A sample of 1,000 households provided 155 responses regarding dissatisfaction with automobile repair service, 166 for medical care, and 176 for grocery shopping. Analysis supported Hirschman's theory of the impact of "loose monopoly" conditions on consumers' choice of responses to marketplace dissatisfactions. (SK)

College students (n=40) in a consumer economics course wrote letters of complaint regarding unsatisfactory products or services. Eighty percent received responses, most within three weeks; 43% of companies complied with requests; 64% of students were satisfied with responses. Those who received no response were less likely to consider doing…

Focus groups conducted in Saint Louis, Missouri, determined consumer and provider perceptions relevant to the roles and functions of community education programs. Needs identified included community unity, services that support families, and more participation in community schools. (JOW)

Describes a faculty research project that involved undergraduate research assistants and offers recommendations to faculty considering implementing a research apprentice program. Focuses on consumer science but the process could be applied to a variety of academic disciplines. (Author/JOW)

A survey of students in Channel One and control schools showed that regular viewing of Channel One reinforces materialistic attitudes. Youngsters are bombarded daily with advertising from adolescent-oriented radio stations, magazines, and TV programs outside school. Channel One does provide educators with a excellent opportunity to educate youth…

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)

A survey of 194 black households in a Chicago neighborhood found that one in five did not use banks, 49% had credit cards, over 75% used alternative financial services (AFS), and many used informal financial networks. Nonbank and AFS users tended to be lower income, less educated, younger, and unmarried people. Consumer education and public policy…

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) education is important to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, and a rationale helps to justify the existence of these programs. This article suggests a critical science-based perspective for developing a rationale. In addition, it poses important questions for teachers, educators, parents,…

This article explores the views of several UK officials on the concepts of performativity and the culture of performance on knowledge management. In his recorded statement in a new BBC4 series, Chancellor Gordon Brown stated that the markets provide opportunities for prosperity, but equally they are not automatically equated with the public…

This article, through an investigation of the development of the concept of the "consumer", argues that recent thinking on consumerism is likely to radically change the metaphors and processes of much business management, and that these changes are likely to feed through into further calls for a restructuring of concepts and practices in the…

Aldo Leopold was a pioneer in United States' wildlife management and his axiom is certainly familiar to anyone who has tried to repair a complex technological system; it applies equally whether one is rebuilding a small block V8 engine or repairing a computer. "Keep all the pieces" is good advice because in all likelihood they will all…

This teacher's manual and student activity book, recommended for use in grades 3 and 4, is designed to teach the basic economic principles, skills, and attitudes all children must learn in order to understand the economic system in which they participate. Lessons and supporting materials have been related to a child's everyday experience, and…

This report tells what information is likely to be in a credit report; how it is collected, filed, and communicated; and how individual rights regarding credit are protected by law. Topics covered include: (1) information generally contained in a credit profile (identification, family status, public record information, credit accounts, and…

In this speech before the Sixtieth National Conference on Weights and Measures, the Director of the Institute for Applied Technology, National Bureau of Standards, presented his view of the imminent conversion to the metric system, outlined some issues related to metrication, and announced appointments related to the change-over. (SD)

Article described a plan of action for nutrition educators. (Author/RK)