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Online Universities: Who Is Creating Virtual Communities?, Lisa Witzig, Joe Spencer, Katlyn Myers

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The use of online social communities for online universities seems a topic where usage can be taken for granted. This paper provides a literature review that shows the importance of community for students and alumni, and builds the case that online universities need to use online communities to deepen relationship. The paper then identifies the top social media network sites that can be used to build online communities and analyzes the activities of the top 54 undergraduate and top 53 graduate online programs at these sites. Despite the need to engage through these social media sites, online universities in general …

Scm?, Stephen A. Lemay, Dave Mcmahon, Jeffery A. Periatt

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Supply chain management remains a young field, one that has struggled to define itself in the most literal sense. This research looks at some of the most available definitions of supply chain management, analyzes their content, and explains the essence of the definitional problem. It does not attempt to define supply chain management--that would be a bit like driving onto a crowded road while complaining about the traffic--but it does attempt to lay out the path or paths that need to be followed to arrive at a consensus definition.

The Role Of Cultural Traditions On Branding And Word-Of-Mouth: Keeping Mother’S Recipes Alive!, Sindy Chapa

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact a cultural tradition has on a perceived-brand-relationship (PBR) and word-of-mouth (WOM) behavior in person and electronically. Based on the cognitive-motivational-related theory of emotions and the social identity theory, a model is proposed to explain the impact that a family tradition, such as cooking with selective products, has on Hispanic mothers. Using a research mixed-method approach, a construct was developed to measure attitudes toward cultural traditions. Further, an online survey was administered for hypotheses and model testing using SEM and Logistic Regression tests.

Latina Mom Bloggers, a social media-marketing platform, was …

A Content Analysis: The Relationship Between Sentiment, Gender And Time Of Day In Ewom, Katie Bass, Laicelis Haro, Xiaotong Liu, Jaejin Liu

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This content analysis looks at several trends regarding electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) and how consumers engage in eWOM. 304 tweets were analyzed and numerous correlations regarding gender and time-of-day. This research will be beneficial to brands and companies seeking to launch new products or services using social media as a promotional avenue.

From Ethical To Sustainable Consumption: An Exploratory Study Of Students' Familiarity With Mindful Consumption, Julie M. Pharr

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This paper seeks to further the marketer's understanding of ethical consumption by exploring differences in the way people perceive ethical consumption, mindful consumption, and overconsumption. The results support the idea that neither ethical nor mindful consumption designate a clearly defined set of practices. Researchers cannot count on even better- informed consumers to understand the full extent of ethical consumption possibilities or correctly apply more encompassing terms such as mindful consumption or overconsumption. As the construct of ethical consumption broadens to sustainable consumption, researchers will need to carefully operationalize the construct.

Neuroscience And Teaching And Learning In The Marketing Classroom: What Students Don’T Know About What Is Necessary To Succeed In The Higher Education Environment Or, In Other Words, Teaching And Learning: What Does The Brain Have To Do With Students’ Performance In The Classroom (Yes, Perhaps Surprisingly, Students Do Possess Brains, Even If They Generally Try To Minimize Their Use, At Least In The Context Of Formal Education)?, David J. Burns, Sandra L. Pierquet

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Advances in neuroscience have provided significant illumination to “accepted” marketing knowledge. Fortunately, neuroscience research has supported much of the accepted marketing knowledge. The support, however, is not total – recent neuroscience research has also raised serious questions and has overturned several aspects of previously accepted marketing thought, particularly regarding consumer decision making.

