• Title/Summary/Keyword: consumer factor

Search Result 2,016, Processing Time 0.029 seconds

A Study on Social Media Advertising of Plastic Surgery Using Eye-Tracking (아이트래킹을 활용한 성형외과 소셜 미디어광고의 시선 추적 연구)

  • Son, Jeong-Eun;Jung, Eui-Tay;Paik, Jin-Kyung
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
    • /
    • v.19 no.7
    • /
    • pp.1-12
    • /
    • 2019
  • According to a survey on the frequency of access to medical ads by the Korea Press Foundation in 2017, the most commonly exposed ads among adult men and women are advertising about beauty, plasticity and obesity. As of 2011, South Korea had the largest number of cosmetic surgeries in the world, with 131 cosmetic surgeries per 10,000 people. As a result, as many as 1,414 plastic surgery clinics are operating in South Korea, and the number is also on the rise. Although there are various standards for evaluating people's appearance, the desire to pursue a better look is growing day by day. Then, one might wonder what factors influence consumers' choices among the numerous advertisements for plastic surgery clinics. Based on these questions, this study identified the examples of plastic surgery advertisements, analyzed their type, and identified the types of advertisements with the high visual appeal of the advertising consumer through eye tracking experiment. In total, seven eye-tracking tests of plastic surgery social media advertisements were conducted on 10 subjects. The results showed that the commercial model was the biggest factor that caught the attraction and attention of the ad recipient first and that the most focused and long-standing factor was the treatment contents. Therefore, it is important to select proper commercial models for hospital and clinic contents and to specify factual treatment contents when producing social media advertisements for plastic surgeons. We hope these findings will help create online advertising for plastic surgery clinics effectively.

A Study on Visual Attention Factors for Advertising Photographs (광고 사진을 위한 시각적 주의 기초요인 연구)

  • Kim, Dae-Wook
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.413-425
    • /
    • 2019
  • We see many images every day, some of these images are stored in memory, and the majority are immersed in the unconscious world. Visual elements are seen by personal attention or by visual or biological attention factors. Specific and clear discovery of this visual attention has not yet been made. However, there is an interesting discussion of this visual attention in the fields of interior, design, visual perception, advertising, and psychology. Advertising photographers are expected to produce what their work will have on viewers and consumers. However, the adjustment of subject, exposure, color, or post-production, which could have a visual effect on the consumer, was determined only by the photographer's senses rather than the experimental verification. The advertisement photographs provide a specific image related to the object to be advertised and deliver a certain message. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the effect of the image in a certain visual way. According to previous studies, there are two major factors that affect the visual impression of the viewer. One is the factor depending on the type and content of the subject and the other is the factor about the density and color of the subject. The purpose of this study is to investigate the meaningful changes in the visual perception depending on the shape, content, color and tone of the subject, which can be called the main subject, And to analyze the effects of I will study some implications of visual elements through various analyzes.

A Study on the Visual Attention of Popular Animation Characters Utilizing Eye Tracking (아이트래킹을 활용한 인기 애니메이션 캐릭터의 시각적 주의에 관한 연구)

  • Hwang, Mi-Kyung;Kwon, Mahn-Woo;Park, Min-Hee;Yin, Shuo-Han
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
    • /
    • v.19 no.6
    • /
    • pp.214-221
    • /
    • 2019
  • Visual perception information acquired through human eyes contains much information on how to view visual stimuli using eye tracking technology, it is possible to acquire and analyze consumer visual information as quantitative data. These measurements can be used to measure emotions that customers feel unconsciously, and they can be directly collected by numerically quantifying the character's search response through eye tracking. In this study, we traced the character's area of interest (AOI) and found that the average of fixation duration, count, average of visit duration, count, and finally the time to first fixation was analyzed. As a result of analysis, it was found that there were many cognitive processing processes on the face than the character's body, and the visual attention was high. The visual attention of attraction factor has also been able to verify that attraction is being presented as an important factor in determining preferences for characters. Based on the results of this study, further studies of more characters will be conducted and quantitative interpretation methods can be used as basic data for character development and factors to be considered in determining character design.

Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities of Macaron with Cabbage Powder (양배추 분말을 첨가한 마카롱의 품질 특성 및 항산화 활성)

  • Kim, Ki-Ju
    • Food Engineering Progress
    • /
    • v.21 no.4
    • /
    • pp.367-374
    • /
    • 2017
  • The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality characteristics, antioxidant activities, and sensory properties of macaron with cabbage powder (CP). Physicochemical and sensory properties of macaron with different amounts (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) of CP were examined. The quality of macarons was evaluated based on spread factor, baking loss rate, color, texture, antioxidant activities, and sensory evaluation. As amount of CP addition increased, spread factor, baking loss rate, and L and a values decreased, whereas b value increased (p<0.05). For texture properties, hardness, cohesiveness, and springiness were increased by addition of CP (p<0.05). The gumminess and brittleness did not show significant changes up to 3% CP addition although significant changes in 5-7% CP addition (p<0.05) were evident. The total polyphenolic contents, DPPH radical scavenging activities, and reducing power were significantly increased by addition of CP at high concentrations (p<0.05). In the consumer acceptance of macarons, 3% CP showed the highest in color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptance and 5% CP showed the highest in taste. Meanwhile, macaron containing 7% CP showed the lowest scores in texture and overall acceptance (p<0.05). These data suggested that adding 3% of CP was the optimal concentration for making macaron.

The Impact of Corporate Image on Employees' Alturistic Behavior in Franchise Industry: Mediating Role of Organizational Trust and Affective Commitment (프랜차이즈 기업이미지가 종업원의 이타적 행동에 미치는 영향: 조직신뢰와 정서적 몰입의 매개역할)

  • Hur, Soon-Beom;An, Dae-Sun;Cho, Hye-Duk
    • The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
    • /
    • v.8 no.4
    • /
    • pp.33-43
    • /
    • 2017
  • Purpose - Previous studies about corporate image generally explore how corporate image affects a company's effectiveness from the consumer view. However this study attempts to explore the impacts of corporate image (reliability, friendly, corporate social responsibility, and innovation) on employees' altruistic behaviors in the franchise industry context. This study also examine whether organizational trust and affective commitment play a mediating role in the relationship between corporate image and employees' altruistic behaviors. The authors developed several hypotheses to achieve these purposes. Research design, data, and methodology - The data were collected from employees in food-service franchise companies located in Seoul, Korea. Among a total of 363 questionnaires distributed, 294(response rate of 81%) questionnaires were returned. After excluding 18 invalid respondent questionnaires, 276 valid questionnaires(response rate of 76%) were coded and analyzed using frequency, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations analysis, and structural equation modeling with SPSS 21 and SmartPLS 3.0. Result - The findings of the study are as follows: First, friendly, CSR, and innovation had positive effects on organizational trust, but reliability did not have a significant effect on organizational trust. Second, reliability and friendly of corporate image had positive effects on affective commitment, but CSR and innovation did have a significant effect on affective commitment. Third, organizational trust and affective commitment had positive effects on employees' altruistic behaviors. Conclusions - The aim of this study is to investigate the franchise corporate image as a significant influencing factor of employees' altruistic behaviors. The data were collected from only employees from franchising companies. The findings might vary from position to position. Future studies need to collect and compare data from managers. Future studies need to consider other variables that affect employees' altruistic behaviors. For example, leadership and market orientation might influence employees' attitude and behaviors. Also, future research should include other variables and it may have limitations in sample representative because of sampling franchise corporate in Seoul. Future studies will include franchise corporate all over the country. Future studies can also consider other variables (e.g., job performance and turnover intentions) to measure employee performance at the level of individuals and identify the impact of employee performance on business performance at the level of corporate.

A Study of Rent Determinants of Small and Medium-Sized Office Buildings in Seoul Using a Dynamic Panel Model: Focusing on CBD and GBD Comparison (동적패널모형을 활용한 서울시 중소형 오피스 빌딩 임대료 결정 요인 연구: CBD(도심권)와 GBD(강남권) 비교를 중심으로)

  • NaRa Kim;JinSeok Yu;Jongjin Kim
    • Land and Housing Review
    • /
    • v.14 no.4
    • /
    • pp.47-62
    • /
    • 2023
  • Using the dynamic panel model, this study investigates rent determinants for small and medium-sized office buildings in Korea's CBD and Gangnam areas, key business districts. The results reveal that rents for small and medium-sized office buildings in CBD and Gangnam areas are influenced by macroeconomic fluctuations and characteristics of buildings and locations, suggesting a market with both spatial consumer and investment goods attributes. There are several investment implications as follows. First, even if the location in the CBD area is advantageous, the practical limitations in renovating aging small and medium-sized office buildings must be taken into account when investing. Second, parking conditions are a key factor influencing rent prices in CBD areas, so evaluating the parking facilities and improvement potential of small and medium-sized office buildings is essential for investors. Finally, due to the high sensitivity of Gangnam's small and medium-sized office market to macroeconomic trends, it's vital to prioritize monetary policy shifts as a key factor in investment decisions.

