A matrix was developed to provide a framework to organize information and compare the relative cost in monetary and human resources of owning and using traditional and innovative residential major cooking appliances. Laboratory data collected by the first author and by other university researchers with the same five types of cook tops and a microwave oven were analyzed with ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls, and Tukey's HDS procedures. Data were then used to complete the matrix comprising monetary and human resource dimensions thought to contribute to the total cost of ownership and use. Each dimension was assigned a weight to represent its level of importance to consumers. Based on the data, appliances were ranked high, medium, or low on each dimension of the matrix, and a total score was developed for each appliance. The microwave oven received the highest score, followed in order by cooktops with conventional gas burners, conventional electric coils, solid elements, and induction elements. Additional work is needed to refine data collection techniques, to expand the data set to include all types of major appliances currently available for surface cooking, and to validate the content and weights of the matrix.
Assessing satisfaction with housing is an essential tool in designing residential structures and shaping housing policy. Numerous studies have examined differences between demographic characteristics and housing satisfaction, with overwhelming evidence that age is a significant variable. However, explanations for these differences have not been sufficiently addressed. This study attempts to define age-related life cycle differences in relation to housing satisfaction of a rural sample. A mailed questionnaire was used to collect data from a random sample of 1,645 rural households in two southern states. The instrument elicited respondents' demographic characteristics, housing satisfaction, and housing values. Findings indicate significant differences in housing satisfaction among four life cycle groups with elderly respondents being most satisfied and baby boomers being least satisfied. Significant differences in other demographic characteristics and housing values were also found. An important conclusion is that rural communities need to provide a variety of housing options and programs to support diverse life cycle groups.
The purpose of this study was to develop a residential quality index and to test its relationship to residential satisfaction. Factors representing 7 dimensions of residential quality were identified as indexes by using principal component factor analysis. Those factors included environmental safety, planning/landscaping, housing policy, sociocultural environment, public services, housing economics, and physical quality of housing. Of the 7 quality dimensions explored, 5 residential quality indexes-environmental safety, planning/landscaping, housing policy, sociocultural environment, and physical quality of housing-were indicated as significant factors in residential satisfaction.
A two‐step model was employed using data from the 1986 Survey of Consumer Finances to determine the socioeconomic factors predicting female baby boomer labor force participation and for those who are employed, how the socioeconomic factors influence earned income. Logistic regression indicated that children and other income within the household both negatively affect market participation by female members of the baby boom generation. Divorce and education were positively correlated with female baby boomer employment. For female baby boomers who were employed, additional income and children reduced earnings in a multiple regression analysis. A prior divorce and education were positively correlated with female baby boomer earnings. Findings indicated that the influential factors on labor force participation and consequent earnings are not only identical but are also consistent with those for prior generations of women.
The major purpose of this study was to describe undergraduate students' experiences and perceptions of home economics and to work with students to produce a description of those experiences and their relevance to an integrative home economics perspective. Data were gathered through semistructured individual interviews with a purposive sample of 14 seniors in a college of home economics at a large midwestern university. Findings indicated that students' perceptions of home economics ranged from female gender role expectations in early childhood to a currently functioning integrative perspective.
Belief in a just world is associated with an expectation that individuals can determine their own rewards and punishments rather than being at the mercy of external forces (Rotter, 1966). Believers in a just world are likely to view victims as responsible for their fates. An experimental design was used to test the effect of victim clothing, just‐world belief, and sex of subject on attributions concerning sexual harassment. A convenience sample of 200 subjects (97 males, 102females, 1 information missing) was used in a 2 (provocative vs. nonprovocative clothing) × 2 (believers vs. nonbelievers) × 2 (sex of subject) between‐subjects factorial design. The subjects read a vignette that described a claim of sexual harassment, viewed a photograph of the victim, and made attributions reflecting blame by responding to four items. Subjects also indicated the likelihood that a male supervisor would engage in each of eight sexually harassing behaviors. Multivariate analyses of variance, analyses of variance, and the Newman‐Keuls test were used to analyze the data. Subjects indicated that the victim appearing in provocative clothing, as opposed to the victim in nonprovocative clothing, could have prevented the incident, provoked the advances, and brought about the advances. Female subjects indicated that a male supervisor was more likely to engage in sexually harassing behaviors than did male subjects. Subjects also indicated a female appearing in provocative clothing was more likely to be the recipient of sexually harassing behavior than a female in nonprovocative clothing.
