title: An Assessment of Contemporary Dining Out Behaviour: The Moderating Factors of Culture and Food Selection within Chinese Full-Service Restaurants in Shanghai, China

authors: Zhang, LingHao

subjects: Dining Out Behaviour

abstract: Shanghai can be described as metropolitan, a gateway, a hub of international traffic and a multi-cultural city. Given these facts, it can be expected that the Shanghai population is comprised of people from not only different regions of China, but also from other countries. It is been asserted by many researchers (e.g. Bojanic and Xu, 2006) that culture affects one’s dining behavior and people are subject to the influence of other cultures. Shanghai, as a place with a population of mixed cultural background, is therefore an ideal research subject for this study. The main purpose of this study is to understand the dining out behaviour of Shanghai residents in Chinese full-service restaurants in Shanghai, China. This study seeks to understand how other cultures have integrated into the Shanghai culture and how that affects the dining habits of Shanghai people. The study proposes that different people are subject to different levels of acculturation. Past research in the hospitality field indicates that the level of acculturation may affect the food practices and preferences of an individual (Sukalakamala and Brittin, 2006; Maamoun et al, 2007; Kremmyda, et al., 2008). However, most studies about acculturation affecting food habits focus on how people adapt themselves when they move overseas (e.g. Chinese people living in the USA). Little attention has been attributed to studying acculturation within the same country, which is important since people may exhibit different behaviour even within the same culture (Chang, 1979). Therefore, it is the intention of this study to contribute to what is a gap in the literature. This study collected 2103 responses from 42 Chinese full-service restaurants in Shanghai. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. The techniques that this study relied on to analyse the data included statistical computer software AMO S (structural equation modelling), CATPAC (artificial neural network software), SPSS 16.0 which was used for frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA, factor analysis and cluster analysis. Results indicate that culture is a strong predictor of Shanghai people’s dining out behaviour, which includes their motives, restaurant choice, food choice and dining evaluation. It is also evident that Shanghai people are showing a growing awareness towards health food.

text: An Assessment of Contemporary Dining Out Behaviour: The Moderating Factors of Culture and Food Selection within Chinese Full-Service Restaurants in Shanghai, China Shanghai can be described as metropolitan, a gateway, a hub of international traffic and a multi-cultural city. Given these facts, it can be expected that the Shanghai population is comprised of people from not only different regions of China, but also from other countries. It is been asserted by many researchers (e.g. Bojanic and Xu, 2006) that culture affects one’s dining behavior and people are subject to the influence of other cultures. Shanghai, as a place with a population of mixed cultural background, is therefore an ideal research subject for this study. The main purpose of this study is to understand the dining out behaviour of Shanghai residents in Chinese full-service restaurants in Shanghai, China. This study seeks to understand how other cultures have integrated into the Shanghai culture and how that affects the dining habits of Shanghai people. The study proposes that different people are subject to different levels of acculturation. Past research in the hospitality field indicates that the level of acculturation may affect the food practices and preferences of an individual (Sukalakamala and Brittin, 2006; Maamoun et al, 2007; Kremmyda, et al., 2008). However, most studies about acculturation affecting food habits focus on how people adapt themselves when they move overseas (e.g. Chinese people living in the USA). Little attention has been attributed to studying acculturation within the same country, which is important since people may exhibit different behaviour even within the same culture (Chang, 1979). Therefore, it is the intention of this study to contribute to what is a gap in the literature. This study collected 2103 responses from 42 Chinese full-service restaurants in Shanghai. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. The techniques that this study relied on to analyse the data included statistical computer software AMO S (structural equation modelling), CATPAC (artificial neural network software), SPSS 16.0 which was used for frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA, factor analysis and cluster analysis. Results indicate that culture is a strong predictor of Shanghai people’s dining out behaviour, which includes their motives, restaurant choice, food choice and dining evaluation. It is also evident that Shanghai people are showing a growing awareness towards health food.

