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Background : The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had increased population-level anxiety and had elicited panic buying behaviour across the world. The over-hoarding of toilet paper has received a lot of negative public attention. In this work, we used Twitter data to qualitatively analyse tweets related to panic buying of toilet paper during the crisis. Methods : A total of 255,171 tweets were collected. Of these 4081 met our inclusion criteria and 100 tweets were randomly selected to develop a coding scheme in the initial phase. Random samples of tweets in folds of 100 were then qualitatively analysed in the focused coding phase until saturation was met at 500 tweets analysed. Results : Five key themes emerged: (1) humour or sarcasm, (2) marketing or profiteering, (3) opinion and emotions, (4) personal experience, and (5) support or information. About half of the tweets carried negative sentiments, expressing anger or frustration towards the deficiency of toilet paper and the frantic situation of toilet paper hoarding, which were among the most influential tweets. Discussion : Panic buying of toilet paper was seen during the 2020 pandemic period with a mass amount of related content spread across social media. The spontaneous contagion of fear and panic through social media could fuel psychological reactions in midst of crises. The high level of negative social media posts regarding the toilet paper crisis acts as an emotional trigger of public anxiety and panic. Conclusions : Social media data can provide rapid infodemiology of public mental health. In a pandemic or crisis situation, real-time data could be monitored and content-analysed for authorities to promptly address public concerns.

Ecolabeled paper towels are manufactured using post-consumer recycled material and sold in markets using a recycle logo. Environmentally conscious consumers purchase these paper towels and thereby contribute to improving environmental quality. In this paper, we estimate the implicit value placed by consumers on ecolabeled paper towels using a hedonic price function and conduct an expenditure analysis using Heckman's selection model. Using the data set from the Internet-based grocery stores called as Peapod we find that some consumers recognize ecolabels on paper towels and place a substantial, positive price premium on them. The expenditure analysis indicates that for the preferred functional form, the demand for ecolabeled paper towels is inelastic for environmentally conscious consumers. The simulated results from the selection model indicate that a small subsidy for ecolabeled paper towels will not substantially change consumers' purchase decisions.

The authors used time-series data from 1975 to 2020 on combustible renewables and waste production and recycling. References 1 Ben Yahya T., Jamal N.M., Sundarakani B., Omain S.Z. The Effects of Data Security and Perceived Benefits on Mobile Phone Recycling Behaviour and the Recycling Intention Mediation Role. This Special Issue aimed to collect high-quality papers (original research articles or comprehensive review papers) published during 2022 on the subject of waste recycling. Waste Management Analyses Efficient waste management systems are crucial in order to match the high recycling goals set by European Union by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

The financial motivation to earn advertising revenue has been widely conjectured to be pivotal for the production of online misinformation 1-4 . Research aimed at mitigating misinformation has so far focused on interventions at the user level 5-8 , with little emphasis on how the supply of misinformation can itself be countered. Here we show how online misinformation is largely financed by advertising, examine how financing misinformation affects the companies involved, and outline interventions for reducing the financing of misinformation. First, we find that advertising on websites that publish misinformation is pervasive for companies across several industries and is amplified by digital advertising platforms that algorithmically distribute advertising across the web. Using an information-provision experiment 9 , we find that companies that advertise on websites that publish misinformation can face substantial backlash from their consumers. To examine why misinformation continues to be monetized despite the potential backlash for the advertisers involved, we survey decision-makers at companies. We find that most decision-makers are unaware that their companies' advertising appears on misinformation websites but have a strong preference to avoid doing so. Moreover, those who are unaware and uncertain about their company's role in financing misinformation increase their demand for a platform-based solution to reduce monetizing misinformation when informed about how platforms amplify advertising placement on misinformation websites. We identify low-cost, scalable information-based interventions to reduce the financial incentive to misinform and counter the supply of misinformation online., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The high uncertainty around the COVID‐19 pandemic elicited an unprecedented level of panic buying during the early months. Using the framework of stress and coping, the current study conceptualized and tested a theoretical model that predicts individuals' panic buying in two countries. A survey of US (n = 311) and Korean consumers (n = 347) revealed that negative emotions (loneliness and anxiety) contributed to panic buying, yet two important coping resources, resilience and social support, were effective in protecting consumers from engaging in a maladaptive coping strategy. The hypothesis that collectivism (vs. individualism) would make consumers rely on social (vs. personal) coping resources was partially supported. The results highlight the unique circumstance of the global pandemic in which social support works as both a resource for healthy coping and a source to increase negative emotions, and call for future investigation of the complex role of social support in the context of stress and coping theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inconsistencies among testing methods and results in previous research prompted this study that builds upon a systematic usability testing research framework to better understand how interface medium influences users' abilities to detect usability flaws in applications. Interface medium was tested to identify its effects on users' perceptions of usability and abilities to detect usability problems and severe usability problems. Results indicated that medium has no effect on users' abilities to detect usability problems or perceptions of usability. However, results did indicate an interaction between the medium and the tested application in which users were able to identify significantly more usability problems on a higher fidelity medium using a particular application. Results also indicated that as users' perceptions of an application's usability increases, the users are less able to detect usability problems in that application. Usability testing should begin early in the design process, even if low fidelity mediums will be used., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.)

