Perception Of Quality Research Articles

Prefer cheap or expensive products? Shopping stage matters.

E-commerce platforms generally provide consumers with the function of virtual shopping carts to help them store interested products. Although about 80% of online consumers intends to purchase after adding products to their shopping cart, the abandonment rate of cart products has been up to 70%. It is important to understand how to improve consumer attitude toward product both before and after cart use. Building on the relevant literature and the consumer shopping goal stages theory, this study aims to examine the effects of product price, as one of the most indispensable and important information in online shopping, on consumer attitudes toward product at different decision-making stages in online shopping (i.e., add-to-cart stage and place-an-order stage), and the mediating roles of perceived product quality and monetary sacrifice. The findings from behavioral experiment suggest that high price leads to a more positive attitude toward product at add-to-cart stage by strengthened perception of high product quality, while results in a less positive product attitude at place-an-order stage because of the enhanced perception of monetary sacrifice. Both theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.

Why do we misperceive air pollution? A scoping review of key judgmental biases

AbstractAir pollution stands as a primary environmental factor influencing mortality globally. Despite its significance, individuals frequently struggle to assess the risks associated with polluted environments. This paper delves into the psychological mechanisms that contribute to the discrepancy between public perception of air quality and objective measurements. Through an extensive literature review spanning several decades, six fundamental heuristics that underpin misperceptions of air quality are identified and examined. The article further explores the theoretical and practical implications of acknowledging these biases in the development of urban environmental policies. By addressing judgmental biases, urban planners can improve the communication of risk information among lay people and ensure that environmental improvements are acknowledged and valued by all members of the community.

Water insecurity may exacerbate food insecurity even in water-rich environments: Evidence from the Bolivian Amazon

Globally, challenges with water and food are two of the most pressing problems people face. Yet hydrologically water-rich environments and rural environments are often overlooked in these discussions due to abundance of natural water resources. Here we test the relationship between water and food insecurity among 270 Tsimane' households in the Bolivian Amazon. Water challenges were evaluated with the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE), water quality perception, objective water quality analyses, and water access via the JMP drinking water ladder. Food insecurity was measured with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and quantitative measures of food frequency recall were used to further test the water and food insecurity relationship. Using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression, each point increase in HWISE score was associated with 0.47 point (95 % CI: 0.30, 0.62, p < 0.001) higher food insecurity, and households with access to improved water sources had between 1.25 and 1.36 points (95 % CI: −2.61, −0.01, p < 0.05) lower food insecurity compared to households reliant on surface water. These relationships held true independent of quantitative measures of both fish and meat consumption. Using mixed-effects logistic regression analyses, each point increase in HWISE score was associated with 43 % (95 % CI: 1.25–1.66, p < 0.001) increased odds of experiencing severe food insecurity. Households changing what was eaten due to experienced water problems was associated with 2.33 points (95 % CI: 0.41, 4.25, p < 0.05) higher food insecurity. This relationship held true independent of perceived water quality, indicating other structural water problems may be important here in the household water and food insecurity relationship. These results demonstrate that even in water-rich environments, like the Amazon, water and food insecurity are interconnected. Further, despite the challenging conditions, equitable structural interventions, like the development of improved water infrastructure, are critical for the provision of clean drinking water and may simultaneously help alleviate food insecurity.

Nostalgia for the Past: The Impact of Retro Advertisements Shared on Social Media on Brand Relationships and Purchase Intentions

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of retro product advertisements shared on social media on consumers' brand relationships and purchase intentions. Specifically, it seeks to understand how these advertisements influence consumers' perceptions of credibility, quality, and ease of understanding, and how these perceptions, in turn, affect brand loyalty and awareness. The study also aims to shed light on the overall effectiveness of retro marketing strategies in enhancing brand relationships and driving purchase intentions among consumers. Material and Method: The research was conducted in Karabük, Turkey, and data collected directly from consumers was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study investigates how advertisements for retro products shared on social media influence consumers' perceptions of credibility, quality, and ease of understanding, and how these perceptions affect purchase intentions through brand loyalty and awareness. Results: The findings indicate that the credibility and understandability of retro product ads positively and significantly affect brand loyalty and awareness, but quality did not have the expected effect. These results highlight the effectiveness of retro marketing strategies for businesses.

Patient-provider communication about cigarette and e-cigarette use during pregnancy: Adaptation and validation of frequency and quality of communication measures among a sample of pregnant patients.