year: 2011

title: Precision horticulture - Helping make better orchard management decisions

authors: Hull, Graeme George

abstract: Horticultural production is becoming more complicated and consumers are becoming more demanding. Precision horticulture is the natural extension of precision agriculture, which has been widely applied in broad-acre production systems such as corn farming for many years. Precision horticulture considers both spatial and temporal variability at reasonably small scales when making orchard management decisions. Remote sensing tools such as multi-spectrum cameras together with computer support tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are key to collecting and analysing large amounts of information in a timely and cost-effective way. In the near future, growers will likely be able to create and use near-real-time canopy maps to help them make better management decisions.

text: Precision horticulture - Helping make better orchard management decisions Horticultural production is becoming more complicated and consumers are becoming more demanding. Precision horticulture is the natural extension of precision agriculture, which has been widely applied in broad-acre production systems such as corn farming for many years. Precision horticulture considers both spatial and temporal variability at reasonably small scales when making orchard management decisions. Remote sensing tools such as multi-spectrum cameras together with computer support tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are key to collecting and analysing large amounts of information in a timely and cost-effective way. In the near future, growers will likely be able to create and use near-real-time canopy maps to help them make better management decisions.

year: 2016

title: Māori Women and Gambling: Every Day is a War Day!

authors: Morrison, Laurie Elena

subjects: Maori

abstract: This study was concerned with the health implications of new forms of gambling such as casinos, pokie machines and internet gambling for Māori women and their families in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty region of Aotearoa (New Zealand). It set out to discover what culturally appropriate services were available and the extent to which Māori women gamblers were utilising them. The literature documenting Māori perceptions of gambling shows that Māori women gamblers and their partner/whānau members and gambling service providers have been little studied previously.
These goals translated into the following specific aims: 1) to study how Māori women problem gamblers, their partner or whānau members and key informants perceived gambling, what it meant to them and why they did it; 2) to investigate the consequences of gambling for Māori women, whānau and service providers in dealing with the effects of gambling; 3) to report on how these three groups dealt with the effects of gambling; and 4) to discover what helped to bring about positive changes for the three groups.
 All of the aims were achieved. 
A Māori approach (Kaupapa Māori), combined with a naturalistic approach to data collection, was adopted. Qualitative methods are most appropriate to use when working with some Māori, as there is a growing realisation that research with Māori needs to be interactive. A Māori research procedure modelled on the ritual ceremony of encounter (Pōwhiri) provided an appropriate structure for the development and presentation of the research process. The major focus was on the qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews in two locations - Rotorua and Auckland. The interviews were conducted with twenty Māori women gamblers, sixteen whānau members including partners and ten interviews with staff involved in services that provided help for problem gamblers. The three interview schedules were based on a number of broad themes and open-ended questions to obtain meaningful descriptive data. The interviews were audio recorded and used to produce transcripts that were then sent back to the participants for feedback. Qualitative data analysis was conducted on the returned documents. 
The findings from this study revealed major impacts of the women's socio-economic, familial and societal circumstances on gambling behaviour and its effects, which are areas of concern for mental health professionals and researchers. The mythical Māori canoes on which Māori voyaged from their place of origin (Hawaiiki) to Aotearoa, the Waka, provided an appropriate metaphor to present the interrelationship between the pull and push factors toward gambling, and its implications for society. This is illustrated as a spinning waka, Te Waka Hūrihuri. On the other hand, Te Waka Māia (courageous) demonstrates the relationships between the variables that help Māori women gamblers to cope and helpful strategies found to assist them to modify or stop their gambling behaviour. It is recommended that the government limit the proliferation of gaming venues and continue to encourage development of emerging Māori services. Moreover, a coordinated approach is essential, as Māori women gamblers, partners and whānau members need to heal together for positive outcomes for Māori health development in Aotearoa. 
The main implication of this study is that a wide range of further research into Māori and gambling is required. Recommendations on ways in which the current delivery of services in Rotorua and Auckland could be improved are:
 	That the Ministry of Health purchase services that establish support groups for Māori people with problem gambling and their whānau, and
 	That non-Māori provider services and organisations support the development of emerging Māori services.
Heeding the outcome of this research should help improve New Zealand's existing health policy and capacity for Māori women's health development. It should also enrich our understanding of the adaptation patterns of Māori whānau member/s, and thus should have implications, not only for Māori health policies, but also relevance for the wider field of international cross-comparative research on indigenous gambling and mental health issues.  Limitations of this study included a small, localised sample that means the findings can only tentatively be generalised to the wider population of Māori women gamblers. Nonetheless, information gained from the study contributes to understanding of the adaptation patterns of Māori women gamblers, their whānau member/s, and those who are trying to help them.  It is hoped that the study will make it at least a little less true that  every day is a war day  for Māori women and their whānau trying to deal with the problem of gambling.