Typology of Korean Eco-sumers: Based on Clothing Disposal Behaviors (관우한국생태학적일개예설(关于韩国生态学的一个预设): 기우복장탑배적행위(基于服装搭配的行为))

  • Sung, Hee-Won;Kincade, Doris H.
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
    • /
    • v.20 no.1
    • /
    • pp.59-69
    • /
    • 2010
  • Green or an environmental consciousness has been a major issue for businesses and government offices, as well as consumers, worldwide. In response to this movement, the Korean government announced, in the early 2000s, the era of "Green Growth" as a way to encourage green-related business activities. The Korean fashion industry, in various levels of involvement, presents diverse eco-friendly products as a part of the green movement. These apparel products include organic products and recycled clothing. For these companies to be successful, they need information about who are the consumers who consider green issues (e.g., environmental sustainability) as part of their personal values when making a decision for product purchase, use, and disposal. These consumers can be considered as eco-sumers. Previous studies have examined consumers' purchase intention for or with eco-friendly products. In addition, studies have examined influential factors used to identify the eco-sumers or green consumers. However, limited attention was paid to eco-sumers' disposal or recycling behavior of clothes in comparison with their green product purchases. Clothing disposal behaviors are ways that consumer can get rid of unused clothing and in clue temporarily lending the item or permanently eliminating the item by "handing down" (e.g., giving it to a younger sibling), donating, exchanging, selling, or simply throwing it away. Accordingly, examining purchasing behaviors of eco-friendly fashion items in conjunction with clothing disposal behaviors should improve understanding of a consumer's clothing consumption behavior from the environmental perspective. The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide descriptive information about Korean eco-sumers who have ecologically-favorable lifestyles and behaviors when buying and disposing of clothes. The objectives of this study are to (a) categorize Koreans on the basis of clothing disposal behaviors; (b) investigate the differences in demographics, lifestyles, and clothing consumption values among segments; and (c) compare the purchase intention of eco-friendly fashion items and influential factors among segments. A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on previous studies. The questionnaire included 10 items of clothing disposal behavior, 22 items of LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) characteristics, and 19 items of consumption values, measured by five-point Likert-type scales. In addition, the purchase intention of two eco-friendly fashion items and 11 attributes of each item were measured by seven-point Likert type scales. Two polyester fleece pullovers, made from fabric created from recycled bottles with the PET identification code, were selected from one Korean brand and one US imported brand among outdoor sportswear brands. A brief description of each product with a color picture was provided in the survey. Demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, marital status, education level, income, occupation) were also included. The data were collected through a professional web survey agency during May 2009. A total of 600 final usable questionnaires were analyzed. The age of respondents ranged from 20 to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 years. Fifty percent of the respondents were males and about 58% were married, and 62% reported having earned university degrees. Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify the underlying dimensions of the clothing disposal behavior scale, and three factors were generated (i.e., reselling behavior, donating behavior, non-recycling behavior). To categorize the respondents on the basis of clothing disposal behaviors, k-mean cluster analysis was used, and three segments were obtained. These consumer segments were labeled as 'Resale Group', 'Donation Group', and 'Non-Recycling Group.' The classification results indicated approximately 98 percent of the original cases were correctly classified. With respect to demographic characteristics among the three segments, significant differences were found in gender, marital status, occupation, and age. LOHAS characteristics were reduced into the following five factors: self-satisfaction, family orientation, health concern, environmental concern, and voluntary service. Significant differences were found in the LOHAS factors among the three clusters. Resale Group and Donation Group showed a similar predisposition to LOHAS issues while the Non-Recycling Group presented the lowest mean scores on the LOHAS factors compared to the other segments. The Resale and Donation Groups described themselves as enjoying or being satisfied with their lives and spending spare-time with family. In addition, these two groups cared about health and organic foods, and tried to conserve energy and resources. Principal components factor analysis generated clothing consumption values into the following three factors: personal values, social value, and practical value. The ANOVA test with the factors showed differences primarily between the Resale Group and the other two groups. The Resale Group was more concerned about personal value and social value than the other segments. In contrast, the Non-Recycling Group presented the higher level of social value than did Donation Group. In a comparison of the intention to purchase eco-friendly products, the Resale Group showed the highest mean score on intent to purchase Product A. On the other hand, the Donation Group presented the highest intention to purchase for Product B among segments. In addition, the mean scores indicated that the Korean product (Product B) was more preferable for purchase than the U.S. product (Product A). Stepwise regression analysis was used to identify the influence of product attributes on the purchase intention of eco product. With respect to Product A, design, price and contribution to environmental preservation were significant to predict purchase intention for the Resale Group, while price and compatibility with my image factors were significant for the Donation Group. For the Non-Recycling Group, design, price compatibility with the factors of my image, participation to eco campaign, and contribution to environmental preservation were significant. Price appropriateness was significant for each of the three clusters. With respect to Product B, design, price and compatibility with my image factors were important, but different attributes were associated significantly with purchase intention for each of the three groups. The influence of LOHAS characteristics and clothing consumption values on intention to purchase Products A and B were also examined. The LOHAS factor of health concern and the personal value factor were significant in the relationships with the purchase intention; however, the explanatory powers were low in the three segments. Findings showed that each group as classified by clothing disposal behaviors showed differences in the attributes of a product, personal values, and the LOHAS characteristics that influenced their purchase intention of eco-friendly products. Findings would enable organizations to understand eco-friendly behavior and to design appropriate strategic decisions to appeal eco-sumers.

