The relevance and irrelevance of the brand for small and medium wine enterprises

Given the proliferation of wine brands, developing a brand without understanding its impact on wine choice is a risky business; particularly for SMEs with limited financial resources.

This paper fills an important gap in the wine marketing literature, particularly as it relates to SMEs in the sector, by investigating the effect of the brand on wine choice. Surveying a range of wine consumers, it was found that while the brand was relevant in wine choice the weighted importance of the brand elements changed across consumption situations. This novel finding should assist SMEs to grow their businesses beyond the traditional cellar door.

An examination of the mediating role of salt knowledge and beliefs on the relationship between socio-demographic factors and discretionary salt use: a cross-sectional study

Background Discretionary salt use varies according to socio-demographic factors. However, it is unknown whether salt knowledge and beliefs mediate this relationship. This study examined the direct and indirect effect of socio-demographic factors on salt knowledge and discretionary salt use in a sample of 530 Australian adults.

Methods An internet based cross-sectional survey was used to collect data for this study. Participants completed an online questionnaire which assessed their salt knowledge, beliefs and salt use behaviour. Mplus was used to conduct structural equation modelling to estimate direct and indirect effects.

Results The mean age of the participants was 49.2 years, and about a third had tertiary education. Discretionary salt use was inversely related to age (r=-0.11; p<0.05), and declarative salt knowledge (knowledge of factual information) scores (r = -0.17; p<0.01), but was positively correlated with misconceptions about salt (r = 0.09; p<0.05) and beliefs about the taste of salt (r = 0.51; p<0.001). Structural equation modelling showed age, education and gender were indirectly associated with the use of discretionary salt through three mediating pathways; declarative salt knowledge, misconceptions about salt and salt taste beliefs.

Conclusions Inequalities observed between socio-demographic groups in their use of discretionary salt use can potentially be reduced through targeted salt knowledge and awareness campaigns.

Moral antecedents of smoking behavior and risk beliefs among overseas Asian students

Instead of focusing on the misconduct of multinational cigarette manufacturers, this research project broadens the discussion of cigarette consumption by focusing on the moral antecedent variables that shape young adults' smoking behavior and risk beliefs. It especially challenges current wisdom among anti-smoking advocates that by increasing consumer knowledge of the medical risks associated with smoking will lead to significant reductions in young adult smoking prevalence rates. Empirical results of this study suggest that although increasing smoking risk knowledge does not significantly reduce Asian students' smoking behavior, increasing their risk assessment beliefs does produce the desirable public policy effect of reducing current smoking. Furthermore, only among rules-driven individuals does an increase in no harm scores significantly reduce student smoking risk assessment beliefs. Thus, current anti-smoking advertising campaigns among overseas Asian students may be more effective if they attempt to change these students' smoking risks assessment beliefs especially if they are targeted to rules-driven student market segments.

The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ) : Examination in nonclinical samples and development of a short version

The study aimed to examine the factor structure of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ), the most widely used measure of dysfunctional beliefs in obsessive—compulsive disorder (OCD). Multiple exploratory methods (exploratory factor analysis, cluster analysis by variable, multidimensional scaling) were used to examine the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses were also performed in two large nonclinical samples from Australia (N = 1,234) and Israel ( N = 617). Our analyses suggested a four-factor solution with 38 items, where threat and responsibility formed separate dimensions (the “OBQ-TRIP”). This version had superior fit statistics across the two divergent confirmatory samples, when compared with four alternative models suggested by previous authors. Of the OBQ dimensions, the threat scale correlated most strongly with OCD symptom measures, even when controlling for depression. A short, 20-item version of the scale is offered for further study. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Retail brand orientation, positional advantage and organisational performance

This study adopts a resource-based view of branding referred to as brand orientation. Despite the importance of branding in retail, relatively little empirical research has been conducted to understand the degree to which retailers can be considered brand oriented. The purpose of the present research is to establish a conceptualisation of brand orientation that is applicable in a retail context across countries. Moreover, we seek to empirically validate a model of the retail brand orientation–positional advantage–organisational performance relationship and to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors driving retailer performance. A mail survey was used to collect data from retail firms in Australia, USA and UK. The unit of analysis is the retail firm. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess the measurement properties of the study constructs and structural equation modelling was performed to test the research model. The findings suggest that four elements of retail brand orientation (functionality, distinctiveness, augmentation and symbolism) play different roles in relation to certain aspects of positional advantage, which highlights the importance of developing strength in all four areas. Similarly, a position of superiority in only one aspect of a retailer's offer is insufficient to assure both financial and strategic returns.

An examination of police officers' beliefs about how children report abuse

The aim of this study was to examine police officers’ beliefs about how children report abuse. Fifty-two officers read transcripts of nine interviews, which were conducted with actual children or adults playing the role of the child witness. Officers indicated whether they thought the interviews were with an actual child and justified their decisions. In-depth interviews were conducted to determine the reasons behind their decisions. Overall, officers’ decisions were no better than chance. When making these decisions, officers focused on three areas: whether they considered the child's language to be age-appropriate, whether they thought that the content of the statement was plausible, and whether they thought that the child had acted in a manner consistent with recollecting a traumatic event. The findings suggest that the characteristics officers rely on when evaluating children's statements of abuse are not reliable indicators. They suggest that officers’ beliefs about these statements need to be challenged during training to reduce the effects of those beliefs on their later decisions.

Does brand influence wine purchase?

Given the proliferation of brands in the wine market, positioning a wine on the basis of its brand is becoming a priority for winemakers. However, developing a brand without understanding its impact on purchase is risky business. This study investigates the influence of the brand on wine purchase. The results indicate that the connoisseur is more likely to rely on the brand in wine purchase. Whereas the aspirational consumer is less likely to be influenced by the brand; and more likely to make wine purchase decisions on the basis of the label design and perceived personality.

Mediated and direct effects of general control beliefs on obsessive compulsive symptoms

Although control-related cognitions have often been implicated in discussions of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), empirical investigations of the relationship between control constructs and OCD symptoms have been relatively limited. This article investigated the hypothesis that OCD symptoms may be linked with a higher desire for control (DC), but a lower sense of control (SC) over the self and environment, leading to motivation for compulsive symptoms. It also investigated whether this effect was direct, or mediated through other OCD-related cognitions. This hypothesis was investigated in a nonclinical population, using path analyses controlling for depression. It was found that higher levels of DC and lower levels of SC were associated with higher levels of OCD-related beliefs, and with symptoms via higher OCD-related beliefs. SC was also directly linked with higher OCD symptoms. Control beliefs regarding both the internal (emotions) and external (threat) environment were related to OCD symptoms. Implications for therapy and research are discussed.