Textile and Apparel Management electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
Permanent URI for this collection
The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Textile and Apparel Management. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item A case study to develop an adaptive ski jacket for alpine recreational sit skier -- user-centered design method(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2024) Wu, Jia; Zhao, Li; McBee-Black, KerriThis study aims to develop an adaptive ski jacket tailored for alpine recreational sit skiers through a user-centered design approach. The research integrates 3D body scanning and virtual simulation to tailor designs that address the unique needs of sit skiers. Employing case study and qualitative interview research methods, data was collected from a series of semi-structured interviews and observations of a case study participant and six qualitative interview participants, enabling an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the physical and social-psychological apparel comfort requirements. Key findings suggest that the integration of a user-centered design framework, clothing comfort model, and 3D technologies significantly enhances the fit, comfort, and functionality of the ski jacket, contributing positively to the mobility and overall skiing experience of sit skiers. This research contributes to the fields of fashion design and adaptive clothing by demonstrating how advanced technology and a deep understanding of user needs lead to more effective apparel solutions for people with disabilities. It also proposes recommendations for future research and potential industry applications, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in activewear design.Item The impact of perceived design similarity and consumers' IPR morality on their expected utility of legally copied products(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2024) Kim, Seong Eun; Ha-Brookshire, JungDesign appropriation in the fashion industry often breaches original creators' intellectual property rights (IPRs). Due to inadequate legal protection under current U.S. IPR law, many copiers can legally produce and sell similar designs, known as legally copied products (LCPs). Despite being legally sold, consumers' perceptions of LCPs vary based on their IPR morality. Some consumers may prioritize the design similarities between LCPs and original designs when evaluating the perceived value of LCPs. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how consumers perceive the utility of LCPs and how much they are willing to purchase LCPs through the lens of decision theory in the philosophy literature, utilizing the expected utility concept. This study collected 314 U.S. female consumers who were over 18 and conducted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study findings showed that the participants' IPR morality could weaken the positive relationship between the perceived social value and low-end LCP purchase intention. The study also found that when the participants perceived design similarities at more than a moderate level, the relationship between the perceived quality and purchase intention was positively amplified. These results have several theoretical and managerial implications. Most important to the existing literature and fashion industry, this study showed that consumers' IPR morality could shape or reshape their low-end LCP purchasing decision-making mechanisms by lowering the expected utility of LCPs.Item Outgroup threat and behavioral tendencies in young adulthood : exploring the roles of stress and group membership(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2023) Roos, Joy; Killoren, SarahEthnic/racial outgroup threat perception has been linked with negative social behavior. However, less is known about its relations with prosocial behavior (i.e., helping behavior). Furthermore, there is a dearth of research that examines intervening mechanisms in these relations and how they may differ within ethnic/racial minority and majority groups. The present study aimed to examine the intervening role of stress in the relations between ethnic/racial outgroup threat perception, aggression, and prosocial behavior toward ethnic/racial outgroups and ingroups among Latine and non-Latine White young adults. Participants were 311 Latine (72.2 percent women, Mage = 21.05 years, SD = 2.09) and 207 non-Latine White (86.0 percent women, Mage = 20.57, SD = 1.90) college students between the ages of 18-25 from across the United States who self-reported on study variables. Path analyses showed that outgroup threat perception was positively associated with aggression for Latines, but not for non-Latine Whites. Stress was positively associated with aggression across both samples and positively associated with measures of prosocial behavior for Latines. Stress did not serve as an intervening mechanism in these relations. The discussion focuses on the adaptive role of behavior in contexts of outgroup threat perceptions and stress.Item Stepfamily relationships and attachment in young adulthood(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2023) Egginton, Braquel Rachel; Garneau-Rosner, Chelsea; Herzog, MelissaResearch exploring the influence of parent-child relationships in stepfamilies has primarily focused on internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and academic outcomes. The purpose of this study is to build on previous research by exploring how parent-child relationship quality influences emerging adult reports of attachment anxiety and avoidance. However, the relationships between a child and their caregiver do not exist in isolation. Due to the interconnected nature of family relationships, it is likely that the relationships between siblings, biological parents, and stepparents will all collectively impact the development of the caregiver-child relationship and subsequently their reports of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Thus, the purpose of this study is to (a) explore how parent-child relationship quality influence emerging adult attachment and (b) examine how family relationships, such as those between siblings and parents, might impact reports of parent-child relationship quality.Item The effect of the room design on problem-solving ability in small groups(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1971) James, Dennis Charles; Rogers, Kate EllenThe relationship between the complexity level of the room design (colors, patterns, furnishings and accessories) and the effectiveness of the task-oriented small group was examined in this study. Two testing rooms were designed — one visually complex and the other conventionally plain and uncomplex. Twenty groups of subjects were asked to solve a task involving the ranking, in order of importance, of items in a hypothetical problem. Data was collected to provide comparative information for task times, accuracy of solutions, verbal interactions, and attitudes toward testing room designs for work or leisure-oriented activities. Results showed significant differences in accuracy of task-solution with groups in the uncomplex room performing best. The subjects reacted favorably to both room designs with greater preference for the complex room. This may indicate a design direction for leisure oriented interiors. Additional research is needed in this area.