Moderating Effect of Lifestyle on Consumer Behavior of Loungewear with Korean Traditional Fashion Design Elements (소비자대함유한국전통시상설계원소적편복적소비행위지우생활방식적조절작용(消费者对含有韩国传统时尚设计元素的便服的消费行为之于生活方式的调节作用))

  • Ko, Eun-Ju;Lee, Jee-Hyun;Kim, Angella Ji-Young;Burns, Leslie Davis
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
    • /
    • v.20 no.1
    • /
    • pp.15-26
    • /
    • 2010
  • Due to the globalization across various industries and cultural trade among many countries, oriental concepts have been attracting world’s attentions. In fashion industry, one's traditional culture is often developed as fashion theme for designers' creation and became strong strategies to stand out among competitors. Because of the increase of preferences for oriental images, opportunities abound to introduce traditional fashion goods and expand culture based business to global fashion markets. However, global fashion brands that include Korean traditional culture are yet to be developed. In order to develop a global fashion brand with Korean taste, it is very important for native citizen to accept their own culture in domestic apparel market prior to expansion into foreign market. Loungewear is evaluated to be appropriate for adopting Korean traditional details into clothing since this wardrobe category embraces various purposes which will easily lead to natural adaptation and wide spread use. Also, this market is seeing an increased demand for multipurpose wardrobes and fashionable underwear (Park et al. 2009). Despite rapid growth in the loungewear market, specific studies of loungewear is rare; and among research on developing modernized-traditional clothing, fashion items and brands do not always include the loungewear category. Therefore, this study investigated the Korean loungewear market and studied consumer evaluation toward loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Relationship among antecedents of purchase intention for Korean traditional fashion design elements were analyzed and compared between lifestyle groups for consumer targeting purposes. Product quality, retail service quality, perceived value, and preference on loungewear with Korean traditional design elements were chosen as antecedents of purchase intention and a structural equation model was designed to examine their relationship as well as their influence on purchase intention. Product quality and retail service quality among marketing mixes were employed as factors affecting preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also effects of preference and perceived value on purchase intention were examined through the same model. A total of 357 self-administered questionnaires were completed by female consumers via web survey system. A questionnaire was developed to measure samples' lifestyle, product and retail service quality as purchasing criteria, perceived value, preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Also, loungewear purchasing and usage behavior were asked as well in order to examine Korean loungewear market status. Data was analyzed through descriptive analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA and structural equation model was tested via AMOS 7.0. As for the result of Korean loungewear market status investigation, loungewear was purchased by most of the consumers in our sample. Loungewear is currently recognized as clothes that are worn at home and consumers are showing comparably low involvement toward loungewear. Most of consumers in this study purchase loungewear only two to three times a year and they spend less than US$10. A total of 12 items and four factors of loungewear consumer lifestyle were found: traditional value oriented lifestyle, brand-affected lifestyle, pursuit of leisure lifestyle, and health oriented lifestyle. Drawing on lifestyle factors, loungewear consumers were classified into two groups; Well-being and Conservative. Relationships among constructs of purchasing behavior related to loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements were estimated. Preference and perceived value of loungewear were affected by both product quality and retail service quality. This study proved that high qualities in product and retail service develop positive preference toward loungewear. Perceived value and preference of loungewear positively influenced purchase intention. The results indicated that high preference and perceived value of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements strengthen purchase intention and proved importance of developing preference and elevate perceived value in order to make sales. In a model comparison between two lifestyle groups: Well-being and Conservative lifestyle groups, results showed that product quality and retail service quality had positive influences on both preference and perceived value in case of Well-being group. However, for Conservative group, only retail service quality had a positive effect on preference and its influence to purchase intention. Since Well-being group showed more significant influence on purchase intention, loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements may want to focus on characteristics of Well-being group. However, Conservative group's relationship between preference and purchase intention of loungewear with Korean traditional fashion design elements was stronger, so that loungewear brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements should focus on creating conservative consumers' positive preference toward loungewear. The results offered information on Korean loungewear consumers' lifestyle and provided useful information for fashion brands that are planning to enter Korean loungewear market, particularly targeting female consumers similar to the sample of the present study. This study offers strategic and marketing insight for loungewear brands and also for fashion brands that are planning to create highly value-added fashion brands with Korean traditional fashion design elements. Considering different types of lifestyle groups that are associated with loungewear or traditional fashion goods, brand managers and marketers can use the results of this paper as a reference to positioning, targeting and marketing strategy buildings.

