Tong Chen, Gnel Gabrielyan, Mitsuru Shimizu and Ping Qing
The purpose of this research is to investigate how biofortification claims impact consumer food taste inference and purchase intention. Based on the halo effect, the authors…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to investigate how biofortification claims impact consumer food taste inference and purchase intention. Based on the halo effect, the authors propose that food products with biofortification claims are inferred to taste better than regular foods. Due to this inference, biofortification claims subsequently improve purchase intention.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine these predictions, the authors conducted three between-subject design lab experiments featuring three staple foods: corn soup (β-carotene biofortification claim present or not), cooked rice (zinc biofortification claim present or not) and uncooked rice (zinc biofortification claim present or not). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two bioproduction claim conditions (present vs absent). Then, taste inference, purchase intention, consumer characteristics and confounding variables were measured.
Findings
In Experiment 1, the results showed that biofortification claims indeed appeared to evoke a heuristic halo effect, in which foods with biofortification claims were inferred to taste better than regular food. In Experiment 2, the results showed that participants had more intention to purchase foods with biofortification claims than regular food. The mediation effect of taste inference between biofortification claims and purchase intention was examined. In Experiment 3, the data further showed that this halo effect was more pronounced when consumers held a higher preference (vs lower preference) for the enriched nutritional element.
Originality/value
Biofortification claims have commonly been viewed solely as information about nutrition value for consumers. However, little is known about how biofortification claims impact hedonic consumer expectations. In this paper, the authors find that biofortification claims alone can impact consumer food taste inference, as nutritional information is not related to actual food taste. These findings extend the authors’ understanding of the psychological mechanism behind consumer attitudes towards biofortification.
Details
Keywords
Gu Xin, Xiao-Ri Liu, Dong-Kang Cheng, Qing-Ping Zheng, Meng-Han Li, Nan-Nan Sun and Chun-Hua Min
This paper aims to investigate the effect of lubricant viscosity model with improver on friction and lubrication of piston skirt-cylinder liner conjunction.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of lubricant viscosity model with improver on friction and lubrication of piston skirt-cylinder liner conjunction.
Design/methodology/approach
A dynamic calculation model is established for the piston skirt-cylinder liner conjunction of a heavy-duty commercial diesel engine, to explore the effects of two kinds of lube oil viscosity models named after polyalkyle-metacrylate-1 (PAMA1) and styrene-isoprene-copolymer (SICP) improvers on the maximum oil film viscosity, the minimum oil film thickness, the peak oil film pressure, the maximum shear rate, the friction force and the total friction power loss.
Findings
The variation trends with the crank angle of the above parameters are not changed with the difference of improvers, while obvious numerical differences are found except the maximum oil film pressure. The minimum oil film thickness and maximum shear rate of PAMA1 are larger than that of SICP, the maximum oil film viscosity of SICP is larger than that of PAMA1, which indicates that the shear-thinning effect of PAMA1 is greater, the maximum friction force on the piston of SICP is larger than that of PAMA1, and the total friction power consumption is also larger, the average friction power consumptions of SICP and PAMA1 are 385.4 and 262.8 W, respectively, with the relative difference of 31.8 per cent.
Originality/value
The influence of different lubricating oil additive models on the lubrication and friction of piston skirt-cylinder liner conjunction is simulated and analyzed.
Details
Keywords
Yifan Tang, Yiting Kuang, Han Li, Binbin Cao and Ping Qing
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of food retailer's Approaching the Expiration Date (AED) labelling on consumers' retailer-related response. Specifically…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of food retailer's Approaching the Expiration Date (AED) labelling on consumers' retailer-related response. Specifically, the main effect of food retailer's AED labelling on consumers' patronage intention, the mediation effect of food retailer's concern for consumers and the boundary condition of this effect are explored. The selected context of research is that food retailers are reluctant to stick an AED label on nearly expired food due to negative effect on selling them.
Design/methodology/approach
Two separate pretests and two separate experiments have been conducted to investigate the influence of food retailer's AED labelling on patronage intention. Pretest 1 develops the stimulus material of food retailer's AED labelling. Study 1 investigates the influence of AED labelling on patronage intention and mediation effect of consumers' perception of retailer's concern for consumers. Pretest 2 develops the stimulus material of government regulation on food retailer's AED labelling. Study 2 explores the boundary condition of the positive effect, namely the moderation effect of whether retailer's AED labelling is voluntary or mandatory.
