Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

The purpose of the present study were 1) to identify the dimensional structure of impression formed of a female figure, 2) to analyze effects of several elements of apparel design on impression formation of the figure in suit. The experimental materials developed for this study were a set of stimul...

The purpose of the present study were 1) to identify the dimensional structure of impression formed of a female figure, 2) to analyze effects of several elements of apparel design on impression formation of the figure in suit. The experimental materials developed for this study were a set of stimuli and a response scale. The stimuli consisted of 60 drawings made by identical manipulations of 3 indepndent variables in 3 clothing styles(suit, dress and pants with blouse). The independent variables were (1) five clothing colors (red, blue, yellow, white and black), (2) two lengths(short/long) of suit skirt, dress, and pants (3) two types of blouse and dress collars (shirt collar/ribbon collar). The 7-point semantic differential response scale to measure the dependent variables (formed impressions of the female figure) was composed of 37 bipolar adjectives. Further- more, two open-ended questions were used for interpretation of the reponses. The study proceeded in three independent experimental part was based on the 3 clothing styles using a 5(color)$\times$2(length)$\times$2(collar) factorial design. Subject were 200 female undergraduate students reandomly assigned to one of 20 combinations in each part of the experiment. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, 3-way ANOVA and Multiple Classification Analysis. Five factors emerged to account for the dimensional structure of impression of the female figure in specific attire. These factors included three basic dimensions of impression identified as potency, activity and evaluation, confirming the results of previous studies. Result from open-ended questionaire supported the theoretical perspective of Schneider, Hastorf and Ellsworth on the procedure of impression formation.