Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2009
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department / School
Sociology and Rural Studies
Abstract
This pilot study gathered information from 194 adults between the dates of February 2ih and March 31st 2008 who accessed the on-line survey. It is the first study of its kind in South Dakota and is meant to draw conclusions about potential topics of future research, to make conclusions regarding the impact of current consumer education efforts in the state and to advise members of the consumer credit counseling community on outcomes as a means to formulate practical applications. This research used a blended theoretical model that included ideas presented by Veblen (1931), Collins (1978), Simmel (1900 I 1978), Mezirow(1990) and various view points of the subject of gender. From this theoretical outline, a consumer's use of credit as a means to sustain social class requirements and meet material expectations can be drawn. Further, credit cards can then be identified as a means of keeping actual debt levels out of the economic consciousness of the consumer. To this end, consumer education stands as an intervention to raise awareness and increase consumer activism in reducing debt. In the final analysis this research concludes that there is a link between a consumer's level of materialism and their level of credit card debt. The consumers who engage in making minimum payments only each month have higher debt loads and there exists a gender differentiation in the level of credit card expenditures on a set of leisure identified products.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Consumer credit -- South Dakota
Consumer behavior -- South Dakota
Finance, Personal -- South Dakota
Credit cards -- South Dakota
Debt -- South Dakota
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
149
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Lane, Shannon Marie, "Consumer Credit Card Behavior in South Dakota : A Pilot Investigation" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1588.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1588
