• Title/Summary/Keyword: Consumers

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A Study on the Effect of User Value on Smartwatch Digital HealthcareAcceptance Intention to Promote Digital Healthcare Venture Start Up (Digital Healthcare 벤처창업 촉진을 위한, 사용자 가치가 Smartwatch Digital Healthcare 수용의도에 미치는 영향 연구)

  • Eekseong Jin;soyoung Lee
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.35-52
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    • 2023
  • Recently, as the non-face-to-face environment has developed due to COVID-19 and environmental pollution, the importance of online digital healthcare is increasing, and venture start-ups and activities such as health care, telemedicine, and digital treatments are also actively underway. This study conducted the impact on the acceptability of digital healthcare smartwatches with an integrated approach of the expanded integrated technology acceptance model (UTAUT2) and the behavioral inference model (BRT). The most advanced integrated technology acceptance model for innovative technology acceptance research was used to identify major factors such as utility expectations, social effects, convenience, price barriers, lack of alternatives, and behavioral intentions. For the study, about 410 responses from ordinary people in their teens to 60s across the country were collected, and based on this, the hypothesis was verified using structural equations after testing reliability and validity of the data. SPSS 23 and AMOS 23 were used for research analysis. Studies have shown that personal innovation has a significant impact on the reasons for acceptance (use value, social impact, convenience of use), attitude, and non-use (price barriers, lack of alternatives, and barriers to use). These results are the same as the results of previous studies that confirmed the influence of the main value of innovative ICT on user acceptance intention. In addition, the reason for acceptance had a significant effect on attitude, but the effect of the reason for non-acceptance was not significant. It can be analyzed that consumers are interested in new ICT products and new services, but purchase them more carefully and selectively. This study has evolved from the acceptance analysis of general-purpose consumer innovation technology to the acceptance analysis of consumer value in smartwatch digital healthcare, which is a new and important area in the future. Industrially, it can contribute to the product's purchase and marketing. It is hoped that this study will contribute to increasing research in the digital healthcare sector, which will play an important role in our lives in the future, and that it will develop into in-depth factors that are more suitable for consumer value through integrated approach models and integrated analysis of consumer acceptance and non-acceptance.

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The Development of a Benthic Chamber (BelcI) for Benthic Boundary Layer Studies (저층 경계면 연구용 Benthic chamber(BelcI) 개발)

  • Lee, Jae-Seong;Bahk, Kyung-Soo;Khang, Buem-Joo;Kim, Young-Tae;Bae, Jae-Hyun;Kim, Seong-Soo;Park, Jung-Jun;Choi, Ok-In
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.41-50
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    • 2010
  • We have developed an in-situ benthic chamber (BelcI) for use in coastal studies that can be deployed from a small boat. It is expected that BelcI will be useful in studying the benthic boundary layer because of its flexibility. BelcI is divided into three main areas: 1) frame and body chamber, 2) water sampler, and 3) stirring devices, electric controller, and data acquisition technology. To maximize in-situ use, the frame is constructed from two layers that consist of square cells. All electronic parts (motor controller, pA meter, data acquisition, etc.) are low-power consumers so that the external power supply can be safely removed from the system. The hydrodynamics of BelcI, measured by PIV (particle image velocimetry), show a typical "radial-flow impeller" pattern. Mixing time of water in the chamber is about 30 s, and shear velocity ($u^*$) near the bottom layer was calculated at $0.32\;cm\;s^{-1}$. Measurements of diffusivity boundary layer thickness showed a range of $180-230\;{\mu}m$. Sediment oxygen consumption rate, measured in-situ,was $84\;mmol\;O_2\;m^{-2}\;d_{-1}$, more than two times higher than on-board incubation results. Benthic fluxes assessed from in-situ incubation were estimated as follows: nitrate + nitrite = $0.18\;{\pm}\;0.07\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ ammonium $23\;{\pm}\;1\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ phosphate = $0.09\;{\pm}\;0.02\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ and silicate = $23\;{\pm}\;1\;mmol\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$.