A study on the gratification of the patient in the Dental Hospital (치과병원 내원환자의 만족도 조사분석)

  • Kim, Min-Young;Lee, Keun-Woo;Moon, Hong-Suk;Chung, Moon-Kyu
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
    • /
    • v.46 no.1
    • /
    • pp.65-82
    • /
    • 2008
  • Statement of problem : Today's market economy has been changed more and more to consumer concerned. It is owing to not only consumers ' rising standard of living and education, but also purchasers' easy accessibilities to products through various mass media. The consumer centered market system, where customer can choose items with diverse alternatives to satisfy their self esteem, is also applied to the field of medical business, and accelerated by an increasing income level of shoppers and introducing the whole nations' medical insurance system. Today, the medical industry has become competitive due to increasing number of medical institutions and medical personnel, and this offers wide choices to consumers in the medical market place. At this point of time, it is essential to survey on the primary factor of gratification for the patient in the Dental clinic, as well as on the problems and suggestions in medical service. Purpose : The analysis in this study shows essential factors and expected influential elements in satisfaction of the patient in the Dental Hopsital, and strategic suggestions for the provider of dental service, which can be of benefit to the prospective customer as well as can make improvement in the quality of dental treatment service. Material and method : This study had been researched by collecting and analyzing the organized questionnaires, which were filled in directly from 784 patients, who visit Dental Hospital, Yonsei University in Seoul, from January 23rd to April 15th. Result : It can be summarized like the followings. 1. The social and demographical peculiarities of respondents are as follows. Samples of gender and marital status are adequately extracted, but data on occupation and treatment are are under a bias toward students, undergraduates and graduate students, and orthodontics. 2. 74% of patients who answer the questionnaire were highly satisfied with the service of dental clinic in the section of overall satisfaction. 3. The survey result about specific service of dental treatment, within sections of independent variables, is like the followings; Patients are highly gratified with service system, kindness, explanation, explanation on expected waiting hours, reservation system, emergency measures, expert treatment, existence of knowledge of dentistry, size of hospital, disinfection, equipment and parking, but lowly satisfied with expense of treatment, preparatory hours for treatment, waiting hours, treatment hours and the period of subscription. 4. The correlation analysis showed that there is no significant linear relationship between the independent variables. 5. The probit regression analysis showed that 8 out of 34 independent variables explained the dependent variables at the level of 0.01. 6. It shows that 8 independent variables, which can affect customers 'satisfaction, are clearing up of inconvenience, service system, kindness, explanation, treatment hours per attendance, reservation system, existence of knowledge of dentistry, and contentment of equipment in the hospital. Conclusion : The consumer's satisfaction totally relies on subjective evaluations of customers. Providing appropriate service, which can meet the criteria for the customer who demands various wares, pursues luxury goods, and expects high quality of medical service, is essential to fulfill patients' satisfaction. Many medical institutions do their best to satisfy their customer, touch their consumer, and offer patience centered services, and it is also applied to the field of dentistry. Establishing brand new strategic managements and elevating the quality of dental service based on this survey are required to improve the satisfaction of patience in the Dental Hospital.

