Identifies situation in which consumers are likely to substitute rules of thumb for research, reviews rules of thumb often used as substitutes, and identifies teaching activities to help students learn when substitution is appropriate. (JOW)

This study examined the bahavioral science support for a set of 20 food-buying principles. Three types of principles are found; they differ in the consumer behaviors they recommend and in the nature and strength of support they receive in the behavioral science literature. (Author/JOW)

A study randomly assigned 165 subjects to 8 advertising scenarios depicting positive and negative outcomes. Results showed that, in some instances, honest advertising claims were hard for consumers to believe. Consumer skepticism may evolve as a defensive response to persuasive advertising attempts. (Contains 51 references.) (JOW)

This article presents the development process of a consumer-oriented, illustrative benchmarking tool enabling consumers to use the results of environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) to make informed decisions. LCA provides a wealth of information on the environmental impacts of products, but its results are very difficult to present concisely…

This booklet on household equipment, 1 in a series of 12, covers all the basic aspects of personal- and family-money management. Suitable for use by high school and college students as well as adults, this handbook offers information to help buyers purchase household equipment that is within their budget. Section 1 discusses managing equipment…

Considered the nature of the problems and opportunities of the field of consumer education. (Author/RK)

Five problems dealing with consumer education are presented in this book: (1) Why study human behavior? (2) Recognizing consumer problems in American society; (3) Recognizing that price and brand name are not necessarily measures of quality; (4) Increasing purchasing power and personal satisfaction through making a search for information; and (5)…

What policies need to be adopted by consumer-interest organizations? What obstacles and enemies are to be identified? And how shall we deal with them? (Author)

Article discusses various means consumers can utilize to stretch personal and family resources to cover needs and as many of their wants as possible. (Editor)

In considering consumerism in higher education, the student becomes the consumer,'' the university the corporation,'' and higher education the education industry.'' Other members of the education fraternity become investors, management, workers, direct consumers, and indirect consumers. This article proposes that it behooves the student to…

Nine principles concerning calculators are identified and discussed. (DT)

A study investigated the relationship between selected consumer and marketplace characteristics and consumers' prepurchase allocation of search time among information sources (product test reports; dealer sales representatives; advertisements; family and friends). The household production model proved useful; written educational materials appeared…

A study of 220 users and 198 nonusers of manufacturers' rebates found 3 motivational factors that predicted use: (1) consumers' price consciousness; (2) perceived time and effort to redeem rebates; and (3) perceived satisfaction from saving money. Recommendations for more effective redemptions resulted. (SK)