Seasonal Variations of Microphytobenthos in Sediments of the Estuarine Muddy Sandflat of Gwangyang Bay: HPLC Pigment Analysis (광합성색소 분석을 통한 광양만 갯벌 퇴적물 중 저서미세조류의 계절변화)

  • Lee, Yong-Woo;Choi, Eun-Jung;Kim, Young-Sang;Kang, Chang-Keun
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.48-55
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    • 2009
  • Seasonal variations of microalgal biomass and community composition in both the sediment and the seawater were investigated by HPLC pigment analysis in an estuarine muddy sandflat of Gwangyang Bay from January to November 2002. Based on the photosynthetic pigments, fucoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, and diatoxanthin were the most dominant pigments all the year round, indicating that diatoms were the predominant algal groups of both the sediment and the seawater in Gwangyang Bay. The other algal pigments except the diatom-marker pigments showed relatively low concentrations. Microphytobenthic chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ concentrations in the upper layer (0.5 cm) of sediments ranged from 3.44 (March at the middle site of the tidal flat) to 169 (July at the upper site) mg $m^{-2}$, with the annual mean concentrations of $68.4{\pm}45.5,\;21.3{\pm}14.3,\;22.9{\pm}15.6mg\;m^{-2}$ at the upper, middle, and lower tidal sites, respectively. Depth-integrated chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ concentrations in the overlying water column ranged from 1.66 (November) to 11.7 (July) mg $m^{-2}$, with an annual mean of $6.96{\pm}3.04mg\;m^{-2}$. Microphytobenthic biomasses were about 3${\sim}$10 times higher than depth-integrated phytoplankton biomass in the overlying water column. The physical characteristics of this shallow estuarine tidal flat, similarity in taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton and microphytobenthos, and similar seasonal patterns in their biomasses suggest that resuspended microphytobenthos are an important component of phytoplankton biomass in Gwangyang Bay. Therefore, considering the importance of microphytobenthos as possible food source for the estuarine benthic and pelagic consumers, a consistent monitoring work on the behavior of microphytobenthos is needed in the tidal flat ecosystems.

Isotopic Determination of Food Sources of Benthic Invertebrates in Two Different Macroalgal Habitats in the Korean Coasts (동위원소 분석에 의한 동해와 남해 연안의 상이한 해조류 군락에 서식하는 저서무척추동물 먹이원 평가)

  • Kang, Chang-Keun;Choy, Eun-Jung;Song, Haeng-Seop;Park, Hyun-Je;Soe, In-Soo;Jo, Q-Tae;Lee, Kun-Seop
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.380-389
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    • 2007
  • Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in suspended particulate organic matter, macroalgae and macrobenthic invertebrates in order to determine the importance of primary organic matter sources in supporting food webs of rocky subtidal and intertidal macroalgal beds in the Korean coasts. Investigations were conducted at the inter tidal sites within Gwangyang bay, a semi-enclosed and eutrophicated bay, and the subtidal sites of the east coast, a relatively oligotrophic and open environment, in May and June 2005. Water-column suspension feeders showed more negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the other feeding guilds, indicating trophic linkage with phytoplankton and thereby association with pelagic food chains. In contrast, animals of the other feeding guilds, including interface suspension feeders, herbivores, deposit feeders, omnivores and predators, displayed relatively less negative $\delta^{13}C$ values than those of the water-column suspension feeders and similar with that of macroalgae, indicating exclusive use of macroalgae-derived organic matter and association with benthic food chains. Most the macrobenthic species were considered to form strong trophic links with benthic food chains. In addition, the distribution of higher $\delta^{15}N$ values in macrobenthic consumers and macroalgae at the intertidal sites of Gwangyang Bay than those at the subtidal sites of the east coast suggests that anthropogenic nutrients may enhance the macroalgal production at the intertidal sites and in turn be incorporated into the particular littoral food web in Gwangyag Bay. These results confirm the dominant role of macroalgae in supporting rocky subtidal and intertidal food webs in the Korean coasts.

