| This study included the development of Textile Knowledge Inventory (TKI) measuring objective Textile Knowledge (TK) and two experiments. From a conceptual analysis, 38 preliminary true-false questions were initially generated. Through item analysis using item-to-item correlation (Cross Product Ratio) and item-to-total correlation (Point Biserial Correlation Coefficients), a 23 item TKI resulted. Validity of TKI was tested by experimental manipulation method. Reliability of TKI was tested by test-retest and internal consistency methods.; The first experiment investigated whether Fabric Structure (FS) and level of TK affected categorization of subjects' descriptions of fabric specimens. A non-probability convenience sampling method was used. Subjects, 93 female college students, received a self-administered questionnaire including one of two FSs (woven or knitted) and the TKI. Subjects were asked to describe the fabric; these descriptions were content analyzed. Multivariate Multi-sample Rank Sum Test found that categorization of subjects' descriptions of fabrics differed as a function of FS and the level of TK. Descriptions of the woven fabric were more likely to be classified as "appearance" category and less likely to be classified as "fiber content" and "texture" categories than the knitted fabric. Descriptions by subjects with Lower TK (LTK) were more likely to be classified as "appearance" and less likely to be classified as "fabric name" than subjects with Higher TK (HTK).; The second experiment investigated whether level of TK, fiber content label information, and their interaction caused differences in subjects' descriptions and evaluations of a microfiber polyester fabric. Subjects, 107 female college students, received a self-administered questionnaire including a fabric specimen labeled in "100% polyester", "100% microfiber polyester", or no information. Subjects were asked to describe and evaluate the fabric. Results showed that the negative stereotypic images of polyester tended to influence subjects' evaluations of the fabric specimen. However, subjects with LTK tended to be more influenced by stereotype of polyester than subjects with HTK. Under label conditions of "100% polyester" and "100% microfiber polyester", subjects with LTK evaluated the fabric specimen as lower quality, less attractive, and slightly less expensive than subjects with HTK. Results were discussed as they related to categorization processes. |
