Overview of research techniques involved in gathering information on current products that can provide input into new product development highlights consumer purchase and use patterns. Comparison of mail questionnaires, telephone surveys, focus group sessions, and in-person interviews notes type of data, timing, relative costs, and advantages and…

Purchased application software has created a new set of problems for project managers charged with selection and implementation responsibilities. Eight activity phases in the software selection process are identified. Development and utilization of this approach at the University of Houston are described. (Author/MLW)

An evaluation of female roles as portrayed by TV commercials (1977) suggests a decline in the role of mother as moral socializer, a rise in self-indulgent consumer behavior in children and exaggerated generational and sex-role differentiation. (JCD)

The culture of affluent societies in the late 20th century was characterized by French postmodern theorist, Jean Baudrillard, as consisting of "ambient consumerism" in which placement in the social hierarchy depends on acquiring products with a "sign" value conveying messages about status and purchasing power. Discusses…

It is proposed that one external force, consumerism, is determining what happens in colleges and universities. The new market for higher education is dominated by students who make choices in a very different way from traditional students. Current students seek credentials and want practical knowledge in an easily consumed package. (MSE)

Analyzes the cause of the massacre at Colorado's Columbine high school by other students. Considers the incident systemic of opposing tendencies, values, and motives surrounding childhood and the weakening of the power to affect one's surroundings due to the dominance of commercial culture. (JPB)

Web portals--those online environments that encourage users to trade personal information for the opportunity to personalise the information space--are experiencing a considerable resurgence in popularity. Web portals are web sites that allow users to log on with a username and password and create their very own datastructure. This datastructure…

The rhetoric of political campaigns is loaded with references about the economy. Terms such as unemployment, recession, and GDP are often used carelessly, without regard to definitions or qualifications. That makes economists cringe and is a special problem for social studies teachers who are expected to know about such things. In this article,…

This document examines the underlying rationale for the development of a global approach in consumer studies. The concept of consumer ethics is discussed and the consumer decision-making process is placed within an ecosystem perspective of the marketplace. The model developed introduces educators, marketers, and consumers to a more global…

Disadvantages of the post industrial society to developing nations are examined. For example, a dominant feature of this new era is the questioning of material values and a shift towards the quality of life syndrome. As a result, the validity of the growth and profit motif is being questioned. (RM)

There are certain problems inherent in the public nature of rehabilitation delivery systems, including funding, managerial restraints, lack of consumer choice, and limited resources. Key ingredients in private rehabilitation are consumerism, quality control, and competition. Reasons for optimism concerning privatization include increased…

Explains how instruction and social, economic, and value factors can influence consumer topics. Reports the results of a British Columbia survey which identified 32 core consumer mathematics curriculum areas for secondary schools. (LRA)

Argues that there are several shortcomings in the usual textbook treatment of consumer equilibrium theory and proposes the removal of the law of diminishing marginal utility from advanced level syllabuses. (Author)

Personal income is a key factor affecting not only the amount American families spend for food but also the types of food they buy. This article presents results from an analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, the latest data available on household food consumption for the entire population and for…

Although information systems developers are encouraged to adopt a client/server orientation, systems architectures and tools are still evolving. Successful applications must be built on standards and a well-defined system architecture, and data administration issues must be addressed. Key management concerns for colleges and universities are…