bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Communicating healthy eating to adolescents
Authors: Chan Kara , Prendergast Gerard , Grønhøj Alice , Bech‐Larsen Tino 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis study aims to explore perceptions of healthy/unhealthy eating, and perceptions of various socializing agents encouraging healthy eating, amongst Chinese adolescents.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted of 152 seventh, eighth and ninth grade Hong Kong students. A structured questionnaire with closed‐ended questions was distributed in three public secondary schools.FindingsResults showed that respondents frequently ate out with friends and frequently consumed a range of relatively unhealthy food (candies, chips, and soft drinks). They perceived that a balanced diet and eating at a regular time were the most important attributes of healthy eating. In terms of situational influences on their consumption, respondents most likely ate unhealthy food at parties, when eating out or with friends. They most likely ate healthy food at home and when they were sick. Looking at socializing agents, respondents claimed that parents and government publicity asked them to eat healthy food more often than teachers or friends. Parents were also perceived as being the most effective source in encouraging them to eat healthy food. In terms of alternative advertising appeals discouraging unhealthy eating, respondents considered news and fear appeals to be the most effective, while popularity and achievement appeals were considered to be relatively less effective.Research limitations/implicationsThe respondents were chosen from three secondary schools (two co‐ed schools and one school for boys). These three schools may not be representative of all schools in Hong Kong or elsewhere, thus limiting the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe study can serve as a guideline for social services marketing professionals targeting adolescents. Looking at the findings in relation to socializing agents, social services marketers can consider influencing the adolescents' eating habits through the parents. As government publicity was perceived as a relatively weak socializing agent, there is a need to review health education materials targeting adolescents. Looking at the findings in relation to different advertising appeals discouraging unhealthy eating, news and fear appeals should be considered, as these were considered relatively more likeable and effective than other types of appeals.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into designing communication strategies for adolescents. It is original in that it focuses on adolescents, and explores the perceptions of various socializing agents influencing healthy eating.
Devil wears (counterfeit) Prada: a study of antecedents and outcomes of attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands
Authors: Phau Ian , Teah Min 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper sets out to examine how social and personality factors influence Chinese consumers' attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands and how these two sets of variables influence purchase intention. It provides a profile of buyers and non‐buyers of counterfeits of luxury brands.Design/methodology/approachA self‐administered questionnaire was designed using established scales. A survey was conducted in downtown Shanghai through the “mall intercept” method. A variety of statistical techniques were used to analyze the data.FindingsStatus consumption and integrity are strong influencers of purchase intention, whereas normative susceptibility, information susceptibility, personal gratification, value consciousness, and novelty seeking had weaker influencing relationships. The attitude towards counterfeits of luxury brands is found to influence purchase intention. Collectivism does not influence attitudes nor purchase intentions towards counterfeits of luxury brands.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to Chinese consumers in Shanghai, which cannot be generalized across the whole of China or other international markets. Further, only luxury brands are considered. Other cultural contexts and product categories should be investigated in the future.Practical implicationsThe research provides an in‐depth understanding of Chinese consumers' attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. The research findings can be used to formulate strategies for academia, practitioners and, more importantly, policy makers to help eradicate, or at the very least curb, counterfeiting activities.Originality/valueThe majority of previous studies focused on counterfeiting and piracy of music and other optical media, whereas this paper focused exclusively on luxury brands. Status consumption is also added as an antecedent towards attitudes and purchase intention of counterfeits.
Two dimensions of attribute importance
Authors: Smith Russell , Deppa Brant 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis study aims to consider how the consumer ascribes importance to attributes that define a given product or service consumption experience relative to the extent that they contribute to satisfaction. Two separate dimensions of attribute importance are conceptualized, contrary to the more common view that there exists only a single form of importance. A hypothesis of how each type of importance changes throughout a consumption event is constructed in order to illustrate the nature of each importance dimension and how they operate in tandem.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data taken from tourists who were asked to evaluate attributes describing a travel destination are used to illustrate how each type of importance changes.FindingsChanges in each type of attribute importance occurred as predicted. Evidence indicates that the differences between the two types of attribute importance diminish as the consumption experience unfolds.Research limitations/implicationsIn addition to validating the theoretical underpinnings of this conceptualization of attribute importance, the study illustrates the usefulness of a framework developed to measure each type of importance.Practical implicationsImportance performance analyses, commonly used by organizations to evaluate and improve product and service performance, should recognize and incorporate these two separate types of attribute importance.Originality/valueThe study provides a new conceptualization of attribute importance.