Quality of patient-provider communication regarding tobacco use may encourage cessation that could lead to improved health outcomes for mothers and children. However, currently there are no validated measures of frequency and quality of patient-provider communication about cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate measures of frequency and quality of patient-provider communication about smoking and e-cigarette use among a sample of pregnant mothers who currently smoked. An online sample of US pregnant women who reported past 30-day smoking were recruited to complete a cross-sectional, online survey (n=267). An exploratory factor analysis examined the factor structure of four measures of frequency and quality of patient-provider communication about cigarettes and e-cigarettes among those who reported prior communication with their provider about cigarettes and e-cigarettes (n=170). Relationships between measures were explored, and a logistic regression explored each measure's association with intention to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Items measuring the frequency of communication loaded onto one factor for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (α=0.88). Quality of communication loaded onto two factors for both cigarettes and e-cigarettes, termed active communication and internalized perception. Internalized perceptions of communication quality about cigarettes (β= -0.32, p<0.002), active communication (β=0.46, p<0.02), and internalized perceptions of communication about e-cigarettes (β= -0.36, p<0.001) were related to intention to switch, in separated models. Quality conversations between healthcare providers and pregnant patients is likely more important for behavioral decision-making than the frequency of communication.

Internet Service Provision in Tanzania: An Examination of User Satisfaction, Package Pricing, and Service Challenges

This study examines the dynamics connected to the provision of internet service in Tanzania. Specifically, the study seeks to systematically analyse user perceptions service quality across different ISPs and identify the factors influencing their preferences and choice of ISPs. Two theoretical models, the Service Quality Theory (SERVQUAL) and the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) were applied to guide the study. A qualitative single case study design was used, with more than 800 user-generated comments extracted from a celebrity’s Instagram post. Data were analysed using sentiment analysis, qualitative and quantitative techniques. Our results show that while users acknowledge improvements in reliability of network, still inconsistencies remain, particularly in specific zones of Dar es Salaam and rural areas. T-CONNECT is perceived as having the most reliable network compared to other ISPs. Speed consistency remains a critical issue for all ISPs, with T-CONNECT seen as the most stable, whereas SKT-TZ and TZ-NET struggle, especially during peak hours. SKY-TZ, TZ-NET and TZ-LINK face coverage challenges, especially in rural areas due to infrastructure constraints. Moreover, the study highlights a high demand for reliable service, a push for fiber-optic infrastructure, and a cautious but optimistic outlook on 5G. Generally, the findings reveal that customers’ perceptions of internet service quality are influenced by network quality, and customer service and technical support. Challenges such as connectivity and network issues, pricing transparency and service plans, and customer support significantly affect user satisfaction and ISPs competitiveness. The contribution of this paper stems from its use of advanced NLP methods to examine user sentiments toward Tanzania’s ISPs from Instagram data, to provide insights and comprehensive understanding to industry practitioners and policymakers in promoting a more sustainable future for the industry.

Does increased monitoring enhance the credibility of financial reports? Evidence of auditing semi‐annual financial statements

AbstractDue to several financial scandals of Taiwan‐listed foreign firms (known as KY firms), the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission requires KY firms to disclose audited semi‐annual financial statements, which were reviewed before. Using the event study, we find higher cumulative abnormal returns for KY firms around the regulation announcement, suggesting the market's positive attitude towards the increase in the assurance level of semi‐annual financial statements. In addition, we apply a difference‐in‐differences test and find the improvement in earnings response coefficients, showing the market's increased perception of audit quality. Our findings should be of interest to regulators, practitioners, and researchers.

Advancing research on odor-induced sweetness enhancement: A EEG local-global fusion transformer network for sweetness quantification combined with EEG technology

Reducing sugar intake is crucial for health, and odor sweetening enhances food enjoyment and quality perception. Current research relies on subjective manual sensory evaluations, which are poorly reproducible. Traditional methods also fail to capture dynamic neural responses to odor-induced sweetness. We propose an electroencephalogram local-global fusion transformer network (EEG-LGFNet) model to decode this impact objectively. Electroencephalogram data were collected from 16 subjects under different odor and sucrose stimuli. The model captures complex neural signals by integrating local and global feature extraction mechanisms. Its performance was validated across three-time windows, demonstrating efficacy over various temporal ranges. Analysis of the coefficient of determination across brain regions confirmed the importance of the frontal, central, and parietal areas of sweetness perception. The EEG-LGFNet model excelled in quantifying odor-enhanced sweetness, significantly outperforming state-of-the-art models. This research offers new insights into odor sweetening, with applications in food development, personalized nutrition, and neuroscience.