Neuroscience also provides insight into students’ academic activities. Indeed, neuroscience provides a significant amount of insight into what are the most successful activities for students to undertake. Although some of the research supports existing common student activities, the research also raises serious questions of appropriateness of other activities. …

Reflections In The Mirror: Women’S Self Comparisons To Mannequins And Peers, Amanda Cohen, Deborah J.C. Brosdahl, K. Annette Burnsed, Joohyung Park

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The fashion industry has been under fire for years for using unrealistic body sizes in the form of stick-thin fashion models to promote the sale of clothing. Typical Western fashion models in today’s society are sized 0-2 and weigh approximately 23% less than the average U.S. woman, who weighs approximately 163 pounds and wears a size 14 (Vesilind, 2009). According to Vartanian (2009), many women suffer from body image self-discrepancies when they compare themselves with others, including fashion models. As such, social comparison has been documented to create negative emotions, such as body dissatisfaction and disappointment (Posavac & Posavac, 2002). …

Emotions Involved In Shopping At The Airport, Alexis Tymkiw, Jamye Foster

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This paper examines the emotional motivations that drive consumers to shop at airport retailers. The number of passengers served by airports increases each year, while more and more security measures are being implemented (Travel & Tourism Market Research Handbook, 2013). Travelers are required to arrive for flights earlier, thus spend much more time in the airport environment than ever before. In addition, airport retailing is a rapidly growing segment that has seen a great deal of change over the last couple of decades (Airport Council International, 2012). With expanded retail areas, many airports are beginning to resemble shopping centers. However, …

Information’S Role In Supply Chain Integration Efforts Of The Indian Manufacturing Firm Under Environmental Uncertainty: The Supply Chain Flexibility Impact, Katrina Savitskie, Sandipan Sen, Sampath Ranganathan

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Managers recognize that supply chain management (SCM) practices can improve operational efficiency (Monczka and Morgan, 1998). Supply chain management initiatives, including better communication often result in more responsive organizations. Indian companies are trying to become more competitive following the liberalization of the Indian economy by employing new approaches like SCM to be more efficient and competitive (Saad and Patel, 2006). Therefore, our study examines the impact of environmental uncertainty on the firm’s information sharing abilities and the information quality available and its subsequent impact on supply chain integration, and ultimately, supply chain flexibility in India.

Given that the Indian small …

Naming-Rights Sponsorship Outcomes And The Role Of Fan Connections To College Campuses And Stadia, Terry Eddy, Brendan Dwyer, Lamar Reams

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Despite the immense focus on revenue generation in college sport, only a small number of NCAA Division I institutions have come to agreements with naming-rights sponsors for their football stadia (Popp, Eddy, & McEvoy, 2015). The key underlying issue is that many institutions are concerned about the effect a corporately-named football stadium will have on key stakeholders, and whether this commercialization will be seen as an attack on tradition (Bentubo, 2007). However, fans’ attitudes toward naming rights relative to their perceptions of tradition and their attachment to college football stadiums are two areas which have received some attention in the …

What Is Wrong With Chinese Soccer? Consumers’ Attention, Involvement, And Satisfaction, Bo Gong, Nathan D. Pifer, Jerry J. Wang, Minhong Kim, Minkil Kim, Tyreal Y. Qian, James J. Zhang

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

While Chinese supporters represent one of European soccer’s fastest-growing fan bases (Sporting Intelligence, 2011), the high-level of enthusiasm surrounding the European soccer leagues does not seem to be shared with China’s domestic league, the Chinese Super League (CSL). Soccer is in fact the most popular sport in China; however, locals have developed an attitude of resentment toward the product as they appear unhappy and unwilling to attend and watch CSL events, nor consume licensed CSL products. Based on these observations, the purpose of this study was to investigate Chinese soccer fans’ levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction on the basis of …

Understanding Employer Needs And Expectations From The Perspective Of Human Resources, Tulay Girard, Daniela Ngounou

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This pre-test study attempts to understand employers’ current needs and expectations of recent graduates from a 4-year business program at higher education institutions from the perspective of human resource managers/specialists. After conducting a literature review and a pre-test survey, the authors developed scale items that measure the importance of certain knowledge and skill sets as well as behavioral traits from the perspectives of human resource specialists. The feedback received from the human resource specialists who participated in pre-test survey identified additional skill sets, knowledge areas, and behavioral traits that are most important to employers’ needs. After pre-testing the measurement items …