This study sought to determine what Chinese urban parents perceived as their strengths and needs in rearing “only” children. The Parental Strengths and Needs Inventory was administered to a sample of 208 workers in the Special Iron & Steel Company in Beijing, China, who were parents of only children from ages 6–13. Sixty Likert‐type questions served to identify strengths and needs in 6 sub‐areas: parent satisfaction, parent success, home teaching, parent difficulty, parent frustration, and information needs. The overwhelming majority of urban parents of only children reported that they possessed strengths in child rearing. However, the Chinese parents perceived differential strengths and needs in child rearing related to gender of parents (e.g., doing a good job as caregiver, letting the child enjoy free time) and gender of child (e.g., watching the development of self‐confidence, overall parent frustration). Four conclusions were drawn from this study: (a) Parents perceived themselves to have strengths in only‐child rearing; (b) mothers perceived themselves as more successful than fathers in only‐child rearing; (c) parents of sons reported more child rearing frustrations and difficulties than parents of daughters; and (d) there appeared to be a cross‐sex relationship (father‐daughter; mother‐son) in some areas of only‐child rearing, particularly home teaching.
Over $5 billion in child support went unpaid in 1989 alone. One fourth of the 10 million custodial mothers eligible for child support are currently married. This study uses both reports of child support payment from noncustodial fathers and reports of child support receipt made by custodial mothers to examine the impact of current marital status on the payment of child support. The data are from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Findings indicate that if either parent is currently married, less child support is paid. Policy implications depend upon how this result is interpreted. Noncompliance with a child support award indicates increased award enforcement is needed. Underlying the compliance issue, however, is how to distribute parental incomes equitably after second families are formed.
The authors used categorization theory to guide research on apparel quality. Respondents were females, 150 students and 55 nonstudent adults, who wrote at least three sentences about the quality of (a) apparel and (b) a blouse. Using content analysis, four classifications were formed to describe the criteria attributes: aesthetic (e.g., stylish), usefulness (e.g., versatile), performance (e.g., does not shrink), and extrinsic criteria (e.g., brand name). Aesthetic and performance criteria accounted for 81% to 83% of criteria mentioned. When the data were pooled, respondents generated more criteria to classify blouse quality than to classify apparel quality. Furthermore, criteria for blouse quality were mentioned more often than criteria for apparel quality suggesting that, at the aggregate level, respondents used blouse quality as a basic level category. However when data were analyzed separately by consumer experience (e.g., age), differences in categorization schemes were found. These results have implications for merchandising strategies that focus on quality.
A telephone survey of a random sample of adult Nebraskans was conducted to identify the vegetables they consumed and the methods they used to cook these vegetables. Subjects were called in the evening after the last meal of the day, and were asked to respond to questions about the vegetables they had eaten that day. Results indicated 15% of the 538 respondents did not eat a vegetable on the day they were contacted, 26% ate 1 vegetable, 25% ate 2 vegetables, and 34% ate 3 or more vegetables. Mean vegetable consumption was 2.2 vegetables per person per day. Twenty‐one different vegetables were eaten and 4 of these, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes, accounted for 48% of vegetables consumed. One third of the vegetables were eaten raw. When they were cooked, the cookery method used most often was on the stove top (i.e., boiling). This method was used more than twice as often as the microwave for cooking vegetables. Results of this survey indicate that nutrition education programs need to encourage increased vegetable consumption and the use of vegetable cookery methods that maximize nutrient retention.
Current receptivity of seventh-and eighth-grade home economics teachers and supervisors in New York State to the four modules of the Home and Career Skills curriculum was investigated in relation to level of curriculum implementation and to perceived risks and/or benefits to status perquisites. Giacquinta's (1975a) status-risk theory of receptivity provides the theoretical framework for data analysis. Usable responses represented 82% (n = 280) of the population surveyed. The study found that both teachers and supervisors were highly receptive to the four modules of the Home and Career Skills curriculum and that there was a high level of implementation of the four curriculum modules. Receptivity was also shown to be related to the teachers' and supervisors' perception of status perquisite benefits. The major benefits perceived were self-esteem or competence, increased in-service education (training), availability of resources, confidence as an educator, and job security. The authors find that the status-risk theory of receptivity is an example of theories that could contribute to a better understanding of curriculum change in home economics and should be used in future studies.
Perception of organic produce among Alaskan direct‐market patrons (N = 417) was examined in a mailed survey. Response rate was 80%. Responsefrequency was tabulated, and relationships were delineated using chi‐square analysis. Healthfulness of the food supply was a concern, despite a perception that quality and healthfulness of thefood supply had improved since 1987. These attributes were also important infresh produce selection. Organic produce preference was related to both environmental and personal‐safety concerns. More than half of these consumers had purchased organic produce within the last year; supermarkets and direct markets were the primary sources. Although organic produce was not purchased exclusively, previous purchase increased the likelihood offuture purchase. A certification process was desired. Half preferred a government certification agent; 28% preferred public and private sector involvement. Information dissemination should address (a) pesticide usefor cosmetic purposes, (b) appearance and food safety, (c) flavor and shipping characteristics, and (d) production method and nutritive content.