Findings
The main findings of this research highlight the positive influence of food retailer's AED labelling on consumers' patronage intention. In addition, the current research reveals the underlying mechanism food retailer's concern for consumers and the boundary condition whether the AED labelling is voluntary or mandatory.
Originality/value
Although previous researches has explored the effect of food retailer's AED labelling on consumers' response, most of them focus on consumer purchase intention of the nearly expired food and neglect its effect on consumers' food retailer-related response. It is a need for food retailer to explore the potential positive influence of food retailer's AED labelling on consumers' patronage intention.
Details
Keywords
Yi Lin and Qing‐Ping Hu
The concept of centralized systems is written in the language of set theory in order to take advantage of the rigorous mathematical reasoning. Introduces the concept of…
Abstract
The concept of centralized systems is written in the language of set theory in order to take advantage of the rigorous mathematical reasoning. Introduces the concept of centralizable systems. Lists applications of the concepts in sociology, concerning the existence of factions in human society, public issues of contention, and importance level of problems versus media. Finally, poses a number of open questions.
Details
Keywords
Qing‐Ping Hu, Dan Li and Yi Lin
Introduces the concept of subsystems closure and studies their existence, uniqueness and structure. Based on this concept, introduces the concept of finitely generated systems…
Abstract
Introduces the concept of subsystems closure and studies their existence, uniqueness and structure. Based on this concept, introduces the concept of finitely generated systems, and obtains the result that directed union of systems is still a system. Based on the new concept of systems hereditary properties, discovers several hereditary properties of systems, and points out that the property of finite generativity of systems is not hereditary. Shows that the image and pre‐image of subsystems under homomorphisms are still subsystems, and consequently several homomorphic invariable properties are obtained. Considers subsystems of induced systems and some applications of this research.
Details
Keywords
Xiaojuan Liu, Yinrong Pan and Yutong Han
There is a wealth of value hidden in regional cultural heritage, but its preservation status is not optimistic. This study introduces a method that focuses on the inherent…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a wealth of value hidden in regional cultural heritage, but its preservation status is not optimistic. This study introduces a method that focuses on the inherent cultural value of regional cultural heritage to preserve it by value construction and release.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the great value of regional cultural heritage due to spatial adjacency and temporal continuity, this paper focuses on its inherent cultural value to explore the preservation path and chooses Shichahai cultural heritage digital resources for a case study. This paper draws lessons from the narrative method of ancient Chinese historiography, constructs a cultural space and tells cultural stories. A linked data organization model for digital resources is created to construct a conceptual cultural space. Then, the space is materialized by linked dataset creation. The authors tell cultural stories discovered from the space, which are presented by various user interfaces using visualization technologies.
Findings
A cultural space promotes the development of a fine-grained description of regional cultural heritage and aids in relationship discovery to enhance the value construction ability. Additionally, storytelling via interactive user interfaces is helpful in the utilization and dissemination of knowledge extracted from a cultural space and enhances the value release of regional cultural heritage. In this way, a path with the inherent cultural value of regional cultural heritage as the core is established, and preservation is achieved.
Originality/value
This study focuses on the inherent cultural value of regional cultural heritage and proposes a new path to preserve these resources. This approach will enrich research on the preservation of regional cultural heritage and contribute to the construction and release of its cultural value.
Details
Keywords
Shang-Ho Yang, Ping Qing, Wuyang Hu and Yun Liu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate Chinese consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for fair trade coffee given different amount of product information. Although coffee is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate Chinese consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for fair trade coffee given different amount of product information. Although coffee is becoming more popular in China, the concept of fair trade is often found unfamiliar to most Chinese consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 564 consumers were interviewed in Hubei, China. The key survey question asked consumers’ willingness to purchase a cup of fair trade coffee compared to a traditional cup of coffee. A modified payment card approach was used to elicit WTP. Before answering the purchase question, respondents were randomly assigned to one of three different information scenarios: basic definition, impact on sustainability and the environment, and information including both environmental and social implications.
Findings
Results indicated that consumers were generally willing to pay additional amount for fair trade coffee. Information played an important role in determining what types of consumers were responsive to fair trade coffee. Furthermore, the amount of information provided and consumer WTP did not follow a linear relationship.
Practical implications
Results obtained in this study are useful for coffee marketers to better target their promotion strategies.
Originality/value
In contrast to China's fast growing coffee market, little is known about consumer preferences and far less on fair trade coffee. This study is the first of its kind to understand Chinese consumers’ preferences for coffee in general and for fair trade coffee in specific.