Increasing elder consumer interactions with information technology
Authors: Hough Michelle , Kobylanski Andrzej 
Published: January 2009

PurposeAdvances in health care are enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Although the use of information technology can improve the quality of life for the elderly, many older consumers choose to limit their interactions with information technology and so may be denied its potential benefits for enhancing quality of life. This paper seeks to explore factors impacting the engagement of consumers aged 65 and older with higher forms of IT, primarily PCs and the internet, and to examine the potential effectiveness of marketing methods toward improving diffusion and increasing engagement.Design/methodology/approachCiting published research and using previously known models (TAM and Trocchia and Janda's interaction themes) the study highlights possible ways of using marketing tools to increase elder consumer interaction with IT.FindingsMarketers should focus efforts on reference group affiliation, nature of social relations, perception of reality, and physical dexterity as the interaction themes on which to focus marketing efforts, because they seem to be a most effective mechanism for influencing engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper represents an initial attempt to identify potential influences toward increasing the IT adoption by elder consumers. It presents a theoretical framework for the future investigation of the diagnosed problem: what are the ways of successfully influencing the adoption of information technology by older consumers by using traditional components of marketing mix (product, price, promotion, and place)?Originality/valueIn the fast pace of technology advancement and the potential for assistance for elder members of society, the paper discusses how to market the use of IT to consumers aged 65 and older and considers the factors that could be related to product, price, place, and promotion in this context.
Shopping for loyalty: an executive's wish list
Authors: Kerr Bruce 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a blueprint for loyalty strategy development, and to inform the reader of the basic and not so basic elements that should be considered by companies, academics and executives when determining the future effectiveness and success of a customer loyalty program.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on author expertise and know‐how, as well as past experiences and market trends, to present a compelling review of necessary elements for a customer relationship program.FindingsBefore embarking on a loyalty program design companies should be wise to set long‐ and short‐term goals to drive the initial strategy. One should avoid launching a “me too” program by differentiating from one's close competitors. Implement a strategy from top to bottom across the organization. Data and customer engagement are the most important elements to foster.Practical implicationsA well‐planned and executed loyalty strategy can boost growth in incremental sales, increase in‐store traffic, drive higher impact from promotions and significantly boost overall revenues. Customer relationship marketing can also lead to richer data insights about current customers and high‐value potential customers.Originality/valueAn executive with decades of experience building and maintaining customer loyalty programs cites trends for the future of the loyalty discipline.
Society for Scholarly Publishing 30th Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, May 28‐30, 2008
Authors: Bowering Mullen Laura 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the Society for Scholarly Publishing's 30th Annual MeetingDesign/methodology/approachConference reportFindingsThe meeting was an informative and welcoming event for any librarian interested in finding out what is happening in the world publishingOriginality/valueProvides a report on the Society for Scholarly Publishing's 30th Annual Meeting, which will help to promote dialogue and learning.
Libraries as learning organisations: implications for knowledge management
Authors: Jain Priti , Mutula Stephen 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of thi s paper is to describe how libraries are under increasing pressure to become learning organisations for better knowledge management and to cultivate a culture of continuing learning to cope with both current and future changes in the organisations in which they exist.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review and authors” experiences in academic libraries in east and southern Africa.FindingsLearning organisations” role includes knowledge creation, sharing and dissemination and the ability to effectively operate in an increasingly digital environment.Practical implicationsAcademic libraries are undergoing tremendous transformations due in part to new technologies, customer expectations, competitive pressures, evolving knowledge‐intensive organisations, and the changing roles of librarians. Academic libraries can be considered as learning organisations involved in intensive generation of knowledge and must operate competitively in order to satisfy customer needs and be able to deal with the challenges and opportunities of the digital environment.Originality/valueAcademic libraries have long been acknowledged as the heart of the institution in which they reside. As a result, they are confronted with challenges and opportunities in the digital environment which they must fully understand as learning organisations in order to redefine and effectively perform their roles.