The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of preretirees that predict perception of the likelihood of their making a move at retirement. The random sample included employees, 40 years or older, of nine land grant universities. Data were collected from 5,662 people via a mail survey and analyzed by frequency distributions and multiple classification analysis. Twenty-six characteristics of preretirees were divided into four variable groups for separate multiple classification analyses. The 10 best predictors were then segregated from their variable groups and combined for a final analysis. Together, they explained 31.1% of the variance in perceived likelihood of postretirement migration. A model of personal determinants of the first postretirement move was created to conceptualize how the characteristics of preretirees interact in producing postretirement migration decisions. The four best predictors were in the perceptions of retirement and relocation variables group. Also, people who thought they would not experience difficulty in makings move, who had decided when to retire but not where, were renters, or who preferred to be near oceans rather than mountains were more likely to perceive that they were likely to move on retirement. Further research could determine if perceptions of likelihood of moving result in an actual move.
This study examined differences in particle release due to various types of human activity and two types of head covering. The number of particles released from female subjects while clothed in a selected garment and different head and face coverings during five types of movements was statistically analyzed. Results indicated that the complete coverage hood, which enclosed the entire head and face, was more effective in containing particle release from head and face areas at minimal activity levels than was the traditional hood. However, at maximum activity involving arm and body twist movements, both hoods were similar in terms of controlling particle contamination from head and face areas.
Perceptions of the experience of “flow” as described by M. Csikszentmihalyi was examined among child‐care employees. Flow was defined as the difference between raters' perceptions of the challenges presented by child‐care employment and their self‐reported skills for the job. Teachers (N = 189) of 4‐year‐olds rated their perceived skills and challenges on 10 activities that typically occur during a day at a child‐care center. Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated no significant effect on Flow due to the amount of child‐care training, the number of years of preschool teaching experience, or the interaction between Education and Experience. The flow variable, which is a direct comparison of perceived skills and challenges, was significant. Post hoc analysis indicated that mean ratings on skills were significantly higher than the mean ratings on challenges on all 10 teaching activities. According to flow theory, then, these teachers would be expected to experience boredom rather than flow in work. The results suggest that teacher education programs might focus on enabling caregivers to recognize challenges inherent in routine caregiving or to create challenges to make the work experience more enjoyable.
Several household tasks in which children are reported to participate may involve use of mechanical or automatic home appliances. To contribute to safe use, instruction manuals to which children may need to refer, especially when theyare home alone, should be understandable to them. Cloze tests for analysis of readability of instructions for use and care of 13 major and portable home appliances were administered to 477 childrenfrom ages 8 to 17 years. Scores were associated with age and/or grade level with given appliances. For most appliances, the scoresfor children were clustered in the 30% to 40% range of agreement with the original passages.
This article reports 870 titles of theses and dissertations completed in 1992 in colleges and universities throughout the United States. The seven tables illustrate information about graduate research in the human‐related sciences. These tables summarize the information by institution, subject matter, ranking of institutions, degree, and leading subject matter area for the years 1987 to 1992.
This study examines the validity of the mental‐accounting concept. Three hierarchical mental accounts are conceptually identified, representing a continuum from most basic (ACCT1) to least basic (ACCT3) needs, and empirically formed. Families are hypothesized to have different marginal propensities to consume from different mental accounts, and two related hypotheses are developed. Using data from 1983 and 1986 Surveys of Consumer Finances, estimates of stock adjustment models indicate that all families at low‐, middle‐, and high‐income level adjusted their savings from real stocks to desirable stocks fastest in ACCT3 and slowest in ACCT1. In the middle‐income sample, results showed that savings in ACCT1 at the end of the previous period had the largest negative influence on changes in ACCT2 and ACCT3, and savings in ACCT3 had the least influence on changes in the other two accounts, over one period of time. These findings supported the hypotheses derived from the mental‐accounting assumption.
A comprehensive model was developed to explain gender wage differentials. The model is made up of three major components—human capital variables, socioeconomic variables, and structural components of the labor market. Uniqueness is provided through availability of work history data, correction for selection bias, and control for interaction by age. Men's wages exceed women's for all age cohorts. Decomposition of the wage differential involves examining differences in endowments or characteristics by race, gender, and age cohort. Investment in human capital increases wages but explains little of the differential. Few labor market variables affect wages, yet they explain large percentages of the differential.
This article reviews the incidence of disability within the non‐institutionalized U.S. resident population, with estimates of gender differences and severe limitations. Estimates of the desire for functional independence among the elderly are presented, and theoretical frameworks related to choice, consumer efficiency, consumer decisions, and housing norms are reviewed. Accommodation of a wheelchair was chosen as the measure to be studied because it is the means of mobility for those with the most severe mobility limitations. Three states, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah collected data on wheelchair accommodation of existing housing, resulting in a sample of 1,549 homeowners. Only 1% of the respondents indicated that their homes would accommodate a wheelchair at the present. However, 77% indicated that their homes could be modified to accommodate a wheelchair, and 22% responded that costs for modifications to their present homes would be prohibitive. Home economics educators have an obligation to educate the public to the needs for accessible and/or adaptable housing and unite architects, designers, home builders, and realtors in an effort to increase the proportion of wheelchair‐accessible housing, to accommodate all types of mobility impairment regardless of age.