Consumer Warfare: The Effect Of Attitude Toward One’S Rival On Attitudes Toward Defensive Strategies, David J. Burns, Jennifer Hutchins, Rick Mathisen

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The use of warfare analogies in marketing is not something new, particularly in terms of competitive strategies. With the shifting of power down the marketing channel, however, the importance and the effectiveness of competition-centric strategies has declined. Instead, reflecting consumers’ new-found power and importance, a focus on strategies employed by consumers in the marketplace appears to be increasingly appropriate to effectively reach today’s and tomorrow’s consumers. Business leaders who best understand how consumers interact with and relate to each other may find themselves in the best competitive position in the 21st century. Burns and Warren (2008) introduced the concept of …

Determining The Influence Of Electronic Messages On Consumer Behavior Based On Perceived Source Trust And Credibility, Mackenzie Sawyer, Tasha Hendershot, Shala Nettles, Sindy Chapa

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This research examines how heterosexual consumers react to explicit LGBT images in advertising, specifically pertaining to their personal relationships with LGBT individuals. The methodology used for this study was an online survey containing likert-scale, multiple choice, free response, and demographic questions. The survey was distributed online with the help of several organizations. The findings from this research show that heterosexual consumers generally have positive attitudes toward advertising that used LGBT imagery. Further, having a personal relationship with someone who identifies as LGBT seems to have an effect on overall attitudes toward LGBT imagery in advertising.

Television Viewership Among Millennials: An Analysis Of Millennials Usage And Preferences Of On-Demand & Broadcast Television Services, Summer Shelton, Nicholas Mckaig, Cristian Gonzalez Mendez

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify the usage and preferences of millennials viewing television content on broadcast or on-demand television subscriptions. The study focuses on those aged 18-35, but also provides results for those falling outside of this age demographic. This study seeks to provide marketers with information regarding consumer preferences so they may adapt their offerings to meet the desires of customers which will in turn provide consumers with better quality television viewing experiences. An online survey was conducted which included 118 respondents and gauged their current use of, satisfaction with, and preferences for viewing television content. …

Academic Integrity In Public And Private Universities: Exploring Faculty Perceptions, 2008-2014, Anne Heineman Batory, Stephen S. Batory

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Academic integrity issues among various constituencies challenge colleges and universities around the world. After a review of the relevant literature, the authors concluded that additional research was needed to understand and monitor academic integrity within institutions of higher education. This study explored faculty perceptions toward student academic integrity. The participants were faculty from public and private universities in selected business programs in the United States in 2008 and then again in 2014. Both similarities and differences in the two frames were examined. Essentially the study found a continuing faculty concern with student academic integrity. There appeared to be an increased …

An Examination Of The Marketing Of A Floundering Sport: The Case Of Powerboat Racing, Sam Fullerton

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

A sample of 308 attendees at an APBA sanctioned powerboat race in July of 2015 provided insight regarding a number of key considerations germane to the decision to attend the race. Race organizers were seeking ways to reinvigorate interest in what they see as a floundering – if not sinking – sport. A self-administered survey was distributed at the race with those completing it having a chance to win a souvenir shirt from the races. The results indicate that better marketing is needed. WOM represented the most common means by which attendees learned about the event; much of this was …

Mavenism, Frugality, And Loyalty, Ronald E. Goldsmith, Leisa Reinecke Flynn

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Since Feick and Price (1987) introduced the concept of market mavenism almost 30 years ago, researchers have accumulated a large body of empirical findings describing market maven attitudes, behaviors, and characteristics. Mavenism can be defined briefly as a strong involvement in the marketplace. The purpose of the present study was to assess relationships between market mavenism and three aspects of consumption behavior largely ignored by previous research into market mavenism. Analysis of data from a sample of 351 adult U.S. consumers confirms that market mavenism is positively related to frugality and negatively related to brand loyalty. The results showed that …