The association between COVID-19 and changes in food consumption in Korea: analyzing the microdata of household income and expenditure from Statistics Korea 2019-2022 (코로나19와 한국 식품 소비 변화의 관계: 2019-2022년 통계청 소비자 가계동향조사를 활용하여)

  • Haram Eom;Kyounghee Kim;Seonghwan Cho;Junghoon Moon
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.57 no.1
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    • pp.153-169
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    • 2024
  • Purpose: The main goal of this study was to identify the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on grocery purchases (i.e., fresh and processed foods by grain, vegetable, fruit, seafood, and meat categories) in Korea. To understand the specific impact of COVID-19, the study period was divided into 3 segments: PRE-COVID-19, INTER-COVID-19, and POST-COVID-19. Methods: We used the microdata of household income and expenditure from Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), representing households across the country. The data comprised monthly grocery expenditure data from January 2019 to September 2022. First, we compared the PRE-COVID-19 period to INTER-COVID-19 and then INTER-COVID-19 to POST-COVID-19 and used multiple regression analysis. The covariates used were the gender and age of the head of the household, the household's monthly income, the number of family members, the price index, and the month (dummy variable). Results: The expenditures on all grocery categories except fresh fruit increased from PRE-COVID-19 to INTER-COVID-19. From INTER-COVID-19 to POST-COVID-19, almost all grocery category spending declined, with processed meat being the only exception. Most purchases of protein sources, increased during INTER-COVID-19 compared to PRE-COVID-19, while ham/sausage/bacon for meat protein, fish cakes and canned seafood for seafood protein, and soy milk for plant-based protein did not decrease during POST-COVID-19 compared to INTER-COVID-19. Conclusion: These results show an overall increase in in-home grocery expenditure during COVID-19 due to an increase in eating at home, followed by a decrease in this expenditure in the POST-COVID-19 period. Among the trends, the protein and highly processed convenience food categories did not see a decline in spending during the POST-COVID-19 period, which is a reflection of the preferences of consumers in the post-COVID-19 period.

Preference and Sensory Trait Analysis of Korean Rice Varieties among International Consumers (해외소비자의 국내육성 벼 품종에 대한 선호도 및 식미관련 형질 분석)

  • Chang-Min Lee;Song-Hee Park;Su-Kyung Ha;Hyun-Sook Lee;Gileng Lee;Seung Young Lee;Ji-Ung Jeung;Hyun-Su Park;Jae-Ryoung Park;O-Young Jeong
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.68 no.4
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    • pp.262-275
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    • 2023
  • This study aimed to assess the preferences of African, American, and Asian panels, in comparison to a Korean panel, for various Korean rice varieties, including three japonica, two indica, and one Tongil-type, all developed by the Rural Development Administration in Korea. Regarding rice appearance, most panelists, except for the Koreans, favored long and slender rice varieties like 'Hanyeol', 'Hyangyeol', and 'Amissal'. In contrast, the Koreans preferred wider varieties like 'Sindongjin' and 'Deuraehyang'. Notably, the overseas panelists consistently favored rice varieties with high appearance quality in sensory evaluations of cooked rice. Both overseas and Korean panelists strongly preferred the indica rice variety 'Hanyeol' in terms of appearance quality and sensory evaluations. However, Korean rice varieties like 'Amissal' and 'Sindongjin' scored high in appearance quality with overseas panelists but received low ratings in sensory aspects, including shape, stickiness, and taste, compared to those for 'Hanyeol'. This suggests that considering sensory characteristics is important when exporting Korean rice varieties. Regarding taste characteristics preferred by the panelists derived from the correlation analysis between taste traits, Africans preferred rice with a smooth texture and no stickiness, especially favoring long-grain rice. Americans leaned towards rice with a slightly firm texture, some stickiness, and late aging characteristics. Asians preferred rice with a smooth texture, low stickiness, and long-grain varieties. In contrast, Koreans favored round rice with a glossy appearance, a slightly firm texture, late aging traits, and some stickiness. These research findings can serve as valuable data for the development of rice varieties for overseas markets and are expected to contribute to securing competitiveness in international markets.

