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1 – 10 of 103
Article
Publication date: 2 April 2024

Yee Ming Lee and Chunhao (Victor) Wei

This study sought to understand which food allergen labeling systems (non-directive, semi-directive, and directive) were attended to and preferred by 34 participants with food…

Abstract

Purpose

This study sought to understand which food allergen labeling systems (non-directive, semi-directive, and directive) were attended to and preferred by 34 participants with food hypersensitivity and their perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and behavioral intention towards a restaurant that identifies food allergens on menus.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an online survey with open-ended and ranking questions, combined with eye-tracking technology, to explore participants' visual attention and design preferences regarding four menus. This study utilized one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) and heat maps to analyze participants' menu-reading behaviors. A content analysis of survey responses and a ranking analysis of menus were conducted to understand the reasons behind consumers' preferred menu designs.

Findings

The advisory statement was not much attended to. Participants identified food allergen information significantly quicker with the directive labeling system (icons) than the other two systems, implying they were eye-catching. Semi-directive labeling system (red text) has lower visit count and was more preferred than two other systems; each labeling system has its strengths and limitations. Participants viewed restaurants that disclosed food allergen information on menus as socially responsible, and they would revisit those restaurants in the future.

Originality/value

This study was one of the first to explore, through use of eye-tracking technology, which food allergen labeling systems were attended to by consumers with food hypersensitivity. The use of triangulation methods strengthened the credibility of the results. The study provided empirical data to restauranteurs in the US on the values of food allergen identification on restaurant menus, although it is voluntary.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 126 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2018

Yee Ming Lee and Erol Sozen

The purpose of this paper is to compare restaurant managerial staff and employees’ attitudes toward food allergies, their food allergy knowledge and food allergy-related training.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare restaurant managerial staff and employees’ attitudes toward food allergies, their food allergy knowledge and food allergy-related training.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was administered through a market research company (Qualtrics® Inc.). A total of 110 managerial staff and 229 restaurant employees completed this questionnaire.

Findings

Most restaurants were willing to modify recipes for customers with food allergies. Respondents felt that the customers should be responsible for expressing their food allergy needs. Both groups were able to identify certain symptoms of allergic reactions to food but lacked knowledge of allergen-handling practices. The managerial staff and employees had knowledge differences about how to respond to an allergic reaction (p<0.001) and how to identify peanut derivatives on food labels (p<0.000). In total, 70 percent of the managerial staff indicated that they provided employee food allergy training but only 40 percent of employees indicated receiving such training. The managerial staff identified a lack of employee commitment and interest as barriers to training provision. However, the employees identified different reasons (i.e. it is unnecessary and not beneficial).

Practical implications

Restaurants should have policies in place to accommodative customers with food allergies and make sure food allergy-related information is communicated to their customers via different outlets (i.e. restaurants’ websites and printed menus). Food allergy training should be designed based on the areas that need improvement, as knowledge may differ based on the position in the restaurants (managerial staff vs employees) and types of the restaurants (quick service vs casual dining). Pragmatic strategies need to be identified to better encourage and motivate restaurant employees to attend a food allergy training.

Originality/value

Understanding the similarities and differences in attitudes, knowledge and training on food allergies between restaurant managerial staff and employees would help restaurants to plan and implement policies and training that best fit both managerial staff and employees.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 120 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 28 May 2024

Tianjian Liu, Sijun Liu and Yee Ming Lee

Guided by stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, this study analyzed the user-generated content (UGC) produced by attendees from six anime conventions in the USA.

Abstract

Purpose

Guided by stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, this study analyzed the user-generated content (UGC) produced by attendees from six anime conventions in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 739 online reviews and 1,932 photos were collected from the social platforms of six large anime conventions in the USA (Yelp and Facebook), and the study employed thematic analysis and image analysis to analyze the collected UGCs.

Findings

The findings revealed eight main themes (i.e. ambient and space, customers, service and products, sign and symbol, social density, emotional status, motivation, and behavior intention) and 32 subthemes across the three dimensions of SOR theory. Leveraging the power of cutting-edge image analysis, the image labels obtained from the analysis contributed to the creation of network clusters. The result of the image analysis also continued consistently with the thematic analysis result, which reflected SOR theory.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the study applied SOR theory and blended thematic and image analyses to gain a comprehensive understanding of anime convention attendees’ experience and categorized the attendees’ emotional status as positive or negative to reflect their overall evaluation. Practically, this study highlighted some complaints from attendees and provided suggestions for operators. However, the study focused only on large anime conventions in the USA; future studies should compare attendees’ experiences with small and large conventions or anime conventions worldwide.

Originality/value

The study utilized UGCs to understand the key patterns essential to attendees during anime conventions in the USA and applied SOR theory to its investigation.