Changing The World Of Higher Education: Creating A Student Capital Management System, Kathleen Houlihan

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Higher education is plagued with new concerns regarding government oversight and the college “rating system” that will hold schools accountable for student outcomes. This research supports the development of a student capital management system (SCM) that controls and protects student information while ensuring student outcomes data quality. Presented is an empirical model that connects colleges to the business world, while allowing higher education to access student data after they graduate. The first phase in developing a secure validated network of student data is the connection with the workforce and to the government in a system that offers granular access to …

The Invisible Hand And Utility Remain Relevant Influencing Marketing Theory Consumer Behavior, Michael Kleppinger

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

The invisible hand continues to influence marketing theory consumer buyer behavior. Utility will continue to be an important element in marketing theory and particularly consumer buyer behavior. Interestingly, consumer behavior is no longer constrained by traditional human behavior. Free markets, unparalleled technological computing power, low costs of capital and access to interpret infinite data sets will continue to fuel consumer buyer behaviors. Global leader’s awareness of market evolution will continue to loosen the choke hold via taxation, subsidy, and oppression expanding reach of all goods and services within the global economy.

Determining The Influence Of Electronic Messages On Consumer Behavior Based On Perceived Source Trust And Credibility, Mackenzie Sawyer, Nick Sellers, Rhett Coleman, Jaejin Lee

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

With the growing presence of the internet, it is difficult for consumers to separate valuable information from useless information, and for marketers to determine what information consumers deem valuable. This paper aims to discover which message source - Corporate, Social, or Independent - is most trustworthy in the eyes of consumers. Corporate sources include paid platforms such as the company’s website and social media channels managed by the company, social sources include reviews posted on social media platforms by unpaid users who are not directly associated with the company, and independent sources include reviews from online articles, specialized publications, discussion …

Mobile Payment Adoption In India: Role Of Attitude And Risks, Mona Sinha, Rajan Saxena, Hufrish Majra

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This paper examines the emergence of mobile payments as a payment alternative in India. Despite economic growth, marked improvement in social indicators, and rising incomes and savings rate, nearly 41% of the Indian population remained unbanked. Use of self-service technologies such as ATMs and Internet banking had limited success. Given the high penetration of mobile phones, mobile technology was being seen as a mode of transforming the banking sector and in particular payment mechanisms.

Most research on attitude towards technology and its adoption has been conducted in developed countries and their applicability to Indian consumers remained unclear. This paper offers …

The Generations And Restaurant Types, Dave Mcmahon, Stephen Rapier, Michael Mccall, Carol L. Bruneau

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Previously, research has created several scales for measuring different facets of the dining experience and suggest the need to do more segmentation by age. This research does that by collecting panel data to determine if there are relationships between the generations (Silent, Boomers, Xers, Yers, and Nexters) and the four main types of restaurants (QSR, fast casual, casual, fine dining). This was also conducted in an online environment as most consumers are now researching before they buy using the internet. The results indicate that Casual restaurants are associated with Boomers and Nexters while Fast Casual restaurants are associated with Gen …

The Influence Of Religion On The Marketing Concept: A Case Of Halal Culture, Soleman Mozammel, Perry Haan

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Religion is a major cultural variable that can affect the purchase behavior of consumers. This non-empirical paper examines how the Muslim concept of Halal influences consumers in the Middle East and Muslims all over the world. The paper reviews brief history of the marketing concept and consumer behavior. It then explains the role that cultural generally plays in the consumer decision making and marketing concept. The paper explains the basic concepts behind Halal culture. The paper makes recommendations to marketers for how to reach consumers who seek products that are Halal certified and Shariah-compliant. It also discusses how to compete …