A Survey on Pesticide Residues and Risk Assessment for Agricultural Products Marketed in the Northern Area of Seoul from 2022 to 2023 (서울 북부지역 유통 농산물의 잔류농약 실태 및 위해성 평가 (2022-2023))

  • Boram Kwak;Sung ae Jo;Kyeong Ah Lee;Sijung Kim;Yunhee Kim;HyeJin Yi;Seoyoung Kim;Ae Kyung Kim;Eun Sun Yun
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.239-249
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    • 2024
  • In this study, we investigated the concentrations of pesticide residues in agricultural products marketed in northern Seoul and assessed their potential health risks. A total of 1,737 samples were collected using the QuEChERS method, followed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Pesticide residues below the MRLs were detected in 560 samples of 72 items (32.2%), but 38 samples of 22 items had pesticide residues above the MRLs. Residual pesticides were detected in 53.8% of fruits, 33.0% of vegetables, 28.6% of herbs, 15.4% of beans, and 10.5% of rice samples. Most of the samples that exceeded the MRLs were vegetables, especially leafy, stalk, stem, and root vegetables; herbs and mushrooms also exceeded the permitted MRLs. Of the 105 pesticides investigated, dinotefuran, fluxametamide, chlorfenapyr, azoxystrobin, and carbendazim were the most frequently detected, whereas 23 pesticide residues, including terbufos, carbendazim, and fluxametamide, were detected above the MRL values. The hazard indices were calculated as 0.00003-1.31406%, which suggests that the investigated pesticide residues in the samples were within safe levels, but continuous monitoring of pesticides in agricultural products is needed to ensure the safety of consumers.

A Study on How to Improve Local Government Ordinances to Promote Korean Heritage Information Management : Focusing on the relation aspect of Korean Heritage laws and ordinances (국가유산 정보 관리 활성화를 위한 광역자치단체 조례의 개선 방향 연구 : 국가유산 관련 법과 조례의 관계적 성격을 중심으로)

  • GANG Bobae;JOO Sanghun
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.57 no.3
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    • pp.140-160
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    • 2024
  • The implementation of the "Basic Law on Korean Heritage" on May 17, 2024, brought about significant changes in the operation of Korean heritage-related ordinances in 17 local governments. This study specifically analyzes the production, collection, and information transfer of Korean heritage information between the Korean Heritage Service and local governments, focusing on the provisions of the law. Finally, in order to achieve the goal of revitalizing the management of Korean heritage information, the study suggests five directions for improvement of the local government ordinance from three perspectives. Firstly, in order to systematize the production of Korean heritage information, it is necessary to specify the entities that produce and manage information in Korean heritage, and to select important Korean heritage information from the information produced and manage it strategically. In today's complex Korean heritage management environment, it is impossible to manage all the Korean heritage information produced by various stakeholders. Secondly, in order to systematize the delivery of Korean heritage information, detailed procedures related to the information to be delivered to the Korean Heritage Service should be specified, and a clear plan for information delivery and management between local and basic local governments should be defined. In the Korean heritage information delivery system, local governments play various roles as direct information providers, managers, consumers, and transmitters. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the provisions of the ordinance so that local governments can systematically fulfill their various roles in the Korean heritage information delivery system. Thirdly, in order to activate the production of Korean heritage information, local governments should review the provisions of the Act to ensure that important Korean heritage information generated from directory provisions and non-mandatory provisions, in addition to the mandatory provisions of the Korean Heritage Act, is not omitted. In particular, Korean heritage information is not just administrative information, but also includes specialized information for the maintenance of the current state of Korean heritage. Therefore, if certain Korean heritage information is partially missing, there may be a gap in intergovernmental communication for Korean heritage management.

The Effect of Empathy Value of Chinese Female University Students on Affection with Sustainable Fashion Products on Affection and Purchase Intention (중국 여대생의 지속가능한 패션제품에 대한 공감가치가 호감도와 구매의사에 미치는 영향)