text: Māori Women and Gambling: Every Day is a War Day! This study was concerned with the health implications of new forms of gambling such as casinos, pokie machines and internet gambling for Māori women and their families in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty region of Aotearoa (New Zealand). It set out to discover what culturally appropriate services were available and the extent to which Māori women gamblers were utilising them. The literature documenting Māori perceptions of gambling shows that Māori women gamblers and their partner/whānau members and gambling service providers have been little studied previously.
These goals translated into the following specific aims: 1) to study how Māori women problem gamblers, their partner or whānau members and key informants perceived gambling, what it meant to them and why they did it; 2) to investigate the consequences of gambling for Māori women, whānau and service providers in dealing with the effects of gambling; 3) to report on how these three groups dealt with the effects of gambling; and 4) to discover what helped to bring about positive changes for the three groups.
 All of the aims were achieved. 
A Māori approach (Kaupapa Māori), combined with a naturalistic approach to data collection, was adopted. Qualitative methods are most appropriate to use when working with some Māori, as there is a growing realisation that research with Māori needs to be interactive. A Māori research procedure modelled on the ritual ceremony of encounter (Pōwhiri) provided an appropriate structure for the development and presentation of the research process. The major focus was on the qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews in two locations - Rotorua and Auckland. The interviews were conducted with twenty Māori women gamblers, sixteen whānau members including partners and ten interviews with staff involved in services that provided help for problem gamblers. The three interview schedules were based on a number of broad themes and open-ended questions to obtain meaningful descriptive data. The interviews were audio recorded and used to produce transcripts that were then sent back to the participants for feedback. Qualitative data analysis was conducted on the returned documents. 
The findings from this study revealed major impacts of the women's socio-economic, familial and societal circumstances on gambling behaviour and its effects, which are areas of concern for mental health professionals and researchers. The mythical Māori canoes on which Māori voyaged from their place of origin (Hawaiiki) to Aotearoa, the Waka, provided an appropriate metaphor to present the interrelationship between the pull and push factors toward gambling, and its implications for society. This is illustrated as a spinning waka, Te Waka Hūrihuri. On the other hand, Te Waka Māia (courageous) demonstrates the relationships between the variables that help Māori women gamblers to cope and helpful strategies found to assist them to modify or stop their gambling behaviour. It is recommended that the government limit the proliferation of gaming venues and continue to encourage development of emerging Māori services. Moreover, a coordinated approach is essential, as Māori women gamblers, partners and whānau members need to heal together for positive outcomes for Māori health development in Aotearoa. 
The main implication of this study is that a wide range of further research into Māori and gambling is required. Recommendations on ways in which the current delivery of services in Rotorua and Auckland could be improved are:
 	That the Ministry of Health purchase services that establish support groups for Māori people with problem gambling and their whānau, and
 	That non-Māori provider services and organisations support the development of emerging Māori services.
Heeding the outcome of this research should help improve New Zealand's existing health policy and capacity for Māori women's health development. It should also enrich our understanding of the adaptation patterns of Māori whānau member/s, and thus should have implications, not only for Māori health policies, but also relevance for the wider field of international cross-comparative research on indigenous gambling and mental health issues.  Limitations of this study included a small, localised sample that means the findings can only tentatively be generalised to the wider population of Māori women gamblers. Nonetheless, information gained from the study contributes to understanding of the adaptation patterns of Māori women gamblers, their whānau member/s, and those who are trying to help them.  It is hoped that the study will make it at least a little less true that  every day is a war day  for Māori women and their whānau trying to deal with the problem of gambling.

year: 2008