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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Clothing purchasing practices: a comparison of fourth and seventh grade children

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This research investigated personal clothing purchasing practices of upper elementary school children in relation to: grade level, sex, race, socioeconomic status, mothers' employment, and types of clothing acquired. One hundred ninety-one fourth and seventh graders from rural Virginia completed a questionnaire in June, 1982. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test of independence and Cramer's V or Phi tested the strength of the relationships. Three-fourths of the respondents shopped regularly for clothing and one-half had bought clothing without an older person present. When purchasing clothing independently, one-half of them used their own money. Students were more independent of elders when purchasing less expensive items. The findings which were statistically significant indicated seventh graders were more independent than fourth graders. More of them had purchased garments without their parents present, paid for them with their own money and liked to shop. They tended to buy clothing with only one parent present and make their own decisions about clothing purchases. Boys were more independent than girls. More males shopped without their parents and paid for clothing with their own money. Girls tended to shop with more than one person present. More black respondents shopped for clothing with both parents and others present and were influenced by their friends in their clothing purchases. The largest proportion of the white students bought clothing with one parent only and more of them paid for clothing with their own money and made decisions alone about purchases. No statistically significant differences were found for socioeconomic status or the mothers' employment in relation to any of the variables.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Clothing and Textiles
Department dc:contributor.department
Clothing and Textiles
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1982

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Stephens, Anne Carter

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76310
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76310

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Stephens, Anne Carter. Clothing purchasing practices: a comparison of fourth and seventh grade children. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1982. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76310