  • Yi-Fei Wu;Young-Sook Lee
    • Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.35-48
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    • 2024
  • This study analyzed the value empathy of environmentally sustainable fashion products, encompassing environmental, economic, and social values, drawing from existing literature. We sought to verify the relationship between empathic value and the likability and purchase intention towards these products. To validate these relationships, we formulated research hypotheses and conducted an online survey targeting female college students residing in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, who have experience purchasing environmentally sustainable fashion products. The survey was conducted from August 10th to August 20th, 2023, with a total distribution of 352 questionnaires. Among the collected responses, 313 valid responses were utilized for data analysis. The collected survey data underwent frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability and validity analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 26.0 software. The analysis yielded the following results. First, the empathy value of environmentally sustainable fashion products was classified into environmental protection values, economic values, and social values. Second, the economic and social values of environmentally sustainable fashion products were found to have a positive effect on favorability. Third, it was found that the environmental protection value and social value of environmentally sustainable fashion products had a positive effect on purchase intention. Fourth, it was found that Chinese female college students' favorability toward environmentally sustainable fashion products had a positive effect on their purchase intention. Based on these results, it is judged that companies need to emphasize the characteristics of products such as environmental protective value, economic value, and social value in order to promote consumers' purchase of environmentally sustainable fashion products. The purpose of this study is to help develop marketing strategies for environmentally sustainable fashion products by providing basic data, development ideas, and methods useful for environmentally sustainable fashion-related industries and companies by analyzing the relationship between empathy value, favorability, and purchase intention.

Relationship Between Usage Needs Satisfaction and Commitment to Apparel Brand Communities: Moderator Effect of Apparel Brand Image (의류 브랜드 커뮤니티의 이용욕구 충족과 커뮤니티 몰입의 관계: 의류 브랜드 이미지의 조절효과)