Perceptions of library and information science professionals about a National Digital Library programme
Authors: Fatima Warraich Nosheen , Ameen Kanwal 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the perceptions of library and information science professionals regarding a national digital library programme in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates the perceptions of LIS Professionals regarding the usage and satisfaction of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) National Digital Library (NDL) databases. This program provides free access to electronic resources including 30 full text databases with access to 24,000 peer reviewed online journals and e‐books to universities and non‐profitable research and development organizations in Pakistan. The study utilized an online survey, group interviews, and observations. Seventy‐five respondents from 40 institutions responded to the survey.FindingsThe findings reveal that younger professionals showed greater interest in the use of databases. A majority of users accessed these databases from the HEC website. Respondents were more satisfied with electronic journals and least satisfied with e‐books. The study also showed that the resources of the HEC NDL are underutilized and increased promotion and training is needed.Originality/valueThis study will be helpful for universities regarding the use of digital resources.
Reforms on teachers' employment system and children's rights to education in China
Authors: Niu Zhikui 
Published: January 2009

PurposeBy reviewing the related literature on the Jiaoshi Pinren Zhi (JPZ) system, this paper seeks to indicate that the implementation of JPZ not only has led to domestic brain drain and the imbalance of teachers' qualities between different areas and schools, but also has violated children's equal rights to education guaranteed by the Constitution and educational laws in PR China.Design/methodology/approachBy analysing national policies and laws and some cases, the paper points out that the reforms on teachers' employment causes the imbalance of teachers' qualities between different areas and schools and it is against the principle of children's equal rights to education guaranteed by the Constitution and some educational laws in China.FindingsSince the late 1980s, many reform initiatives have been launched in the context of the transition from planned economy to market economy in China.Originality/valueThe reforms on the teachers' employment system from “Tongyi Fenpei” (TF, a system of unified placement for all graduates) and the life‐time employment system to JPZ (a free contract employment system) is one of the important reform initiatives.
The effects of university mergers in China since 1990s
Authors: Mao Ya‐qing , Du Yuan , Liu Jing‐juan 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discover and better understand the efficiency of university mergers from the perspective of knowledge production, with the research capability as the point of contact.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 20 colleges and universities directly under the central ministries that merged in 2000 were taken as the research samples. Factor analysis methods are adopted to calculate the public factor scores, which were taken as the basis of the time series analysis and similar comparative analysis.FindingsThe results indicated that, by the end of 2005, the reform of universities merger has a positive impact on the universities' knowledge production, but there was a “short‐term prosperity” after the merger happened, especially in the aspect of scientific research funding efficiency and the transformation of knowledge production outcomes.Originality/valueFew if any mergers are painless and in the literature on mergers it is generally agreed that it can take up to ten years for the wounds to heal and for the new institution forged from previously autonomous identities to operate as a cohesive and well integrated whole.
Efficiency of primary schools in Beijing, China: an evaluation by data envelopment analysis
Authors: Hu Yongmei , Zhang Zhi , Liang Wenyan 
Published: January 2009

PurposeUnder the new policy framework, the China Government will substantially increase education resources investment. As a result, financial under‐provision of schools will not be the main problem in the near future. However, school efficiency will emerge as the new factor in attracting the attention of the government and the public in China, which is also one of the important fields of Education Economics research.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate a sample of 58 primary schools in six districts in Beijing, hoping to find the solutions to school efficiency improvement as a result of under‐adequate investment.FindingsIn the years to come, the central government of China will continue to enhance transferring payment from the exchequer. The education input will be assured accordingly. However, if schools run under low efficiency, the education resources will not be well used and sustainability of elementary education will not be assured.Originality/valueIn light of the research purpose and the limited data, there has been no in‐depth discussion of the impact of, for example, families' social status, district development disparity, social cultural influence and history context. Obviously, considering more factors which may affect school efficiency will help to find the best solution for the public education sector of government.