Details
Keywords
Ping Qing, Antonio Lobo and Li Chongguang
The purpose of this paper is to examine how variables related to lifestyle and ethnocentrism influence Chinese consumers' attitudes and intentions towards the purchase of domestic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how variables related to lifestyle and ethnocentrism influence Chinese consumers' attitudes and intentions towards the purchase of domestic and imported fresh fruit.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey instrument was developed using established scales and focus groups. Data were collected in the city of Wuhan through structured intercept interviews with consumers at major supermarkets and fruit stores. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data.
Findings
Chinese consumers' purchase intention of imported fresh fruit is influenced by lifestyle groups, namely risk takers and traditionalists. Also consumers' ethnocentrism tendencies play an important role in shaping their purchase attitudes towards domestic fresh fruit.
Research limitations/implications
Although the research investigated both the sensory and non‐sensory purchase attributes of fruits, it failed to shed light on the intended use of imported fruits, e.g. for gifts, self consumption, children, aged parents and ill patients. Additionally, future research should be conducted that is more product and country specific.
Practical implications
Marketers should ensure that both sensory and non‐sensory purchase attributes of fresh fruit are given due importance, as this will snowball into positive purchase intentions, customer satisfaction and overall profitability for firms.
Originality/value
Despite its potential importance, relatively little is known about consumers' buying behaviour of fresh produce in China. Findings of this study would thus be beneficial to practitioners and policy makers to formulate effective strategies designed to market fresh produce in China.
Details
Keywords
Ping‐Man Wong and Alan Chi‐Keung Cheung
To cope with the challenges of the twenty‐first century, the Hong Kong SAR government initiated the Curriculum Reform in 2001. In 2006, a research team from a tertiary institution…
Abstract
Purpose
To cope with the challenges of the twenty‐first century, the Hong Kong SAR government initiated the Curriculum Reform in 2001. In 2006, a research team from a tertiary institution was commissioned to review the progress of change for smooth implementation of the reform in its next phase. This paper aims to examine this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The nature of the review is basically a survey, applying questionnaires and follow‐up focus‐group interviews to collect data from different groups of subjects. The sample was around 20 per cent of the population, i.e. a total of 252 primary (n=138) and secondary (n=114) schools.
Findings
The paper reports findings on the support for the Reform by primary and secondary schools. Five areas of agreement among school heads are examined, which include challenges to be met, guiding principles of the reform, learning goals, reform framework and the overall agreement with the rationale of the reform. It is found that, while the curriculum reform was supported among school heads, senior teachers and teachers, there was a gap between the views of senior management team and frontier teachers.
Research limitations/implications
This is a very comprehensive research project with a limited timeframe. The paper can only report and discuss findings mainly on the support for curriculum reform by school heads. Other aspects of the study will be discussed and reported separately in subsequent papers.
Practical implications
The gap between the views of senior management team and frontier teachers is worth probing as this is the most obstructive factor to the implementation of the reform. Identifying the cause would be the first step in formulating strategies to address and, hopefully, to facilitate the smooth transition from the phase of implementation to the continuation phase of the change process.
Originality/value
The study has suggested the development of a two‐dimensional framework of agreement areas and stakeholders which will contribute to a better understanding of the change process in general, and achievements of a curriculum reform in particular. Other issues are also discussed.
Details
Keywords
Oyster cultivation has a long history in Pearl River Delta area and is one of the traditional aquaculture depending strongly on the natural coastal resource because of the…
Abstract
Purpose
Oyster cultivation has a long history in Pearl River Delta area and is one of the traditional aquaculture depending strongly on the natural coastal resource because of the expected variation of salinity, temperature and diversity of infaunal organisms for the cultivation practice. Apart from being the traditional knowledge inherited through the coastal communities over the centuries, oyster aquaculture is also embedded in the long-term socio-economic relationships among communities that have a rich experience regarding the quality and quantity controls for the long-term sustainable coastal resource management, together with a strong sense of responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the local food heritage for various reasons. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper seeks to examine oyster cultivation in Lau Fau Shan (literally means floating mountain) in Hong Kong, not only from the cultural–historical perspectives but also from the social resilience perspectives, such as how and why local communities are willing to inherit the traditions, what kinds of roles NGOs and government play in oyster cultivation, why local people should be engaged, and how the oyster aquaculture/industry underwent the transformations, given all the difficulties and challenges.
Findings
The value of oyster cultivation is not only for food production but also for the global exchange of experiences on social resilience for both school and public educations.
Originality/value
It is an original research making use of a local case study for the understanding of post-disaster reconstruction of coastal communities in the global context.