This study explored the viewing distance and screen angle for electronic paper (E-Paper) displays under various light sources, ambient illuminations, and character sizes. Data analysis showed that the mean viewing distance and screen angle were 495 mm and 123.7 degrees. The mean viewing distances for Kolin Chlorestic Liquid Crystal display was 500 mm, significantly longer than Sony electronic ink display, 491 mm. Screen angle for Kolin was 127.4 degrees, significantly greater than that of Sony, 120.0 degrees. Various light sources revealed no significant effect on viewing distances; nevertheless, they showed significant effect on screen angles. The screen angle for sunlight lamp (D65) was similar to that of fluorescent lamp (TL84), but greater than that of tungsten lamp (F). Ambient illumination and E-paper type had significant effects on viewing distance and screen angle. The higher the ambient illumination was, the longer the viewing distance and the lesser the screen angle. Character size had significant effect on viewing distances: the larger the character size, the longer the viewing distance. The results of this study indicated that the viewing distance for E-Paper was similar to that of visual display terminal (VDT) at around 500 mm, but greater than normal paper at about 360 mm. The mean screen angle was around 123.7 degrees, which in terms of viewing angle is 29.5 degrees below horizontal eye level. This result is similar to the general suggested viewing angle between 20 degrees and 50 degrees below the horizontal line of sight.

The objective of this paper is to show the added value of using tools such as eyetracking, galvanic skin response, facial coding and others in the field of market research and user experience research. We will present 3 case studies in which these tools have been used successfully. We will give an overview of the background, the objectives, methods and results and how the neuro-tools provided additional insights into consumer behaviour, which would otherwise not have been possible. In this paper we will specifically show cases from packaging design, advertising research and user experience research thus only covering a small part of possible application areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online medical information, when presented to clinicians, must be well-organized and intuitive to use, so that the clinicians can conduct their daily work efficiently and without error. It is essential to actively seek to produce good user interfaces that are acceptable to the user. This paper describes the methodology used to develop a simplified heuristic evaluation (HE) suitable for the evaluation of screen shots of Web pages, the development of an HE instrument used to conduct the evaluation, and the results of the evaluation of the aforementioned screen shots. In addition, this paper presents examples of the process of categorizing problems identified by the HE and the technological solutions identified to resolve these problems. Four usability experts reviewed 18 paper-based screen shots and made a total of 108 comments. Each expert completed the task in about an hour. We were able to implement solutions to approximately 70% of the violations. Our study found that a heuristic evaluation using paper-based screen shots of a user interface was expeditious, inexpensive, and straightforward to implement.

