DWELLING LAYOUT AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ROOMS: TOPOLOGICAL REPRESENTATION AND A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

This paper presents a method for the topological representation of dwelling floor plans and a system for the classification of a floor plan according to the amount of communication possible between the rooms.     

INFORMATION DISCLOSURE IN MAIL ORDER CATALOGUES

Catalogue mail order shopping has become a common mode of shopping for many consumers. Despite Federal Trade Commission rules as well as federal statutes designed to protect consumers in mail order transactions, consumers continue to experience problems with shopping by mail. Some problems may stem from limited availability or clarity of information in mail order catalogues. Resolution of problems is also more difficult when complete information is not available. In a survey of 139 catalogues distributed in the United States the authors found that, with the exception of refund policies, the majority contained no (or vague) information on the companies' policies. Additionally, when information was provided it was usually located on the order form rather than in the catalogue itself. Recommendations for improved information disclosure in mail order catalogues are discussed in the final section of this paper.     

Family Food Shopping: Strategies Used by Husbands and Wives

This research explored comparisons between matched pairs of husbands and wives on a system of strategies used to do family food shopping. Generally, husbands and wives were similar in strategies which related to time management, store loyalty, and in-store shopping. There were notable anomalies in the conceptualization of some of the strategies, as well as significant differences in the use of task management strategies to prepare for food shopping and in the importance of various store characteristics. Suggestions for research are based on extending the role theory and systems approach in studying family food shopping.     

Food Shopping Profiles of Career-oriented,Income-oriented,and At-home Wives

The purpose of this study was to develop comprehensive food shopping profiles of career-oriented, income-oriented, and at-home wives. Discriminant analysis revealed distinct profiles for the career-oriented and at-home wives. However, income-oriented wives were similar to career-oriented wives regarding some demographic characteristics, shopping patterns, and some shopping strategies, and similar to at-home wives for other shopping strategies. Income-oriented wives were more likely to have husbands who shared the food shopping role. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that measures of food shopping strategies be refined and that replication of the methodology be used with samples varying in family structure.     

In-Store Shopping Strategies: Time and Money Costs in the Supermarket

Consumers may adopt in-store shopping strategies to reduce time and/or money expenditures. Seven shopping strategies were identified and used to simulate the purchase of 19 specified products at three supermarkets at which price and size data were collected. Expenditures ranged from $13.88 to $23.70 for the various strategies, requiring up to 272 price comparisons. The monetary savings (from the average) resulting from use of the strategies were used to determine the break-even times for three hypothetical wage rates. Break-even time was defined as the amount of time one could spend such that the value of the time expended equals the monetary savings realized. The efficiency of a strategy was found to vary by store and by the value placed on shopping time. The implications of the findings for consumer educators are noted and discussed.     

Determinants of Search for Nondurable Goods: An Empirical Assessment of the Economics of Information Theory

This paper examines the usefulness of Stigler's (1961) Economics of Information Theory in the study of consumer search in a market for frequently purchased, nondurable grocery items. The empirical model examines antecedent (pre-store) and point of purchase (in-store) search. It incorporates and contrasts economic incentives for search with noneconomic involvement-based motivations and perceived versus actual costs associated with search. Data used in the analysis were collected in a large midwestern city during 1990. Results indicate that Stigler's cost-benefit model provides a better fit for pre-store rather than in-store search activities. Pre-store search activities were found to be driven by time, monetary, and mobility constraints. Pre-store search activity was not found to be significant in explaining in-store search activities. In-store search activities were significantly explained by only household size. Shopping involvement was not found to be related to pre- or in-store activities. A comparison of objective and subjective measures of search costs rendered comparable results.