Showing papers by "Vista University published in 1992"

Construct Validity of the Commitment to Career Choices Scale among South African University Students

Abstract: Factor analysis of 190 South African university undergraduates' responses to the Commitment to Career Choices Scale showed considerable similarity of factors with those in Blustein, et al.'s 1989 work and supports the construct validity of the scale. However, omission of certain items from the two dimensions is recommended.

South African consumer sentiment towards marketing

Abstract: Generally the marketing literature suggests that the key to a firm's survival and growth is its satisfaction of consumer needs. This philosophy is embodied in the so-called marketing concept. In order to determine to what extend South African firms succeed in achieving consumer satisfaction, this study investigated empirically, the way in which consumers perceive marketing and marketing related practices. The results of a survey involving 3000 respondents suggest that consumers are fairly dissatisfied with the marketing fraternity and its activities. The 'Index of Consumer Sentiment Towards Marketing' is -16,262 with a theoretical maximum and minimum of +280 and -280, respectively. The only positive index for an individual marketing mix element is that for retailing and the lowest index is that for pricing. The results show that marketers are not perceived as being successful in satisfying market requirements.

Some processes and functions of literary knowledge production in South Africa

Abstract: Summary Literary Knowledge is presented as institutionally and historically constrained. Canonicity is discussed in terms of metaphors derived from religion and economics, and in relation to the politics of exclusion. Cultural studies is explored as a replacement for the decentered discipline of “English Studies”, although the notion of cultural studies is itself problematical. Some practical issues concerning tertiary English teaching in SA are raised, and the paper concludes by way of a discussion of authority.

Advertising and the medical profession: An exploratory study

Abstract: Practitioners in the legal, accounting, architectural, and medical professions are showing an increasing interest in marketing - particularly in advertising Some professions such as accounting have already reached finality on whether advertising should be permitted The medical profession has not given this matter any serious thought and this exploratory study aims to provide some early guidelines by analysing the perceptions of medical practitioners and in particular, the possible implications of lifting advertising restrictions The empirical results indicate that physicians realise that patients often do not have adequate information at their disposal before choosing the practitioner of their choice They do not seem to believe, however, that advertising is a means of overcoming this problem Specifically, older and more experienced physicians feel that advertising will benefit neither the profession nor the public It is surmised that the status quo will be maintained for the short and medium term Opsomming Lede van die regs-, rekenkundige-, argiteks- en mediese professies toon toenemend belangstelling in bemarkingspraktyke - veral ten opsigte van reklame Sommige professies soos die rekenkundiges, het reeds die vraagstuk van beperkings op reklame bevredigend aangespreek Die mediese beroep het die aangeleentheid nog nie ondersoek nie en die verkennende studie is 'n poging om tentatiewe riglyne in die verband vas te le Die primere doelwit was om te bepaal wat mediese praktisyns se persepsies ten opsigte van die moontlike gevolge van reklame deur die mediese beroep is Die empiriese resultate dui daarop dat medici besef dat pasiente dikwels nie oor voldoende inligting beskik om 'n optimale keuse van 'n geneesheer te maak nie Tog word daar nie geglo dat reklame die probleem sal kan opios nie Ouer en meer ervare geneeshere is veral gekant teen die opheffing van die beperking op reklamepraktyke Daar kan dus verwag word dat die beperkings nie gou opgehef sal word nie

The influence of demographic variables on service quality perceptions in three selected service industries

Abstract: Despite reservations about the use of demographic variables for market segmentation purposes it is a method which is widely used. Although this was not a segmentation study as such, the extent to which service quality perceptions are influenced by demographic variables has been investigated. It is believed that if demographic variables are found to influence service quality perceptions, they may serve as important pointers to the marketers of services when considering segmentation strategies. The empirical results revealed that both age (p < 0.05) and level of education (p < 0.01) exert a significant influence on consumers' perceptions of service quality. Younger consumers and relatively well-qualified consumers rate service quality lower than do older consumers and consumers who are not particularly well qualified academically. Both younger and well qualified consumers could be important target markets to services marketers in delivering quality service.

Differential scanning calorimetric study of the interaction of 2,2′‐dibenzothiazole, sulfur, zinc oxide, and stearic acid in the presence of polyisoprene

Abstract: The interactions between mixtures of 2,2'-dibenzothiazole (MBTS), sulfur, ZnO, and stearic acid were studied by DSC in the presence of polyisoprene (IR). In the absence of ZnO, the onset of vulcanization was at a lower temperature than in its presnece, and the crosslink densities were relatively low. ZnO as well as stearic acid did not influence the consumption of MBTS, but the amount of MBT in the sample after vulcanization increased in the presence of ZnO and still more when ZnO and stearic acid were present—the same applied for the crosslink densities. In view of these results, interaction mechanisms are proposed for the different systems.

The advertising of legal services: A comparison of the perceptions of attorneys and of the public

Abstract: Practitioners in the so-called classical professions are increasingly facing competition from non-professionals in what, traditionally, was accepted as 'their' business domains. Non-professionals are, however, not hamstrung by restrictive professional association regulations to the same degree as professionals. Such regulations have limited professionals in their efforts to counteract the 'invasion' of their traditional markets. One such regulation prohibits professionals from advertising. Attorneys in particular have been affected by increased competition in their markets and have questioned the legitimacy of the prohibition on advertising. The issue of advertising has been addressed by both provincial law societies and the Association of Law Societies, but no firm decision has as yet been taken. One concern among attorneys is the possible reaction of the public to advertising by individual attorneys. In this article an attempt is made to shed some light on the issue, by comparing practising attorneys' perceptions of the implications of legal services advertising with those of members of the public. It is suggested that attorneys and members of the public differ significantly in their perceptions of the implications of legal service advertising. Significant differences exist between the two groups in respect of 36 of the 69 aspects investigated.

Trashing the millenium: Subjectivity and technology in cyberpunk science fiction

Abstract: 'Cyberpunk’ science fiction is a self-proclaimed movement within the genre which began in the 1980s. As the name suggests, it is an extrapolative form of science fiction which combines an almost obsessional interest in machines (particularly information machines) with an anarchic, amoral, streetwise sensibility This paper sketches the development of the movement and seeks to make qualified claims for the radical. potential of its fiction. Of crucial importance are the ways in which human subjectivity (viewed in psychoanalytic terms) interacts with 'technological subjectivity' in cyberpunk, particularly with regard to implications of these interactions for oedipalization.