Comparative Longitudinal Consumer Information Research in Germany and the United States. German Studies Notes.

Autor/inn/en	Thorelli, Hans B.; und weitere
Institution	Indiana Univ., Bloomington. Inst. of German Studies.
Titel	Comparative Longitudinal Consumer Information Research in Germany and the United States. German Studies Notes.
Quelle	(1977), (35 Seiten)Verfügbarkeit
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Attitudes; Behavior Patterns; Comparative Analysis; Conferences; Consumer Economics; Consumer Protection; Consumer Science; Cross Cultural Studies; Data Analysis; Economic Climate; Economic Research; Foreign Countries; Information Sources; Longitudinal Studies; Policy Formation; Quality of Life; Socioeconomic Influences; Surveys; Values; United States; West Germany + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Attitude; Einstellung; Verhalten; Konsumökonomie; Verbraucherschutz; Cultural comparison; Kulturvergleich; Auswertung; Wirtschaftslage; Wirtschaftsforschung; Ausland; Information source; Informationsquelle; Longitudinal study; Longitudinal method; Longitudinal methods; Längsschnittuntersuchung; Politische Betätigung; Lebensqualität; Sozioökonomischer Faktor; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung; Wertbegriff; USA
Abstract	The paper presents the text of a business and economics session at a conference on recent sociopolitical and socioeconomic developments in West Germany and the United States. Intended as a contribution to the dialogue between the two societies, the paper focuses on differences between average and sophisticated consumers within each country and between the two countries. Sophisticated consumers are identified as persons who subscribe to comparative product testing magazines. The basis of the longitudinal study was the belief that a consumer information gap is a major hindrance to improvement of the open-market economic system. To compare and contrast attitudes and knowledge of sophisticated and average consumers, members of the International Consumer Information Survey conducted personal interviews and mail surveys with over 1,500 persons in Germany and the United States in 1970 and 1976. Respondents were questioned regarding socioeconomic status; media use patterns; shopping concerns; purchasing behavior; and attitudes toward business, government, consumer protection, and advertising. Findings indicated that sophisticated consumers in both countries belong to upper socioeconomic strata, make greater use of printed advertising materials, reflect more favorable attitudes toward business and government, and are more concerned with availability of product information. The conclusion is that average and sophisticated consumer attitudes differ importantly within each country but are strikingly similar among consumers of both countries. Implications for governmental and industrial economic policies are discussed. (Author/DB)
Anmerkungen	Institute of German Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401 ($1.50 plus $0.25 postage and handling, paper cover)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC