 18 to 27 °C constant temperatures. Spider plant showed a broad tolerance to pH but only moderate salt and moisture stress tolerance, since only 42 and 26% germination were observed with 60 mM NaCl and at −0.40 MPa, respectively. Seeds placed on the soil surface did not germinate, however, at a burial depth of 1.0 to 1.5 cm, which resulted in ca. 80% seedling emergence. These findings will assist land managers to predict seasonal emergence and will aid in deploying management approaches to control this weed

Response of wild oats to environmental stresses

Take home message • When under heat and water stress, wild oat plants can mature 3 weeks earlier than non-stressed plants • Stressed plants produce 30% fewer seeds; additionally, these seeds are 40% smaller and show less dormancy than seeds from non-stressed plants • Seed dormancy can differ between biotypes and between the two types of seeds (primary and secondary) produced by wild oat plants • Early plant maturation can cause early seed shedding depending on the severity of heat and water stress • If the occurrence of late season environmental stresses becomes more frequent as forecast under a changing climate, the efficacy of strategies such as harvest weed seed control may further diminish for wild oats

Impact of Soil Water Stress at Seed Development Stage on Phenology, Fecundity and Seed Dormancy of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana

Wild oat (Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Nyman) is considered the most difficult-to-control winter weed in the northern grain region (NGR) of Australia particularly following the adoption of no-till conservation agriculture and the enhanced reliance on herbicides for weed control. A diversity of survival mechanisms is responsible for its persistence in no-till conservation cropping. Among them long-term, variable seed dormancy is the most important. A number of environmental stresses (for example drought) are known to affect the seed dormancy status. We hypothesized that the increasing frequency of hot and dry period in late winter/early spring season in the NGR might help to mature and shed less dormant wild oat seeds before the wheat crop is harvested. This early shedding of highly germinable seed better aids persistence in no-till conservation cropping systems. Our research showed that soil water stress applied at seed development stage resulted in lower number (16–22% less) of early maturing (5–20 days earlier) less dormant (28% less) seeds compared with control plants. This observation was made for a number of biotypes either coming from within one location or between locations within the NGR. Thus, the frequent hot and dry period at the time of seed development in the NGR is responsible for production of less dormant Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana seeds where no-till conservation cropping is helping to retain these seeds on the top soil. Under favourable germination conditions in the following season these less dormant seeds will immediately be available to re-infest the autumn/winter-sown wheat crop

The devil you know: The effect of brand recognition and product ratings on consumer choice

Previous research on the role of recognition in decision-making in inferential choice has focussed on the Recognition Heuristic (RH), which proposes that in situations where recognition is predictive of a decision criterion, recognized objects will be chosen over unrecognized ones, regardless of any other available relevant information. In the current study we examine the role of recognition in preferential choice, in which subjects had to choose one of a pair of consumer objects that were presented with quality ratings (positive, neutral, and negative). The results showed that subjects’ choices were largely based on recognition, as the famous brand was preferred even when additional star ratings rendered it as less attractive. However, the additional information did affect the proportion of chosen famous items, in particular in the cases when star ratings for the recognised brand were negative. This condition also resulted in longer response times compared to neutral and positive conditions. Thus, the current data do not point to a simple compensatory mechanism in preferential choice: although choice is affected by additional information, it seems that recognition is employed as an initial important first step in the decision-making process

Estimating carbon stocks in stands of Podocarpus cunninghamii in the eastern South Island high country of New Zealand

The Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector of the Kyoto Protocol requires New Zealand to monitor changes in the country's carbon stocks, including those within indigenous forests. Podocarpus cunninghamii Colenso was, in pre-human times, a dominant tree species within the forests of the South Island high country. Anthropogenic disturbance, primarily fire, has converted most of these forests to grassland. Despite this mass deforestation, remnant stands of Podocarpus cunninghamii still exist, and may represent important point sinks of carbon. This study provides first estimates of existing above- and below-ground carbon stocks in high country stands of Podocarpus cunninghamii and presents a preliminary model of Podocarpus cunninghamii carbon sequestration rate. Carbon stocks within high country stands of Podocarpus cunninghamii range from 7.3 t ha in the drylands to 130.1 t ha in the wetter areas. Estimates based on tree ring widths indicate a high country-wide Podocarpus cunninghamii carbon sequestration rate of 0.1 - 0.5 t ha yr for 250 - 1000 stems ha , respectively