Details

International Journal of Event and Festival Management, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1758-2954

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 September 2022

Yee Ming Lee, Erol Sozen and Han Wen

This study explored how food allergies have affected food-related behaviors and quality of life of college students with food allergies and identified factors influencing food…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explored how food allergies have affected food-related behaviors and quality of life of college students with food allergies and identified factors influencing food choice decisions among this group of individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

One-on-one interviews were conducted with 26 college students with self-reported or clinically diagnosed food allergies, recruited from two universities located in the southern region of the United States. The participants were asked a series of questions based on a semi-structured discussion guide. Each interview lasted about 30 min; all interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcriptions were coded independently by three researchers, and themes were identified.

Findings

Food allergies affected the participants' food-related behaviors, including eating, food preparation and shopping, as well as some aspects of their quality of life. Individual factors, such as mood, other diseases, cultural background and sensory properties, also influenced food choices. Friends and families were the two most important social influencers of food choices. Regarding physical environmental factors, cost, convenience, value and variety were considered important in selecting food. However, the participants' food choices were less influenced by food advertisements and social media. Additionally, experiences and complex cuisines were also key factors in making food choices.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, this qualitative study applied a food choice decision framework in the context of college students with food allergies. Practical recommendations are provided, particularly to campus dining facilities, to fulfill the needs of college students with food allergies.

Originality/value

This study advanced the understanding of the complexity of food choice decision-making among college students with food allergies. A path diagram specific to food choice among college students with food allergies was developed based on the results of this study. This study also highlighted that food allergy management would involve various behavioral changes and revealed that the food choices are influenced by a wide range of factors.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 125 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2022

Tianjian Liu, Chunhao (Victor) Wei and Yee Ming Lee

This study aims to systematically review the work–family enrichment (WFE) studies in hospitality and tourism management and provide insight into the patterns and trends of WFE…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to systematically review the work–family enrichment (WFE) studies in hospitality and tourism management and provide insight into the patterns and trends of WFE literature to practitioners and future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study design followed the guidelines of preferred reporting items of systematic reviews and meta-analysis. A final sample of 23 studies related to WFE that published from 2000 to 2021 was selected and systematically analyzed.

Findings

This study resulted in a framework that the antecedents and outcomes of WFE at the organizational, job and individual levels. Moderators between antecedents and outcomes were also identified. Theories such as conservation of resources theory, boundary theory, role theory and expansion theory were frequently applied in the investigation of WFE.

Research limitations/implications

This study generated a framework that illustrates the organization characteristics, the job characteristics and individual factors that have examined in hospitality literature on the topic of WFE. This study also pointed out theories that have been used in investigating WFE. However, this systematic review may subject to publication bias and number of reviewed articles remained relatively small.

Practical implications

This study provides suggestions on how hospitality operators could use internal marketing strategies and certain leadership styles (e.g. transformational and servant leaderships) to enhance employees’ WFE.

Originality/value

This study summarized the publication trends and patterns of the WFE studies in hospitality and tourism management in the past two decades, which provides suggestions for future scholars to further explore this research topic.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 34 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 1 October 2021

Yoonah Kim Conoly, Mike von Massow and Yee Ming Lee

This study aims to investigate how domestic and international undergraduate students from a university in Ontario, Canada, defined locally grown food and examined the factors…

2744

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how domestic and international undergraduate students from a university in Ontario, Canada, defined locally grown food and examined the factors behind their locally grown food purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were distributed in the School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism Management undergraduate classes. A total of 196 complete surveys were returned. Using multiple regression analysis and theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework with an additional construct, moral norm, proposed hypotheses were tested.

Findings

Domestic students narrowly defined locally grown food based on distance (e.g. food grown/raised within 100 km of where a person lives) compared to international students (e.g. food grown in Canada). The multiple regression analysis revealed that 36% of variance in purchase intention is explained by the four independent variables (i.e. student status, attitude, perceived product availability and moral norm), with perceived product availability as the strongest predictor of intention to purchase locally grown food.

Research limitations/implications

The convenience sampling method limitations are as follows. First, the sample size was small for international students. Second, there was a possibility of underrepresentation of certain origins of international student populations. Third, the undergraduate respondents were from the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism. Finally, another limitation is that the four variables in this study (i.e. attitudes, subjective norms, perceived product availability, and moral norm) only explained 36% of the variance of this model.

Practical implications

Perceived product availability, moral norm and attitude constructs positively influenced the locally grown food purchase intention. A perceived product availability construct revealed the strongest influence in locally grown food purchase intention of students. Particularly, five key questions were created based on the major research findings of this study, which can be used as a guideline for locally grown food providers and farmers when promoting locally grown food to students. These questions include: Where can I find it? When can I find it? Who grows it? How can I benefit others? Why is it good for me?

Social implications

The results of this study shown that which factors influence locally grown food purchase intention of students. Hence, local restaurateurs and university dining facilities may incorporate these factors in their marketing message to serve students population better who might be interested in buying food products using locally grown ingredients. Research results also allow local farmers to communicate and inform their current and potential student consumers about the advantages of locally grown food. Overall, findings can contribute to economy and business of local community.