Green consumption is a crucial pathway towards achieving global sustainability goals. Product-oriented green advertisements can effectively stimulate consumers' latent needs and convert them into eventual purchasing intentions and behaviors, thereby promoting green consumption. Given that neuromarketing methods facilitate the understanding of consumers' decision-making processes, this study combines prospect theory and need fulfillment theory, employing event-related potentials (ERPs) as measures to explore changes in consumers' cognitive resources and emotional arousal levels when confronted with green products and advertising information. This enables inference regarding consumers' acceptance of purchasing and their psychological processes. Behavioral results indicated that message framing influences consumers' purchases, with consumers consuming more green in response to negatively framed advertisements. EEG results indicated that matching positive framing with utilitarian green products was effective in increasing consumers' cognitive attention in the early cognitive stage. In the late stage of cognition negative frames stimulated consumers' mood swings more, and the influence of product type depended on the role of message frames, and the consumption motivation induced by the product, whose influence was overridden by external evaluations such as message frames. These research findings provide an explanation for the impact of frame information on consumers' purchasing decisions at different stages, assisting marketers in devising diverse promotional strategies based on product characteristics to foster the development and practice of green consumption. This will further embed the concept of green consumption advocated by organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Greenpeace into the public consciousness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to identify the performance properties that drive the shelf price of kitchen paper towels and evaluate whether sustainability is an important driver for pricing. Nineteen products were compared according to their performance (softness, absorbency, and strength), technology, and fiber morphology. Metrics to rank the products in different grades (economy, premium, and ultra) according to their performance were provided. A multiple linear regression showed that absorbency and softness are the most significant properties used to predict the price. Market data indicates that there is a segment of consumers willing to pay a premium price for products marketed as "sustainable", even though their performance is comparatively inferior to the majority of the samples. Sustainable products are up to 85% more expensive than regular products. The metrics obtained in this work can contribute to improvement in market transparency, and aid companies in deciding strategies for product development and new investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When choices are made from ordered lists, individuals can exhibit biases toward selecting certain options as a result of the ordering. We examine this phenomenon in the context of consumer response to the ordering of economics papers in an e-mail announcement issued by the NBER. We show that despite the effectively random list placement, papers listed first each week are about 30% more likely to be viewed, downloaded, and subsequently cited. We suggest that a model of "skimming" behavior, where individuals focus on the first few papers in the list due to time constraints, would be most consistent with our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this discussion paper is to foster the debate among scholars on some of the key issues that are currently challenging the impact of academic wine consumer studies and encourage younger researchers towards alternative paths. Based on my personal experience, I will focus on some scholars' practices that (in my view) could be revised to increase the reconnection of researchers to the practical world, namely: topic relevance Vs. trendiness, methodological approaches and data utility, sample issues and the replication crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The increasing presence of e-books (electronic books) has become a major focus in countries around the world. In the United States, e-books represented 28% of the total book sales for 2012. In Japan, the conversion from paper books to e-books is expected to accelerate by the prevalent use of smartphones and tablet PCs. It is therefore important to quantitatively evaluate the environmental load of paper books and e-books for a sustainable society. In this study, paper books are compared to e-books read on different electronic devices (e-ink tablets, tablets, cell phones, smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers and portable music players) through a case study on a 224-page book. The study is based on key primary data such as use time and reading speed for each device and aims to minimize assumptions made in other studies. GHG emissions for paper books are 1.24 kg-CO 2 e/book, and are reduced to 1.11 kg-CO 2 e/book when the effect of paper recycling is taken into consideration. The results for e-books under average use-time conditions range from 0.25 to 0.91 kg-CO 2 e/book with the e-ink tablet having the lowest emissions. When the average use time of each e-book device is applied, the paper book has a higher impact than all the e-books. However, sensitivity analysis shows that the impact of paper books can be lower than that of e-books for larger screen devices such as tablets, laptops and desktops when the reuse of books is considered or the e-book reading device is hardly used during its life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the dynamics of volatile compound alterations during the storage of ground roasted coffee in various packaging were investigated using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Each type of packaging underwent repeated opening and closing, simulating the gradual consumption behavior of the consumer who consumes ground coffee in smaller doses over time. The experimental results revealed that after 30 days of storage, 35 to 45% of the volatile substances originally present in the coffee were lost regardless of the type of packaging used. Notably, storing coffee in a paper sachet proved to be the least effective method, resulting in a loss of over 80% of all volatile coffee substances during this storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, introduced by Mehrabian and Russell in 1974, has become a dominant theoretical model in the service industry to determine consumer behaviour. However, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the theory are rare, and most research produces only empirical data. This research paper aims to compile and analyse research articles that have applied the SOR theory within the healthcare sector over the past five years to measure the model’s effect and relevancy. The paper establishes a consistent method of compiling past papers from online databases, and only research papers cited under the SOR theory in the healthcare sector are analysed. The study finds that the SOR model is commonly used alongside other theories, such as Flow Theory and Theory of Reasoned Actions, and can be deemed generalizable to the service industry regardless of the industry. However, the paper has limitations, such as the overgeneralization of the collection of SOR papers without a specific scope, and future research could improve the results by carrying out a metaanalysis to further determine the overall model’s reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous sources of data that are traditionally used by small businesses and entrepreneurship researchers, primarily from government entities, have not caught-up with actual conditions on the ground. COVID-19's impact on the social and economic picture around the globe has been like watching a train wreck taking place on "Main Street" in slow motion. Doomsday "preppers" and at least some of their prognostications and suggestions moved towards the mainstream, having greater acceptance than before. One of the more popular books on Amazon, covering the topic of canning and preserving foods, was on backorder for at least several weeks, and as of the time of this writing, it has been months since one could easily acquire canning supplies such as jar lids on retailers' shelves. There were shortages on major websites of sewing machines, elastic, and other materials--even those that are substitute goods such as coffee filters, when individuals and groups engaged in making their own masks. Panic buying also wiped out inventories of hand sanitizers, disinfecting aerosol sprays, bleach, toilet paper, and numerous other products that consumers felt they might need, including guns and ammunition. A vast majority of businesses have not fared well. Hospitality, tourism, and the restaurant industries have been hit hard, and there are also disparate impacts among certain demographic groups relative to small-business owners. Bad actors are also hard at work, launching scams. Many have essential items for resale on websites such as Craigslist and eBay. This research presents a systematic review of the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. It further examines the phenomenon in a broader socioeconomic and cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of digital technologies on the field of finance. It highlights how digital finance, including mobile banking, digital wallets, fintech innovations, and robo-advisors, has transformed consumer behavior and the global financial system. The article calls for research papers that explore the systemic impacts of digital finance, propose new methodologies for analysis, and examine the broader economic implications of its rapid growth. The special issue aims to address topics such as artificial intelligence in financial economics, digital currencies and payment systems, decentralized financing, the socioeconomic implications of digital technologies, digitization in various industries, network security, and regulation. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2025, and accepted papers will be published in regular issues of Management Science. [Extracted from the article]

