College Student's Electronic Replacement Propensity: The When, How and Why
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
9-4-2012 1:00 PM
End Date
9-4-2012 2:30 PM
Student's Major
Marketing and International Business
Student's College
Business
Mentor's Name
Kristin Scott
Mentor's Department
Marketing and International Business
Mentor's College
Business
Description
With technology advancing rapidly, electronic usage and disposal are increasing at alarming rates. Due to toxins located within electronic devices, disposal of such devices could create a damaging impact on the environment. Because of this potential negative consequence, it would be beneficial to encourage consumers to keep their products as long as possible before disposal and then dispose of them in a sustainable manner. To accomplish this, researchers must understand what influences the life-span and disposal of electronic products. This study aims to investigate this question by measuring electronic replacement propensity and the factors that influence it. Specifically, the study aims to answer the questions: How long do students expect their electronic products to last? What influences them to dispose of them? And how do they dispose of their electronic products? To examine these questions, an on-line survey was developed and administered through Survey Monkey to 80 MNSU students. Survey questions included both open-ended and Likert scale to measure replacement propensity, frugality, product life-span expectations, and demographics. Results show that the median product life span expectations are as follows: cell phones- 2 years, televisions- 8 years, MP3 Players-5 years, and computers-5 years. The data collected also shows a negative correlation between a student’s frugality and their replacement propensity in addition to a negative correlation between a student’s stewardship and their replacement propensity. These results will help researchers better understand college student’s motives for replacing their electronic devices and how often they do so.
College Student's Electronic Replacement Propensity: The When, How and Why
CSU Ballroom
With technology advancing rapidly, electronic usage and disposal are increasing at alarming rates. Due to toxins located within electronic devices, disposal of such devices could create a damaging impact on the environment. Because of this potential negative consequence, it would be beneficial to encourage consumers to keep their products as long as possible before disposal and then dispose of them in a sustainable manner. To accomplish this, researchers must understand what influences the life-span and disposal of electronic products. This study aims to investigate this question by measuring electronic replacement propensity and the factors that influence it. Specifically, the study aims to answer the questions: How long do students expect their electronic products to last? What influences them to dispose of them? And how do they dispose of their electronic products? To examine these questions, an on-line survey was developed and administered through Survey Monkey to 80 MNSU students. Survey questions included both open-ended and Likert scale to measure replacement propensity, frugality, product life-span expectations, and demographics. Results show that the median product life span expectations are as follows: cell phones- 2 years, televisions- 8 years, MP3 Players-5 years, and computers-5 years. The data collected also shows a negative correlation between a student’s frugality and their replacement propensity in addition to a negative correlation between a student’s stewardship and their replacement propensity. These results will help researchers better understand college student’s motives for replacing their electronic devices and how often they do so.
Recommended Citation
Bertolino, Lindsay. "College Student's Electronic Replacement Propensity: The When, How and Why." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 9, 2012.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2012/poster-session-B/20