  • Hong, Hee-Sook;Ryu, Sung-Min;Moon, Chul-Woo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.51-89
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    • 2007
  • INTRODUCTION Due to the high broadband internet penetration rate and its group-oriented culture, various types of online communities operate in Korea. This study use 'Uses and Gratification Approach, and argue that members' usage-needs satisfaction with brand community is an important factor for promoting community commitment. Based on previous studies identifying the effect of brand image on consumers' responses to various marketing stimuli, this study hypothesizes that brand image can be a moderate variable affecting the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction with brand community and members' commitment to brand community. This study analyzes the influence of usage-needs satisfaction on brand community commitment and how apparel brand image affects the relationships between usage-needs satisfactions and community commitments. The hypotheses of this study are proposed as follows. H1-3: The usage-needs satisfaction of apparel brand community (interest, transaction, relationship needs) influences emotional (H1), continuous (H2), and normative (H3) commitments to apparel brand communities. H4-6: Apparel brand image has a moderating effect on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and emotional (H4), continuous (H5), and normative (H6) commitments to apparel brand communities. METHODS Brand communities founded by non-company affiliates were excluded and emphasis was placed instead on communities created by apparel brand companies. Among casual apparel brands registered in 6 Korean portal sites in August 2003, a total of 9 casual apparel brand online communities were chosen, depending on the level of community activity and apparel brand image. Data from 317 community members were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, moderated regression analysis, ANOVA, and scheffe test. Among 317 respondents answered an online html-type questionnaire, 80.5% were between 16 to 25 years old. There were a total of 150 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=3) recording higher-than-average brand image scores (Mean > 3.75) and a total of 162 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=6) recording lower-than-average brand image scores(Mean < 3.75). In this study, brand community commitment was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: emotional, continuous and normative commitment. The degree of usage-needs satisfaction (interest, transaction, relationship needs) was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of brand image was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: strength, favorability, and uniqueness of brand associations. RESULTS In the results of exploratory factor analysis, the three usage-needs satisfactions with brand community were classified as interest, transaction, and relationship needs. Brand community commitment was also divided into the multi-dimensional factors: emotional, continuous, and normative commitments. The regression analysis (using a stepwise method) was used to test the influence of 3 independent variables (interest-needs satisfaction, transaction-needs, and relationship-needs satisfactions) on the 3 dependent variables (emotional, continuous and normative commitments). The three types of usage-needs satisfactions are positively associated with the three types of commitments to apparel brand communities. Therefore, hypothesis 1, 2, and 3 were significantly supported. Moderating effects of apparel brand image on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and brand community commitments were tested by moderated regression analysis. The statistics result showed that the influence of transaction-needs on emotional commitment was significantly moderated by apparel brand image. In addition, apparel brand image had moderating effects on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and emotional, continuous and normative commitments to apparel brand communities. However, there were not significant moderate effects of apparel brand image on the relationships between interest-needs satisfaction and 3 types of commitments (emotional, continuous and normative commitments) to apparel brand communities. In addition, the influences of transaction-needs satisfaction on 2 types of commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were not significantly moderated by apparel brand image. Therefore, hypothesis 4, 5 and 6 were partially supported. To explain the moderating effects of apparel brand image, four cross-tabulated groups were made by averages of usage-needs satisfaction (interest-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.09, transaction-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.46, relationship-needs satisfaction M=1.62) and the average apparel brand image (M=3.75). The average scores of commitments in each classified group are presented in Tables and Figures. There were significant differences among four groups. As can be seen from the results of scheffe test on the tables, emotional commitment in community group with high brand image was higher than one in community group with low brand image when transaction-needs satisfaction was high. However, when transaction-needs satisfaction was low, there was not any difference between the community group with high brand image and community group with low brand image regarding emotional commitment to apparel brand communities. It means that emotional commitment didn't increase significantly without high satisfaction of transaction-needs, despite the high apparel brand image. In addition, when apparel brand image was low, increase in transaction-needs did not lead to the increase in emotional commitment. Therefore, the significant relationship between transaction-needs satisfaction and emotional commitment was found in only brand communities with high apparel brand image, and the moderating effect of apparel brand image on this relationship between two variables was found in the communities with high satisfaction of transaction-needs only. Statistics results showed that the level of emotional commitment is related to the satisfaction level of transaction-needs, while overall response is related to the level of apparel brand image. We also found that the role of apparel brand image as a moderating factor was limited by the level of transaction-needs satisfaction. In addition, relationship-needs satisfaction brought significant increase in emotional commitment in both community groups (high and low levels of brand image), and the effect of apparel brand image on emotional commitment was significant in both community groups (high and low levels of relationship-needs satisfaction). Especially, the effect of brand image was greater when the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was high. in contrast, increase in emotional commitment responding to increase in relationship-needs satisfaction was greater when apparel brand image is high. The significant influences of relationship-needs satisfaction on community commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were found regardless of apparel brand image(in both community groups with low and high brand image). However, the effects of apparel brand image on continuous and normative commitments were found in only community group with high satisfaction level of relationship-needs. In the case of communities with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, apparel brand image marginally increases continuous and normative commitments. Therefore, we could not find the moderating effect of apparel brand image on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and continuous and normative commitments in community groups with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS From the results of this study, we draw several conclusions; First, the increases in usage-needs satisfactions through apparel brand communities result in the increases in commitments to apparel brand communities, wheres the degrees of such relationship depends on the level of apparel brand image. That is, apparel brand image is a moderating factor strengthening the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and commitment to apparel brand communities. In addition, the effect of apparel brand image differs, depending on the level and types of community usage-needs satisfactions. Therefore, marketers of apparel brand companies must determine the appropriate usage-needs, depending on the type of commitment they wish to increase and the level of their apparel brand image, to promote member's commitments to apparel brand communities. Especially, relationship-needs satisfaction was very important factor for increasing emotional, continuous and normative commitments to communities. However the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was lower than interest-needs and transaction-needs. satisfaction. According to previous study on apparel brand communities, relationship-need satisfaction was strongly related to member's intention of participation in their communities. Therefore, marketers need to develope various strategies in order to increase the relationship- needs as well as interest and transaction needs. In addition, despite continuous commitment was higher than emotional and normative commitments, all types of commitments to apparel brand communities had scores lower than 3.0 that was mid point in 5-point scale. A Korean study reported that the level of members' commitment to apparel brand community influenced customers' identification with a brand and brand purchasing behavior. Therefore, marketers should try to increase members' usage-needs satisfaction and apparel brand image as the necessary conditions for bringing about community commitments. Second, marketers should understand that they should keep in mind that increasing the level of community usage needs (transaction and relationship) is most effective in raising commitment when the level of apparel brand image is high, and that increasing usage needs (transaction needs) satisfaction in communities with low brand image might not be as effective as anticipated. Therefore, apparel companies with desirable brand image such as luxury designer goods firms need to create formal online brand communities (as opposed to informal communities with rudimentary online contents) to satisfy transaction and relationship needs systematically. It will create brand equity through consumers' increased emotional, continuous and normative commitments. Even though apparel brand is very famous, emotional commitment to apparel brand communities cannot be easily increased without transaction-needs satisfaction. Therefore famous fashion brand companies should focus on developing various marketing strategies to increase transaction-needs satisfaction.

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