title: Perceptions of Chinese traditional food and European food among Chinese consumers

authors: Wang, Ou

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore Chinese consumers’ perceptions in relation to both Chinese traditional and European food.

Design/methodology/approach
A web-based free word association test was administered to 302 consumers in China. They were asked to give the first three words that came into their minds when they were presented with each of two stimulus words, “traditional food” and “European food”. Three researchers grouped the elicited words into classes and then into dimensions. χ2 association tests were used to assess and identify statistically significant differences in the frequencies of classes and dimensions for the two food concepts between socio-demographic groups.

Findings
The findings show that Chinese consumers define Chinese traditional food and European food through ten similar dimensions: Sensory appeal, Health, Origin, Marketing, Safety, Variety, Heritage, Symbolic meaning, Simplicity and Mood. Additionally, they associate Chinese traditional food with the dimensions Elaboration, Celebration and Habit, as well as link European food to the dimensions Convenience and New. Although ten dimensions are the same, obvious differences can be identified by comparing the classes for the two food concepts. Further, there are significant differences in the class associations for European food between age groups and in the dimension associations for Chinese traditional food between gender groups.

Originality/value
By using an online qualitative research method, this study is one of the first to address how Chinese consumers define both European food and their own traditional food in China, the largest East Asian country. The findings are particularly useful for the future development of traditional food products and for the future export of European food products onto China and even other countries in East Asia.

text: Perceptions of Chinese traditional food and European food among Chinese consumers Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore Chinese consumers’ perceptions in relation to both Chinese traditional and European food.

Design/methodology/approach
A web-based free word association test was administered to 302 consumers in China. They were asked to give the first three words that came into their minds when they were presented with each of two stimulus words, “traditional food” and “European food”. Three researchers grouped the elicited words into classes and then into dimensions. χ2 association tests were used to assess and identify statistically significant differences in the frequencies of classes and dimensions for the two food concepts between socio-demographic groups.

Findings
The findings show that Chinese consumers define Chinese traditional food and European food through ten similar dimensions: Sensory appeal, Health, Origin, Marketing, Safety, Variety, Heritage, Symbolic meaning, Simplicity and Mood. Additionally, they associate Chinese traditional food with the dimensions Elaboration, Celebration and Habit, as well as link European food to the dimensions Convenience and New. Although ten dimensions are the same, obvious differences can be identified by comparing the classes for the two food concepts. Further, there are significant differences in the class associations for European food between age groups and in the dimension associations for Chinese traditional food between gender groups.

Originality/value
By using an online qualitative research method, this study is one of the first to address how Chinese consumers define both European food and their own traditional food in China, the largest East Asian country. The findings are particularly useful for the future development of traditional food products and for the future export of European food products onto China and even other countries in East Asia.

year: 2016

title: Theoretical study of electronic absorption spectra and photodissociation dynamics of atmospherically relevant molecules

authors: Farahani, Sara

subjects: spectra simulation

abstract: The absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric species and the corresponding photoinduced processes, define the chemistry of a planet's atmosphere. While many of these photoinduced processes and their effects are well- known, even in Earth's atmosphere there are gaps in our understanding. The focus of this thesis is the theoretical study of the absorption of sunlight by some important atmospheric species where no or minimal experimental results are available. We simulate electronic absorption spectra of atmospherically relevant sulfur-containing molecules, including sulfuric acid, which is present in Earths' atmosphere and OSSO, which was recently identified in the atmosphere of Venus. We also simulate electronic absorption spectra for a series of N₂O complexes thought to be present in Earth's atmosphere, namely Ar-N₂O, N₂O-N₂, O₂-N₂O and H₂O-N₂O. We consider how complexation affects the absorption cross section of N₂O monomer in these complexes and also undertake photodissociation dynamics simulations for the H₂O-N₂O complex. Where possible, we compare and validate our theoretical results with experiment, and in the absence of experimental data, we suggest that our results may be of use to the atmospheric modeling community.

text: Theoretical study of electronic absorption spectra and photodissociation dynamics of atmospherically relevant molecules The absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric species and the corresponding photoinduced processes, define the chemistry of a planet's atmosphere. While many of these photoinduced processes and their effects are well- known, even in Earth's atmosphere there are gaps in our understanding. The focus of this thesis is the theoretical study of the absorption of sunlight by some important atmospheric species where no or minimal experimental results are available. We simulate electronic absorption spectra of atmospherically relevant sulfur-containing molecules, including sulfuric acid, which is present in Earths' atmosphere and OSSO, which was recently identified in the atmosphere of Venus. We also simulate electronic absorption spectra for a series of N₂O complexes thought to be present in Earth's atmosphere, namely Ar-N₂O, N₂O-N₂, O₂-N₂O and H₂O-N₂O. We consider how complexation affects the absorption cross section of N₂O monomer in these complexes and also undertake photodissociation dynamics simulations for the H₂O-N₂O complex. Where possible, we compare and validate our theoretical results with experiment, and in the absence of experimental data, we suggest that our results may be of use to the atmospheric modeling community.

year: 2019

title: What are the perceptions of Māori bilingual-educated families towards growing up and learning the Māori language?

authors: Hill, Richard Kenneth

abstract: The Māori language occupies an important place as New Zealand’s indigenous language. This is despite over a century  of attempts  to wipe it out. The revitalisation movement from the 1980s has made a significant contribution to raise its profile and ensure younger generations of primarily Māori students can grow up learning the Māori language through school. However, significant issues still exist, as low numbers of families take advantage of bilingual education options, and remain there to develop high levels of proficiency.


Attitudes of both Māori and non-Māori (Pākehā) populations towards the Māori language have been steadily improving in recent decades. There are increasing calls to make it a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools. Whilst these are positive signs, the long term health of the Māori language is still precarious. Using the findings of recent studies into Māori bilingual school transitions, including Hill, Rameka and Skerrett (2017) and Hill (2014, 2016, 2017), this presentation seeks to unpack the perceptions of Māori students and their families from a range of programmes towards their languages (Māori and English) and their lives. The findings will illustrate that families within the Māori bilingual education context are enthusiastic about  Māori language learning and being educated bilingually. They are also resolute that bilingual education will help to prepare their children  for their world. However,  families often differ in the extent to which they commit to high immersion programmes, thus affecting the potential success of the Māori language revitalisation aim.

text: What are the perceptions of Māori bilingual-educated families towards growing up and learning the Māori language? The Māori language occupies an important place as New Zealand’s indigenous language. This is despite over a century  of attempts  to wipe it out. The revitalisation movement from the 1980s has made a significant contribution to raise its profile and ensure younger generations of primarily Māori students can grow up learning the Māori language through school. However, significant issues still exist, as low numbers of families take advantage of bilingual education options, and remain there to develop high levels of proficiency.


Attitudes of both Māori and non-Māori (Pākehā) populations towards the Māori language have been steadily improving in recent decades. There are increasing calls to make it a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools. Whilst these are positive signs, the long term health of the Māori language is still precarious. Using the findings of recent studies into Māori bilingual school transitions, including Hill, Rameka and Skerrett (2017) and Hill (2014, 2016, 2017), this presentation seeks to unpack the perceptions of Māori students and their families from a range of programmes towards their languages (Māori and English) and their lives. The findings will illustrate that families within the Māori bilingual education context are enthusiastic about  Māori language learning and being educated bilingually. They are also resolute that bilingual education will help to prepare their children  for their world. However,  families often differ in the extent to which they commit to high immersion programmes, thus affecting the potential success of the Māori language revitalisation aim.

year: 2018