Perceived Believability Of Televised Green Advertising, Linda Jo Warren

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Consumers are typically skeptical and cynical of advertising claims for products and generally disbelieve most advertised information. Believability of advertisers’ claims is crucial for consumer adoption of products, but consumers’ environmental imagination should be assessed to enhance believability of green marketing claims. Consumer belief in an advertised product is nearly essential to prompt the consumer to purchase. This paper examines the perceptions of consumers and their believability of specifically green versus non-green televised advertisements. The FTC considers not only a product in its rulings, but also the packaging, formulations and disposal of the product. Consumer belief of advertising relating demographic, …

“Money Worlds” And Well-Being: An Empirical Test Of Tatzel’S Model Of Consumer Styles Based On Money Dispositions And Materialism With Extension To Other Consumer Behavior Variables, Leisa Reinecke Flynn, Ronald E. Goldsmith, Michael Brusco

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Miriam Tatzel (2002) has proposed a comprehensive theory of “money worlds and well-being” comprised of four prototypes of consumer behaviors based on whether consumers are high or low on materialism and simultaneously tight or loose with money. These four prototypes (Value Seekers, Non-Spenders, Big Spenders, and Experiencers) are proposed to differ strikingly along a variety of values, attitudes, and behaviors. Three earlier studies have reported tests or the model, but none specifically tried to confirm empirically the four types of consumers. The present study uses data from 1016 U.S. student consumers to test empirically the proposed typology and the proposed …

Online And In-Store Compulsive Buying Among Metrosexuals And Other Male Consumers, Michael Lee Thomas, Luther Trey Denton Iii, Lindsay R. Larson, Kathleen Gruben

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This paper presents an exploratory study of compulsive buying behavior among males, specifically metrosexual consumers. These men represent significant purchasing power, but to date they have not been studied in both online and in-store environments. The current research has significant importance for public policy, consumer behavior and marketing. The literature has largely ignored male compulsive shopping behavior, especially how this behavior manifests itself in different shopping environments and among different subsets of male consumers. For the current research, data was gathered via an online survey of 193 males. The study discusses both online and in-store compulsive buying by various product …

Marketing Research For Mission-Based Thrift Suggests Relationship Marketing Strategy, Jon M. Martin

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

In order to alleviate the risks associated with a lack of objective marketing research data and to apply marketing research in a unique niche, the author, in collaboration with a local mission-based thrift (“Thrift XYZ”), conducts marketing research regarding the motivations and preferences of shoppers and donators for one primary thrift location in North Carolina as a gratis community service. The findings are that XYZ’s shoppers and donators routinely and regularly shop and donate (respectively) with XYZ and that the nature of this target market is ideal for developing and applying a relationship marketing strategy with each/both groups.

Flirting Online And The Connection Between The Use Of Dating Websites And Dating Applications, Kristine Johnson, Olguta Vilceanu, Manuel C. Pontes

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

For this research, we used data collected by the Pew Foundation's "Internet and American Life Project Tracking Survey," conducted in Spring 2013. The data was adjusted through the use of sampling weights to estimate for general population parameters. The collected data examined online flirting, use of dating websites, and the use of dating apps. Findings suggest women between the ages of 18-34 years are just as likely as men to signal their romantic interest by engaging in online flirtation. In addition, women ages 50 years or older are less likely than men to signal their romantic interest by engaging in …

How To Teach Entrepreneurship: Traditional Lectures Versus Experiential Learning, Ismet Anitsal, M. Meral Antisal

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

Entrepreneurship has become an important part of public policy of many states in the US. Hence, how to incorporate entrepreneurial education into higher education curriculum has become a hot topic of discussion. Even though entrepreneurship courses have been included into marketing and management curriculum in multiple universities traditionally, the recent focus on developing entrepreneurship as a source of economic growth and vitality resulted in a debate about how to educate entrepreneurs.

Experiential learning is another trend in the higher education that gained momentum in recent years. This approach has also been called as problem-based learning, inquiry learning, or discovery learning. …