Principal preparation and training: a look at China and its issues
Authors: Yan Wu , Catherine Ehrich Lisa 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of principal preparation and training in China by providing a background discussion of principal preparation in a number of countries. As an illustration, it provides an overview of the curriculum used in the initial preparation of school principals at Beijing Normal University.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws mainly on writing and research from China, Australia and the USA to explore principal preparation and training in China.FindingsIn addition to providing a rich description of principal preparation in China, the paper's main findings comprise seven key challenges that confront China as it endeavours to provide quality principal preparation. These challenges include China's diversity and uneven social, cultural and educational development; limited resources in some regions throughout China; the place and importance of study tours for principal preparation; the teaching approach used to train principals; the process used for assessing principal learning during their training programs; the limited transfer of learning from the classroom to the school environment; and the timing of training for principals.Practical implicationsEach of the challenges arising here raises important practical implications for developers of principal training programs.Originality/valueThe paper paints a picture of principal preparation in China and raises a number of issues and challenges with which it continues to grapple. Of note is that China is not alone in facing some of these ongoing concerns.
Hong Kong educational reforms in the last decade: reform syndrome and new developments
Authors: Cheong Cheng Yin 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the reform syndrome, bottle‐neck effects and their impacts on teachers and school education in the last ten years and highlight the direction of new developments.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines educational reforms in Hong Kong in the last decade.FindingsEchoing the international trends of educational reforms, Hong Kong, as an international city, has initiated a series of educational reforms in the past decades. The experiences of educational reforms in Hong Kong may provide a good case for understanding the dynamics of educational reforms and drawing theoretical and practical implications for research, policy formulation and implementation not only in Hong Kong but also in other international communities.Originality/valueFrom the analysis of the reform syndrome, particularly the bottle‐neck effect, there should be seven key aspects for policy‐makers, educators and stakeholders in Hong Kong to address the emergent key issues in educational reforms and work for the further development of their education system in the coming few years.
Realistic expectations: accounting for young people's progress in training programmes
Authors: Devanney Carol 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to communicate the challenges and tensions faced by front‐line workers in negotiating the demands of performance targets and those of the young people they work with.Design/methodology/approachAn in‐depth study, over a two‐year period, of a number of training programmes combining participant observation and qualitative directed data collection.FindingsWorkers need to be sensitive to young people's previous educational experiences and social context while encouraging participation in education‐based work. Personal problems had to be addressed if progress towards the target of education, employment or training was to be achieved. Effective programmes rely on the front‐line workers but systems of accountability do not recognise the breadth of this work in handling the wider personal situations of young people. The role of training programmes needs to be better understood within this wider socio‐economic context.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is of a small number of training programmes so it is not possible to generalise from the findings. A limitation of the paper is that the ethical, moral and practical implications of the study are not explored.Practical implicationsThis paper extends our understanding of the complexity involved in the delivery of training programmes for young people.Originality/valueProviding practitioners working in training settings with an account of the work which may address some of the criticisms often levelled at them. It has potential value to inform policy development, implementation and future forms of accountability.
The new GP contract in English primary health care: an ethnographic study
Authors: McDonald Ruth , Checkland Kath , Harrison Steve 
Published: January 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of contracts on general practise in the UK National Health Service. In particular, it is concerned with the response of practitioners to the apparent flexibilities offered in the new contract with its focus on outcomes rather than processes.Design/methodology/approachEthnographic studies of two general practices, using non‐participant observation, documents and interviews with staff over a five‐month period.FindingsConclusions suggest that the new contracts, far from encouraging flexibility and responsiveness from general practitioners, have tended to strengthen bureaucratic forms in the way the contract is implemented.Originality/valueThe new contract has introduced greater clarity regarding roles and responsibilities within practises. At the same time, when operating in financially tight conditions, the contract can make rationing more explicit. Decisions are made not in accordance with the targets but in light of local pressures and constraints, causing tensions between primary and tertiary care.