Consumer loyalty versus propensity to switch between providers in mature IT markets (the case of mobile phone market)

The example of the youth mobile phone market is used for pilot empirical testing of a model of consumers’ decision making, based on common features of consumer behaviour in mature markets of information and high technology products. Firstly, we discuss the key properties of mature high technology markets which affect market behaviour and strategies. These properties include: established customer and provider bases; the elements of both oligopolistic and monopolistic competition; very short product life cycle; considerable product differentiation; and using product quality, versioning and price discrimination as planning and marketing tools. Secondly, a model of consumers’ decision making in such markets is suggested on the assumption that a choice is to be made between the following options: to continue using the existing version of the product, to upgrade it with the current provider or to switch to another provider. Product price, quality characteristics, switching costs and network effects are demonstrated to be the variables affecting consumers’ decisions and therefore, these variables should be considered by competing providers when they choose production and marketing strategies. In conclusion, the results of the empirical study are discussed in the context of their possible application to other information and high technology markets.

Duration of erectile dysfunction and its relationship to treatment seeking and satisfaction with treatment using PDE5 inhibitors

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate whether the duration of erectile dysfunction (ED) influenced treatment seeking and satisfaction with treatment using PDE5 inhibitors.
Methods: Participants were 409 men with ED who were primarily recruited over the internet via men's health web sites. Participants completed a questionnaire to assess the duration and perceived severity of ED, information and help-seeking behaviors for ED, and treatment usage and satisfaction with PDE5 inhibitor medication.
Results: The results demonstrated that men with ED of longer duration were more likely to have discussed their ED with their partner and doctor and to have sought information and treatment for their ED problem. No differences were found in reported satisfaction with ED medication usage or expected future medication use across the varying levels of ED duration, once variance attributable to age was accounted for.
Conclusions: These results suggest that men are more likely to accept that they have ED and seek treatment for their ED with increasing duration of the condition, although these men are not more satisfied with PDE5 inhibitors as a treatment option.

Domestic violence and the exemption from seeking child support : providing safety or legitimizing ongoing poverty and fear

This article examines the experience of low-income women on welfare in Australia and the process of seeking child support from a violent ex-partner, contrasting this with research from the United States and the United Kingdom. Women in Australia who fear ongoing or renewed abuse as a result of seeking child support are eligible for an exemption. However, the exemption policy does not necessarily provide the intended protection of women and children from ongoing abuse and poverty. The exemption policy route also produces an unintended outcome whereby the perpetrators of violence are financially rewarded as they do not have to pay child support. These outcomes are shaped by a complex interaction of personal, cultural and structural forces that make the process of seeking child support for women who have experienced violence extremely problematic. The article demonstrates how in Australia, as in the US and UK policy contexts, the needs of women and their children are compromised by the details of policy specification and the way policies are implemented within the different systems.

Assessment of the pilling propensity of wool knitwear

This study addresses a major issue facing the wool industry - the formation of entangled fibres or pills on wool knitwear. By examining the factors that contribute to the inconsistent pilling results, ways of improving the test procedures have been identified. This will have practical implications for the textile industry.

The impact of propensity evidence on juror decisions

The thesis's study evaluated the effect that the admission of an accused's prior criminal behaviour had on mock jurors' verdict decisions. The findings indicated that exposing participants to evidence about any previous offence biases the decision. Further, the greater the similarity of the previous offence with the present charge, the more likely the accused was found guilty. The clinical portfolio seeks to demonstrate through the presentation of four case studies, the various pathways (or offence trajectories) contained within the Pathways Model that may lead an adult male to sexually offend against a child.

Customer satisfaction, novelty-seeking, and loyalty in intermittently available services

The marketing literature identifies customer satisfaction as an immediate antecedent to customer loyalty. Recently, some marketing researchers have questioned the strength of this link. This thesis provides insight into the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty and determines the effects of moderating factors, particularly the need for variety, on the satisfaction-loyalty relationship.

Controlling and predicting the pilling propensity of knitted wool fabrics

This thesis tackles an important quality issue in the wool industry - the pilling of wool knitwear. Through artificial neural network modelling, the important fibre, yarn and fabric attributes that affect fabric pilling have been identified. A predictive model on fabric pilling has been developed, which will assist the wool industry in the management and control of fabric pilling.

Objective evaluation of fabric pilling propensity

Fabric pilling is of critical importance to the textile industry. This study developed an objective pilling evaluation method using computer image techniques. The applicability and robustness of the proposed method were investigated based on actual knitted fabrics, the results are very accurate and repeatable.

Psychological study of consumer novelty seeking and mass media consumption

The thesis integrates theory from psychology and marketing, finding that those with an innate desire to seek out information on new products / brands are motivated to do so by aspects of regulatory focus, needs for uniqueness, and their susceptibility to interpersonal influence. In turn, these people consume more media and have higher information exposure.

An examination of adolescents' help seeking processes

This thesis examined factors that predict adolescents' professional help seeking when experiencing mental health problems over six months. Factors that strongly predicted help seeking included adolescents' ability to recognise that they were experiencing a problem; the type and severity of the problem experienced; and the preceived support from their family. The portfolio examined the potential benefits of using manualised CBT programs in a more flexible and individualised manner when treating children and adolescents.

Adults with arthritic conditions and care-seeking in an attachment framework

This thesis investigated the role of care-seeking amongst adults with arthritis, using an attachment framework to help explain the inconsistent results of previous studies in regard to psychological adjustment to a chronic illness. The results highlight the importance of attachment processes in partially influencing care-seeking and coping strategies that shape psychological adjustment. The portfolio addresses the frequent co-occurence of depression with chronic medical disorders. This impacts the ability for chronic, medically ill adults to engage in self-management strategies. Four case studies are presented.