Sleep quality and thermal comfort assessment in the hot and humid climate of Malaysia

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between thermal comfort and sleep quality among 417 Malaysian adults via an online survey conducted from November 2019 to April 2020. Participants provided demographic information, thermal comfort, and sleep quality data. The research explores how factors such as air conditioning and pre-sleep behaviours influence individuals’ perceptions of thermal comfort and sleep quality. Findings reveal that thermal sensations change during sleep, with respondents reporting a 50% decrease in warmer sensations upon waking compared to before sleep, and a nearly threefold increase in preference for warmer conditions. Sleep quality responses indicate high levels of calmness and satisfaction, with minimal awakenings at an average of 0.9. Air conditioning, available to 60% of respondents, showed limited improvement in perceived sleep quality, with more air-conditioned individuals reporting night awakenings (68%) compared to those without (53%). Pre-sleep behaviours, such as consuming drinks, were associated with lower thermal sensation upon waking, suggesting a potential cooling effect, while taking a shower before sleep correlated with increased overall comfort, potentially enhancing the sleep experience.

Effect of multi-modal input to the perception of sound quality

The perception of sound quality of car interior noise is treated. The decisive factor of sound quality is car interior noise itself but our percetion varies also by the symultaneous exposure of seat and steenring wheel vibrations and the moving seanary from the window screen. We have conducted subjective experiments on the perception of car interior noise unsing car simulator located inside the sound proof room to see the effect of seat and steering wheel vibration and moving sceenary to our perception on sound quality such as pleasantness, booming sensation and powefulness. As the results, the addition of moving sceenary and seat-floor vibration together with the steering wheel viration have significant effect to our perception of sound quality.

CDAN: Convolutional dense attention-guided network for low-light image enhancement

Low-light images, characterized by inadequate illumination, pose challenges of diminished clarity, muted colors, and reduced details. Low-light image enhancement, an essential task in computer vision, aims to rectify these issues by improving brightness, contrast, and overall perceptual quality, thereby facilitating accurate analysis and interpretation. This paper introduces the Convolutional Dense Attention-guided Network (CDAN), a novel solution for enhancing low-light images. CDAN integrates an autoencoder-based architecture with convolutional and dense blocks, complemented by an attention mechanism and skip connections. This architecture ensures efficient information propagation and feature learning. During training, we utilize a composite loss function that merges L2 and VGG losses for improved numeric and perceptual results. Furthermore, a dedicated post-processing phase refines color balance and contrast. Our approach demonstrates notable progress compared to state-of-the-art results in low-light image enhancement, showcasing its robustness across a wide range of challenging scenarios. Our model performs remarkably on benchmark datasets, effectively mitigating under-exposure and proficiently restoring textures and colors in diverse low-light scenarios. This achievement underscores CDAN's potential for diverse computer vision tasks, notably enabling robust object detection and recognition in challenging low-light conditions.

Prediction and analysis of interior sound quality of high-speed trains based on XGBoost

This paper primarily investigates the objective quantification of subjective perceptions of sound quality in high-speed trains. The study measures and analyzes the sound quality in high-speed trains under high-speed operating conditions and calculates psychoacoustic parameters. A subjective evaluation of the interior sound quality is conducted using the grading scale method. An Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm is utilized to construct a predictive model for sound quality in high-speed trains and get high predictive accuracy for sound quality evaluation. Employing AI-based evaluation models to evaluate the sound quality in high-speed trains offers a more effective method for studying the interior sound quality of high-speed trains.

Initial Development of the Nurse Perception of Infant Condition (NPIC) Scale.

More than 350,000U.S. infants are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) annually and likely experience discomfort. Although nurse perceptions of infant symptoms, suffering, and quality of life (QOL) are valuable, the availability of standardized assessment tools to measure these concepts are limited. To provide preliminary evidence of the internal structure, reliability, and validity of the Nurse Perception of Infant Condition (NPIC) scale. Infants were enrolled from a Level IV NICU in the U.S. Midwest. Nurses reported on their perceptions of the infant symptom experience and their expectations for infant survival. Weekly behavioral observations of infants were obtained before and after standard delivery of care to obtain a comfort score. 237 nurses who cared for 73 infants completed 569 surveys over 28months. All NPIC items were significantly correlated with each other (P <.001). Factor analysis revealed strong evidence of a 2-factor structure (survival and suffering subscales). Both subscales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. Together the 2 factors explained 82% of the variability in the scale responses. Limited validity evidence was found. Evidence was found to support the internal structure and reliability of the NPIC scale. However, further item development and refinement is needed to increase the utility NPIC scale in clinical and research settings. The development of improved assessments of the infant NICU experience is warranted. Nurse perceptions of infant suffering or poor QOL may have implications for their expectations for infant survival and possibly care delivery.

