CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF WOOL-COTTON BLENDS FOR SHIRTS AS INDICATED BY PUPILLOMETRIC, SKIN CONDUCTANCE, AND SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS

Scope and Method of Study. This study entailed an investigation of the effect of fiber content, fiber length, and yarn type upon the consumer acceptance of shirt-like garments composed of wool-cotton blends. Evaluations of these effects were based on the responses of 17 female and 15 male volunteers by means of pupillometric, skin conductance, and subjective assessments. The following research questions were posed: (1) Do the fiber percentage, fiber length, and type of yarn used in the construction of intimately blended wool-cotton fabrics affect the acceptance of these fabrics for shirts by male and female consumers as indicated by pupillary, skin conductance, and subjective responses? (2) Does the area of the body stimulated affect the acceptance of these fabrics for shirts by male and female consumers according to pupillometric and skin conductance responses? (3) Is there any difference between male and female responses as shown by pupillometric, skin conductance, and subjective responses? (4) Is there a relationship among pupillometric, skin conductance, and subjective assessments as means of measuring the effects of fiber content, fiber length, and yarn type? Analysis of covariance, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to determine the significant differences among the responses of the participants in relation to the acceptability of the shirts.; Findings and Conclusions. An analysis of covariance indicated that according to both pupillometric and skin conductance responses, the wool-cotton percentage used in the blends, the length of the fibers used, and the type of yarn made no difference in the acceptability of the fabrics for shirts. Subjective ratings showed that the shorter wool fibers and the ring spun yarns were significantly more acceptable to the participants than the longer fibers and the open-end spun yarns according to the analysis of variance procedure. Results of the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed significant correlations between pupillometric and skin conductance measurements for both the 55/45 and 40/60 wool-cotton fabrics, the short wool fibers, and the ring spun yarns when the upper body was used as the area of stimulation.; The findings of this study revealed the complexity and diversity involved when evaluating components of textile products. Greater significance was found to be related to subjective assessments of the acceptability of the experimental fabrics for shirts as stated by the participants. The use of physiological measures, however, has provided new insight into the complex and intricate dimensions of consumer acceptance of textile products.