Consumer's Negative Brand Rumor Acceptance and Rumor Diffusion (소비자의 부정적 브랜드 루머의 수용과 확산)

  • Lee, Won-jun;Lee, Han-Suk
    • Asia Marketing Journal
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.65-96
    • /
    • 2012
  • Brand has received much attention from considerable marketing research. When consumers consume product or services, they are exposed to a lot of brand related stimuli. These contain brand personality, brand experience, brand identity, brand communications and so on. A special kind of new crisis occasionally confronting companies' brand management today is the brand related rumor. An important influence on consumers' purchase decision making is the word-of-mouth spread by other consumers and most decisions are influenced by other's recommendations. In light of this influence, firms have reasonable reason to study and understand consumer-to-consumer communication such as brand rumor. The importance of brand rumor to marketers is increasing as the number of internet user and SNS(social network service) site grows. Due to the development of internet technology, people can spread rumors without the limitation of time, space and place. However relatively few studies have been published in marketing journals and little is known about brand rumors in the marketplace. The study of rumor has a long history in all major social science. But very few studies have dealt with the antecedents and consequences of any kind of brand rumor. Rumor has been generally described as a story or statement in general circulation without proper confirmation or certainty as to fact. And it also can be defined as an unconfirmed proposition, passed along from people to people. Rosnow(1991) claimed that rumors were transmitted because people needed to explain ambiguous and uncertain events and talking about them reduced associated anxiety. Especially negative rumors are believed to have the potential to devastate a company's reputation and relations with customers. From the perspective of marketer, negative rumors are considered harmful and extremely difficult to control in general. It is becoming a threat to a company's sustainability and sometimes leads to negative brand image and loss of customers. Thus there is a growing concern that these negative rumors can damage brands' reputations and lead them to financial disaster too. In this study we aimed to distinguish antecedents of brand rumor transmission and investigate the effects of brand rumor characteristics on rumor spread intention. We also found key components in personal acceptance of brand rumor. In contextualist perspective, we tried to unify the traditional psychological and sociological views. In this unified research approach we defined brand rumor's characteristics based on five major variables that had been found to influence the process of rumor spread intention. The five factors of usefulness, source credibility, message credibility, worry, and vividness, encompass multi level elements of brand rumor. We also selected product involvement as a control variable. To perform the empirical research, imaginary Korean 'Kimch' brand and related contamination rumor was created and proposed. Questionnaires were collected from 178 Korean samples. Data were collected from college students who have been experienced the focal product. College students were regarded as good subjects because they have a tendency to express their opinions in detail. PLS(partial least square) method was adopted to analyze the relations between variables in the equation model. The most widely adopted causal modeling method is LISREL. However it is poorly suited to deal with relatively small data samples and can yield not proper solutions in some cases. PLS has been developed to avoid some of these limitations and provide more reliable results. To test the reliability using SPSS 16 s/w, Cronbach alpha was examined and all the values were appropriate showing alpha values between .802 and .953. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted successfully. And structural equation modeling has been used to analyze the research model using smartPLS(ver. 2.0) s/w. Overall, R2 of adoption of rumor is .476 and R2 of intention of rumor transmission is .218. The overall model showed a satisfactory fit. The empirical results can be summarized as follows. According to the results, the variables of brand rumor characteristic such as source credibility, message credibility, worry, and vividness affect argument strength of rumor. And argument strength of rumor also affects rumor intention. On the other hand, the relationship between perceived usefulness and argument strength of rumor is not significant. The moderating effect of product involvement on the relations between argument strength of rumor and rumor W.O.M intention is not supported neither. Consequently this study suggests some managerial and academic implications. We consider some implications for corporate crisis management planning, PR and brand management. This results show marketers that rumor is a critical factor for managing strong brand assets. Also for researchers, brand rumor should become an important thesis of their interests to understand the relationship between consumer and brand. Recently many brand managers and marketers have focused on the short-term view. They just focused on strengthen the positive brand image. According to this study we suggested that effective brand management requires managing negative brand rumors with a long-term view of marketing decisions.

  • PDF