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the evaluation of turkish consumers' attitudes towards foreign products

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positive and neutral seem to be very close to one ano<strong>the</strong>r. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> item<br />

which states that “I am proud <strong>of</strong> having <strong>the</strong> <strong>products</strong> made in……..” has been evaluated<br />

negatively for <strong>the</strong> three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> countries. This case can be justified with consumer<br />

ethnocentrism. In <strong>the</strong> related literature, it is found that <strong>the</strong> characteristics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

consumer ethnocentrism may differ among <strong>the</strong> consumers living in cities. When we<br />

consider that this study was carried out on a group <strong>of</strong> people living in Eskişehir and<br />

studying <strong>the</strong>re, it can be stated that <strong>the</strong>se characteristics could affect <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

country origin.<br />

Although no significant connection has been found between <strong>the</strong> questioned <strong>attitudes</strong>,<br />

perception and gender, it is seen that <strong>the</strong> female participants in Germany had a more<br />

negative <strong>evaluation</strong> compared with that <strong>of</strong> male participants.<br />

As a result <strong>of</strong> ANOVA analysis, it was found that participants evaluated each country<br />

differently from <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. The fact that each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evaluated countries is a developed<br />

European country did not stop <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong>s from differing from one ano<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

Likewise, when <strong>the</strong> related literature was examined, it was seen that <strong>the</strong> <strong>products</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

developed countries have been found to be evaluated positively. Although <strong>the</strong> countries<br />

have been evaluated differently in this study, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> participants in three countries<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r had positive <strong>evaluation</strong>s or were neutral in <strong>the</strong> three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> investigated categories.<br />

As a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ANOVA analysis, <strong>the</strong> only connection found in <strong>the</strong> study is between <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>attitudes</strong>/perceptions <strong>towards</strong> <strong>the</strong> marketing activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>products</strong> made in Germany<br />

and Italy and <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> income <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> participants. No significant connection was<br />

found between <strong>the</strong> <strong>attitudes</strong>/perceptions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r country and category and <strong>the</strong><br />

amount <strong>of</strong> income <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> participants. In this respect, as participants’ income increases, it<br />

can be stated that <strong>the</strong> <strong>attitudes</strong> and perceptions <strong>towards</strong> <strong>the</strong> marketing activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>products</strong> made in Italy and Germany may change negatively. This case can be justified<br />

with <strong>the</strong> parallelism between <strong>the</strong> amounts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> income <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> participants and<br />

purchasing <strong>the</strong> product. As income increases, consumers may have <strong>the</strong> <strong>products</strong> and thus<br />

<strong>the</strong>y may have <strong>the</strong> chance to try <strong>the</strong> product directly. In such a case, <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong><br />

some facts influencing <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>products</strong> like country origin will decrease.<br />

The <strong>attitudes</strong>/perceptions consumers have before buying a certain product and after<br />

buying that product may be stated to be different.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> crosswise table prepared for <strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> establishing relations among all <strong>the</strong><br />

categories, each attitude and perception category for each country has been found to be<br />

related to one ano<strong>the</strong>r. In this case, it can be stated that <strong>the</strong> participants have done <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

<strong>evaluation</strong>s relating to <strong>the</strong> three countries. The fact that three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> countries are<br />

European countries can be stated to have affected <strong>the</strong> result. It was observed that<br />

participants have evaluated each country in three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> categories in <strong>the</strong> same way<br />

(positive/negative). In this respect, it can be stated that participants have done <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

<strong>evaluation</strong>s for each country in a certain consistency.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> general <strong>evaluation</strong>s are considered, Germany appears to have been evaluated<br />

in each attitude and perception in a more positive way. This case can be handled in a<br />

versatile way. When <strong>the</strong> case is reconsidered from historical point <strong>of</strong> view, it is seen that<br />

relations with Germany are more intense compared with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two countries. For<br />

example, <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>re was a group filled with admiration for Germany in Ittihak<br />

and Terakki Party, and <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> two countries were allied during <strong>the</strong> I. World<br />

War can also be considered as factors. This case historically may have caused Germany to<br />

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