Research on the influence mechanism of park landscape characteristics on psychological perception around expressway based on soundscape theory: a case study of Chengdu Bailuwan Wetland Park

With the continuous development of China's transportation infrastructure strategies and urbanization, urban road networks have seen ongoing improvement. Yet noise pollution along expressways is gradually becoming a prominent issue within the broader challenge of urban noise. Noise control has recently emerged as a bottleneck for building livable cities, while well-designed landscapes can improve the quality of psychological perception. By precisely quantifying the multi-sensory composite perception characteristics of urban green space landscapes, this research explores the mechanism through which such landscapes influence psychological perception. The study site was selected in Bailuwan Wetland Park, Chengdu. Objective and subjective environmental data and questionnaire feedback were collected through sound walks and big data analysis based on the geographic information system, after which quantitative analysis was conducted on how landscape environmental characteristics influence environmental experiential perception. The research explores the mechanism of the influence of the regulation of landscape environment characteristic elements on psychological perception and constructs a visual prediction model to provide a universal theoretical basis and methodological support for the planning and regulation of urban green space landscape along expressways, which is of positive significance in guiding the regulation of landscape space.

Health Care Utilization and Perceived Quality of Care in a Colombian Indigenous Health Organization.

Indigenous governance of health care has increasingly been advocated among Indigenous peoples in many countries. However, there is limited research that has empirically examined its benefits. In 2020/21, we conducted a survey of 2113 Indigenous Wayuu individuals in Colombia who received services from the Indigenous Wayuu led health care insurance organization Anas Wayuu and its network of service providers, and Wayuu individuals who received services from non-Indigenous health insurance organizations. We compared their health care utilization and perception of quality of care. A main finding of the study was that Anas Wayuu enrollees were more than twice as likely to access health care than enrollees from non-Indigenous health insurance organizations, even when controlling for the demographic and health characteristics. The study provided compelling evidence suggesting that Anas Wayuu, being an Indigenous led health organization improves access to, and quality of care, among Indigenous health service recipients.

Impact of Student Attachment on University Reputation: An Analysis of Perceived Quality and Perceived Value

Many studies have referred to campus reputation but have not used the mediating variable of student attachment. This study aims to examine the impact of perceived quality and value on students and analyze how perceived quality and value affect university reputation through student attachment. The statistical population comprised students at campus X. The sampling technique used was simple random sampling on 212 students from Campus X in Bandung, Indonesia. The results show that value perception is positively and significantly influenced by perceived quality. Perceived quality and perceived value have a positive and significant impact on student attachment, student attachment has a positive and significant impact on university reputation, perceived quality has a positive and significant impact on university reputation through student attachment, and perceived quality has a positive and significant impact on perceived value through perception of quality. In the literature on consumer behavior, there are several studies that examine perceived quality on perceived value, perceived quality on student attachment, perceived value on student attachment, and student attachment on university reputation. The primary contribution of this research is to examine perceived quality and value of university reputation through student attachment. This research adds value to the consumer behavior literature by providing new insights into the determinants of university reputation in a private university.

Patient Safety and Perception of Quality in University Dental Hospitals: A French National Survey

Objectives Patient safety is poorly developed in dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of patient safety perception and quality culture in French university dental hospitals. Methods A national survey was performed using a questionnaire that was sent electronically to dental students, teachers, senior professionals, and paramedics of the university dental clinics that volunteered to participate. The profile of the respondents, their involvement in quality teams, the occurrence of adverse events, and the organization of the department were explored. Results Of the 17 university dental hospitals in France, 15 volunteered to participate, representing 681 respondents (65.9% students, 26.9% dentists, 3.7% paramedics, and 3.5% residents). Despite 58% of the respondents being aware of the procedure for declaring adverse events, only 28% of them had ever declared at least one. All professionals were aware of the high incidence of adverse events in their clinics. The perception of well-being and organization was low, especially for the items “adequation between tasks and number of professionals” and for “task organization.” The perception of “team spirit and feeling of respect” was good. Conclusions The survey highlighted the need for courses and meetings on patient safety and quality, but also the good perception of dental care providers regarding patient safety. The lack of materials and of human resources emerged as a key point for improving patient safety in university dental hospitals. Nonetheless, communication was also perceived as very important and could be improved without incurring costs and through internal solutions.