Germination behaviour of Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana under a range of light and temperature regimes

Context: Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana (wild oats) is one of the major winter weeds of the Northern Grains Region of Australia. The abundance of this weed increased dramatically after the adoption of no-tillage conservation agriculture (NTCA). However, information is lacking on the germination characteristics of the two types of seed (i.e. primary and secondary) that it produces.Aims: We aimed to determine the light and temperature requirements for germination and the time to germination of primary and secondary seeds of A. ludoviciana, in order to find ways to manage this weed effectively under NTCA systems.Methods: Primary and secondary seeds and caryopses from two southern and two northern biotypes were exposed to a range of temperature and light regimes in the glasshouse, and germination was assessed.Key results: All biotypes had ∼25% higher germination from primary than secondary seeds. Removing the hull increased caryopsis germination by ∼70%. The use of a light/dark photoperiod stimulated germination of both types of seed and caryopses compared with continuous darkness. Based on data for caryopses, 7°C and 9°C were found to be optimal germination temperatures for southern and northern biotypes, respectively. At optimum germination temperature, primary caryopses germinated 7–20 days earlier than secondary caryopses. In addition, a light/dark environment resulted in germination 2–6 days earlier than continuous darkness.Conclusions: In the Northern Grains Region, seeds retained on or close to the soil surface (i.e. in NTCA systems) can undergo maximum germination during May–June (late autumn–winter), when long-term average temperatures match optimum germination temperatures. This coincides with winter crop plantings.Implications: The seasonal timing of germination and the difference in germination timing between primary and secondary seeds, which help to stagger emergence of this weed, are major issues that need to be addressed in NTCA systems

Tailored approach to sleep health education (TASHE): study protocol for a web-based randomized controlled trial

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans (hereafter referred to as blacks). Moreover, blacks may underutilize sleep services including overnight polysomnography. Thus, OSA among blacks may go undiagnosed and untreated, which has significant health consequences, including hypertension, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and daytime sleepiness. Design and Methods: This two-arm randomized controlled trial will assign 200 participants to a culturally and linguistically tailored web-based sleep educational platform. The website will be developed to ensure that the content is user friendly and that it is readable and acceptable by the target community. Participants will receive login information to a password-protected website and will have access to the website for 2 months. Study assessments will be collected at baseline, 2 months (post-enrollment) and at 6 months (follow-up). We will use qualitative and quantitative methods to develop tailored materials and to ascertain whether tailored materials will increase OSA knowledge and OSA health literacy by comparing blacks exposed to tailored materials versus those exposed to standard sleep health literature. We hypothesize that exposure to tailored OSA information will improve OSA health literacy. Discussion: Few studies have investigated the racial/ethnic disparities in relation to OSA screening and treatment comparing blacks and whites. Moreover, we know of no interventions designed to increase OSA knowledge and health literacy among blacks. Use of the Internet to disseminate health information is growing in this population. Thus, the Internet may be an effective means to increase OSA health literacy, thereby potentially increasing utilization of sleep-related services in this population

Developing a Tailored Website for Promoting Awareness about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Among Blacks in Community-Based Settings

Blacks are at greater risk for lower sleep quality and higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) than other racial groups. In this study, we summarize the development of a tailored website including visuals, key messages, and video narratives, to promote awareness about sleep apnea among community-dwelling blacks. We utilized mixed methods, including in-depth interviews, usability-testing procedures, and brief surveys (n = 9, 55% female, 100% black, average age 38.5 years). Themes from the qualitative analysis illuminated varied knowledge regarding OSA symptoms and prevalent self-reported experience with sleep disturbance and OSA symptoms (e.g., snoring). On a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very high), participants provided favorable ratings of website usefulness (mean = 4.9), user friendliness (mean = 4.9) and attractiveness (mean = 4.3). Our findings suggest although tailored health communication has potential for serving as a tool for advancing health equity, usability-testing of health materials is critical to ensure that culturally and linguistically tailored messages are acceptable and actionable in the intended population