Category: research

Factors influencing luxury-product purchase behavior of young Indian and Chinese consumers

Luxury products have enjoyed huge sales growth in Asia in recent decades, particularly due to economic growth in India and China. Although luxury product sales represent a strong indicator of economic confidence among consumers, few studies have focused on this topic in an Asian context. In other words, most studies of luxury-brand purchase behavior have focused on Western cultural contexts, and therefore the applicability of their findings to Asian contexts may be limited. To close this important research gap, this study focuses on cultural differences between young Chinese and Indian consumers in terms of their purchase behaviors toward luxury products because India and China continue to be two major markets for luxury products in Asia. Previous findings show that Chinese consumers’ perceptions are increasingly reflecting those of Western consumers. That is, studies have found Chinese consumers to be more individualistic and hedonistic than Indian consumers. Based on these insights, this study assesses whether these findings can be extended to young consumers’ purchase of luxury products in India and China. According to the results, young Indian and Chinese consumers favorably view luxury products, and there was no significant difference. Both young Indian and Chinese consumers highlighted their self-satisfaction as the most important factor influencing their decision to purchase luxury products, and there was no significant difference between these two groups.

Shuilin Wang, Yuwen Lin, Xiaolin Qi, Zihan Lin

Click here for PDF: Factors influencing luxury-product purchase behavior of young Indian and Chinese consumers

The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of U.S. and Chinese students

by

S.Wang
J.Du

Abstract

The last decade has seen online degree programs playing an increasingly important role in the field of education, suggesting the potential of online education to become a key solution to limitations of the traditional education system. This suggests a need for a better understanding of how people perceive online education to determine whether online education is a viable option in the field of education and how it can be better facilitated. The respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward online education. The respondents emphasized accessibility as the most important advantage of online education. No respondent reported teacher quality. In terms of the most important disadvantages of online education, U.S. students were most likely to indicate interaction, whereas Chinese students indicated initial stage as the most important disadvantage. Some limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, Students, Perception, Online Education, China, U.S.

Summary
Photons from sunlight with energy slightly higher than that of the band gap of silicon create electric current within a photovoltaic (PV) cell. However, many photons from sunlight have either insufficient or excess energy. This study was conducted to find the effect of different photon transmission mediums on the temperature and voltage output of photovoltaic cells. Two different photovoltaic cells were tested under a 20-watt halogen lamp with 6 transmission mediums: 5% NaCl solution, 5% sugar solution, deionized (DI) water, canola oil, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and the control (air). It was hypothesized that the mediums with higher specific heats would result in relatively lower temperature increases, maintain higher voltages and have increased efficiencies compared to the mediums with lower specific heats. The voltage drop for EVOO, canola oil and air were higher than that of the aqueous solutions such as 5% sugar solution, 5% NaCl, or DI water. The results show an estimated increase of 5-6% in the performance of conventional photovoltaic cells by simply placing a layer of aqueous solution above the PV cell.

Syamantak Payra and Susan Long

Abstract:
We created silver nanoparticles using silver nitrate and sodium alginate
through a method of mixing and heating the two solutions. The nanoparticles
were confirmed by spectrographs and electron micrograph investigations. They
proved to be very effective inhibiting the growth of E.Coli when embedded in
agar.

Nicholas Deraney, Chloe Davis, Erik Hobbs
Chris Pollard, Charlie Hobbs, Erik Hamnquist, Dan Michaud, Jacob Valluzzi

Click here for PDF file: 2012[5]

Students’ Attitudes Toward Tap Water: The Case of Seoul City’s Arisu

by

H.S. Yoo

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed vast numbers of people paying closer attention to various health issues. Young consumers are beginning to shun fast-food products in favor of healthy alternatives such as organic food and MSG-free products. This trend may also apply to drinking water. Producers of bottled water tempt consumers through attractive advertising and promotional campaigns, and as a result, bottled water has become the product of choice among consumers across the world. However, tap water can be just as pure and safe as any bottled water, and it is generally free. Therefore, consumers’ preference for bottled water may be a poor choice. In addition, adults’ drinking habits may be different from those of young individuals. However, previous studies have focused mainly on adult consumers of drinking water. In this regard, this study examines students’ attitudes toward tap water and investigates whether there is any gender difference in these attitudes by considering the case of Arisu, a brand of tap water supplied by the Seoul metropolitan government of Korea. According to the results, there was no significant gender difference in attitudes toward Arisu. In addition, both male and female respondents preferred bottled water to tap water. Further, both male and female respondents identified the smell of tap water was the most important factor influencing their decision to avoid tap water. The results have important practical implications for the Seoul metropolitan government as well as for other local governments wishing to promote their tap water.

Keywords: Seoul, Korea, Tap Water, Arisu, Student, Attitudes