Pengaruh E-Service Quality, Online Promotion dan Persepsi Harga terhadap Loyalitas Pelanggan pada Pengguna Aplikasi Indrive di Surabaya

This research aims to determine the influence of e-service quality, online promotion and price perception on customer loyalty among InDrive application users in Surabaya. Type of quantitative research with multiple linear regression. The population in this research is the people of Surabaya who have used the InDrive service and in the sampling process used a purposive sampling technique with a total of 100 respondents who had been determined from the Solvin formula calculation. The results of this research are that it is proven that there is an influence of the three independent variables on customer loyalty simultaneously (F test) as seen from the tcount value which is greater than ttable or 15.044 &gt; 2.70 with a significance level of 0.000 &lt; 0.05. There is a partial or individual influence on e-service quality, online promotions and price perceptions on customer loyalty. This is proven by the calculated tcount value of each independent variable, namely e-service quality (X1) of 3.032; online promotion (X2) 2,252; and price perception (X3) 2.084 is greater than the ttable value, namely 1.985. And the significance value is smaller than 0.05, namely 0.003; 0.027; and 0.040.

A Survey to Determine Health Utility States After a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Influence of a History of TBI on Disability Perceptions.

Background The Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) has emerged as one of the most widely used outcome instruments for evaluating ongoing disability and recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The influence of a personal history of TBI on disability perception and quality of life is not well understood. This study aimed to assess changes in health utility states using the GOSE among individuals with severe TBI and their caregivers compared to a general population group. We hypothesized that individuals with a history of TBI, either as patients or caregivers, would recognize health utility associated with a more severe disability than the general population group. Methodology This cross-sectional, observational study included 300 individuals with a history of severe TBI, 300 designated primary caregivers or family members, with 1:1 participation for each subject with severe TBI, and 300 participants from the general population. A computer-based survey was developed based on the GOSE. Participants assessed hypothetical scenarios representing one-year post-TBI outcomes using a standard gamble approach. The main measure for this study was participants' perceptions of health-related quality of life and preferences for different GOSE health states following TBI. Results Of the 900 initial participants, 10 were excluded. Among the remaining 890 participants, lower GOSE states were rated to have lower health utilities. The general population group exhibited a notable decrease in health utility ratings from GOSE4 to GOSE3. Individuals with a history of severe TBI and their caregivers or family members experienced the most substantial decline in health utility ratings between GOSE3 and GOSE2. TBI and caregiver/family member status correlated with higher health utility ratings. Conclusions This study validated the use of the GOSE as a health utility metric and emphasized the subjective nature of acceptable outcomes. These findings underscore the need for considering personal experiences and preferences in decision-making regarding TBI care.

Mesh representation matters: investigating the influence of different mesh features on perceptual and spatial fidelity of deep 3D morphable models

BackgroundDeep 3D morphable models (deep 3DMMs) play an essential role in computer vision. They are used in facial synthesis, compression, reconstruction and animation, avatar creation, virtual try-on, facial recognition systems and medical imaging. These applications require high spatial and perceptual quality of synthesised meshes. Despite their significance, these models have not been compared with different mesh representations and evaluated jointly with point-wise distance and perceptual metrics. MethodsWe compare the influence of different mesh representation features to various deep 3DMMs on spatial and perceptual fidelity of the reconstructed meshes. This paper proves the hypothesis that building deep 3DMMs from meshes represented with global representations leads to lower spatial reconstruction error measured with L1 and L2 norm metrics and underperforms on perceptual metrics. In contrast, using differential mesh representations which describe differential surface properties yields lower perceptual FMPD and DAME and higher spatial fidelity error. The influence of mesh feature normalisation and standardisation is also compared and analysed from perceptual and spatial fidelity perspectives. ResultsThe results presented in this paper provide guidance in selecting mesh representations to build deep 3DMMs accordingly to spatial and perceptual quality objectives and propose combinations of mesh representations and deep 3DMMs which improve either perceptual or spatial fidelity of existing methods.