The 32nd annual conference of the Nordic Society of Logistics researchers, NOFOMA2020, was originally planned and organized by the University of Iceland, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, and should have taken place early June that year. At the deadline for revised full papers and work-in-progress papers, 60 full papers had been accepted for the conference proceedings, but due to the format of the conference, few work-in-progress papers were in the end presented. Given the fact that the conference was going to be a virtual one, not really in charge of a specific academic organization, as is the tradition, the NOFOMA Board decided to take over part of the organization of the conference and prepared the online conference that took place on September 17-18, 2020. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To influence consumer pre-purchase decision-making processes, such as brand selection and perceived brand experience, brands are interested in adopting hyperconnected technological stimuli, such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality, social media and tech devices. However, the understanding of different hyperconnected touchpoints remained shallow and results mixed in previous literature, despite the fact that these touchpoints span different technological interfaces/devices and may influence consumer brand selection. This paper aims to solidify the conceptual underpinnings of the role of online hyperconnected stimuli, which may influence consumer psychological reactions in terms of brand selection and experience. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is conceptual and presents a discussion based on extant literature from various international publishers. Findings: The authors revealed different technological stimuli in the online hyperconnected environment that may influence consumer online hyperconnected brand selection (OHBS), perceived online hyperconnected brand experience (OHBE), perceived well-being and behavioral intention. Originality/value: The conceptual understanding of OHBS and perceived OHBE was mixed and inconsistent in previous studies. This paper brings together extant literature to establish the conceptual understanding of antecedents and outcomes of OHBS, i.e. perceived OHBE, perceived well-being and behavioral intention, and presents a cohesive conceptual framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the analysis of the preferences of different customer generations in Slovakia in the field of marketing communication and its influence on consumer behaviour. Currently, marketing communication is an integral part of company strategies and has a key influence on how customers choose products or services. With the increasing importance of the generational segmentation of customers, understanding their individual preferences and tendencies in communication becomes an essential prerequisite for success. In this paper, we explore how preferences differ between Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z, and how these preferences influence their consumer behaviour. Based on the analysis of primary and secondary data, the main trends and preferences of generations in the field of marketing communication were identified. This paper provides useful information that can be used by companies in the creation and implementation of marketing strategies. At the same time, the paper enables a better understanding of the dynamics of consumer behaviour in the context of generational preferences and will help identify opportunities for improving marketing activities and more effective communication with target groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite half a century's extensive scholarly research in the decision-making process of individuals around the adoption of new innovations, innovation practitioners are still not able to capitalise sufficiently on the existing knowledge base to successfully commercialise new products. Evidence of this stems from consumers' continued rejection of new offerings at alarming rates. This makes the marketing of innovation, with a focus on influencing consumers' decision-making process, one of the most challenging corporate challenges for new product managers. To address this gap, this paper sequentially applies a systematic literature review (SLR), followed by extensive descriptive and bibliometric analyses, to reveal and assess the current state of knowledge in this field. Furthermore, the analysis identifies six prominent future research paths that could fill identified gaps in knowledge. Using the results of the bibliometric section, practitioners can pinpoint specific research areas of interest, enabling them to access and utilise findings from past studies more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]