Originality/value

Current research findings verified that there is a significant use of a moral norm construct to predict locally grown food purchase intention of students. The moral norm construct positively influenced the locally grown food purchase intention in this study, and this construct seemed useful to predict locally grown food purchase intention of students. Additionally, the research discovered that there were differences in domestic and international undergraduate students' perception in the locally grown food definition.

Details

International Hospitality Review, vol. 37 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2516-8142

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 March 2020

Yee Ming Lee and Erol Sozen

This study investigated whether consumers have reasonable estimates of the calorie content of Americans' top 10 favorite foods, explored the effects of calorie disclosure on…

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated whether consumers have reasonable estimates of the calorie content of Americans' top 10 favorite foods, explored the effects of calorie disclosure on United States consumers' future consumption frequency of these food items, and examined the effects of health consciousness, food calorie knowledge, and attitudes toward menu labels on intention to use menu labels.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was developed, pilot tested, and distributed through Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT). The overall model fit and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results from 1,005 completed surveys showed that the accuracy of calorie estimations varied across food items. Most consumers could not estimate the calories of steak, hamburgers, chocolate chip cookies, and vanilla ice cream within the acceptable range. Disclosure of calorie information did affect future consumption frequency of the food items. The SEM results showed that health consciousness, food calorie knowledge, and attitudes toward menu labels positively affected consumers' future intention to use menu labels.

Originality/value

This study points to a need to educate consumers about food calories and suggests plausible ways to encourage consumers' intention to use of menu labels.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 122 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2018

Kai Li, Huynh Van Nguyen, T.C.E. Cheng and Ching-I Teng

As technology-created gamers’ representations, avatars are influential in communication among online gamers. However, there is scant research on how avatars’ characteristics…

1543

Abstract

Purpose

As technology-created gamers’ representations, avatars are influential in communication among online gamers. However, there is scant research on how avatars’ characteristics impact gamers’ friendly behaviour via avatars, i.e., avatar friendliness, and how avatar friendliness is related to online gamer loyalty. The purpose of this paper is to develop a research model grounded in the theory of embodied cognition to examine the impacts of perceived avatar appearance agreeableness, attractiveness and height on avatar friendliness and online gamer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collect 1,384 responses from online gamers and use structural equation modelling for hypothesis testing.

Findings

The authors find that perceived avatar appearance agreeableness and attractiveness are positively related to avatar friendliness, while perceived avatar height is negatively related to avatar friendliness. Avatar friendliness, in turn, is positively related to online gamer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

This study assessed gamers’ perceptions using a cross-sectional design. Future works could use a big data approach to collect behavioural and longitudinal data. Moreover, future works could measure avatar height using pixels.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the e-commerce literature by inventing the new constructs of perceived avatar appearance agreeableness and avatar friendliness, and conducting the first study of using avatar friendliness to explain the impacts of the three avatar characteristics on online gamer loyalty. The findings also provide novel insights for e-commerce managers to effectively build a loyal gamer base.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Content available
Book part
Publication date: 7 December 2023

Zen Tong Chunhua Zheng and Yali Zou

Abstract

Details

The Significance of Chinatown Development to a Multicultural America: An Exploration of the Houston Chinatowns
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-377-0

Article
Publication date: 19 September 2023

Andromeda Dwi Laksono, Chih-Ming Chen and Yee-Wen Yen

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of adding a small amount of Ti to a Cu-based alloy, specifically the commercial Hyper Titanium Copper alloy (C1990 HP)…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of adding a small amount of Ti to a Cu-based alloy, specifically the commercial Hyper Titanium Copper alloy (C1990 HP), which contains Cu-3.28 wt.% Ti, on its interfacial reaction with Sn-9.0 wt.% Zn (SnZn) solder, using the liquid/solid reaction couple technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The SnZn/C1990 HP couples were subjected to a reaction temperature of 240–270°C for a duration of 0.5–5 h. The resulting reaction couple was characterized using a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, electron probe microanalyzer and X-ray diffractometer.

Findings

It was observed that the scallop-shaped CuZn5 and planar Cu5Zn8 phases were formed in almost all SnZn/C1990 HP couples. With increased reaction duration and temperature, the Cu-rich intermetallic compound (IMC)-Cu5Zn8 phase became a dominant IMC formed at the interface. The total thickness of the IMCs was increased with the increase in the reaction duration and temperature. The IMC growth obeyed the parabolic law, and the IMC growth mechanism was diffusion controlled. The activation energy of the SnZn/C1990 HP couple was 64.71 kJ/mol.

Originality/value

This article presents an analysis of the IMC thickness in each sample using ImageJ software, followed by kinetic analysis using Origin software at various reaction temperatures of SnZn/C1990 HP in liquid/solid couples. The study also includes detailed reports on the morphology, interface composition and X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as the activation energy. The findings can serve as a valuable reference for electronic packaging companies that utilize C1990 HP substrates.

Details

Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, vol. 36 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0954-0911

Keywords

1 – 10 of 103