Browsing by Subject "omistaminen"

In my study I examine Kuinoma lending service users' experiences and views on renting and owning using qualitative research method. I have collected the data by interviewing fourteen users of the service. The interviews were personal interviews that followed the form of a theme interview. In analyzing the data I use in addition to themes the research literature dealing with renting, the functional and symbolic scope of goods, and consumer ethos. In the themes of my study I discuss the reasons, necessities, and obstacles for renting, the technical qualities and symbolic meanings of the goods, and the views of the users concerning the attitudes of different age groups towards renting and owning. The reasons for renting are occasional and temporary need, saving space and money, ecological reasons, and the opportunity to use and test goods without the troubles of ownership. Willingness to rent goods grows in proportion to how well the cost of renting and the quality and location of the goods match the needs of the user. Ecological reasons can also encourage renting. Renting has to be easy enough for it to become a realistic alternative for buying and owning, the effort and activeness needed may become an obstacle for renting. However, above all, a change in attitudes and habits is required for the spreading of renting culture. In my study, the technical qualities and symbolic meanings of the goods determine the reasons for owning. The technical qualities include the physical and functional qualities of the goods, the questions relating to hygiene, and the utilization rate of the goods. These factors define what is considered necessary to own. Even if the technical properties of an item make it suitable for renting, people don’t necessarily want to rent it out. A personal relationship may be formed towards one’s possessions, in which case the items are seen too meaningful to be placed for a rent. Items may, for example, remind the owner of certain events, places or people, or become otherwise meaningful. The effect of age on the attitudes towards renting and owning does not seem to be unambiguous. Owning is in most cases connected to the consumption behavior of the older age group and renting to the younger. Some of the interviewees consider young people also materialistic. In connection to the older age group, owning is associated to independency, safety, achievement and status as well as the experiences from the war and times of economic depression. The younger people’s positive attitude towards renting is explained with environmental consciousness. Other factors, such as attitudes and values, are also seen affecting the attitudes towards renting and owning.

Tavarakulutuksen monipuolistumisen rinnalla sen yhteiskunnallinen ja yksilöllinen merkitys on kasvanut. Tutkielmassa tarkastelen merkityksiä, joita ikääntyneet kuluttajat liittävät omistamiseen ja omistamiinsa tavaroihin. Tutkin myös, miten suhde tavaraan tulee esiin heidän omistamisen kokemuksissaan. Omistamisen merkityksiä ja niiden muuttumista sekä henkilökohtaisen tavarasuhteen kehittymistä analysoin sosio-kulttuurisesta näkökulmasta. Tavoitteeni on tutkia ikääntyneitä kuluttajia, jotka ovat kokeneet elämänsä aikana suomalaisen kulutusyhteiskunnan murroksen ja kehityksen. Tutkimuksessani käytän laadullista tutkimusotetta. Keräsin tutkimusaineiston kesän ja syksyn aikana vuonna 2020 kirjoituskutsuna, jonka lähetin kirjoitusseuroille eri puolille maata. Kutsussa pyysin yli 55-vuotiaita kirjoittajia kertomaan omistamiseen liittämistään merkityksistä ja niissä tapahtuneista muutoksista elämän aikana. Tutkimusaineistoni koostuu 18 kirjoitelmasta, jotka ovat 58–84-vuotiaiden kuluttajien tuottamia. Aineiston erittelyyn ja tulkintaan olen soveltanut lähiluvun menetelmää. Analysoinnin apuna käytin aikaisempaa tutkimuskirjallisuutta, joka tarkastelee kulutukseen liittyviä kulttuurisia ja sosiaalisia ulottuvuuksia sekä yksilön tavarasuhteen syntymistä ja kehittymistä. Kuluttajakertomuksissa ikääntyneet kuvaavat omistamisen merkityksiä järkevyyden, nautinnollisuuden ja luopumisen kautta. Järkeväksi koettua omistamista kuvaillaan kahdella tavalla: talonpoikaisena säästäväisyytenä ja vaatimattomuutena sekä keskiluokkaisena suunnitelmallisuutena ja kohtuullisuutena. Kirjoittajien kertomuksissa omistamisen nautinnollisuus tulee ilmi kiertoilmausten kautta ja sitä pyritään myös selittelemään ja perustelemaan. Ikääntyneiden omistamissa tärkeissä tavaroissa korostuvat toiminnallisten ominaisuuksien sijaan niiden kantamat symboliset arvot, kuten muistot kirjoittajan henkilöhistoriaan liittyvistä ihmisistä ja tapahtumista. Iäkkäimmillä kirjoittajilla omistamiseen liitetyt merkitykset vaikuttavat heikkenevän ajan mittaan tuoden jopa tavaroista luopumisen ajankohtaiseksi vaihtoehdoksi.

In my thesis I explore the user experience in a new clothing-related service that is based on lending. The study is based on the users’ experiences of a clothing lending service called Vaatelainaamo. I have used a qualitative research method. The data was collected by personal interviews that followed the form of theme interviews. The data is analyzed according to the themes and research literature addressing product-service system, shopping, emotional and symbolical meanings of clothing as well as sustainable consumption. The purpose of the themes is to explore the experiences and the preconditions for adapting new clothing-related product-system services. In addition the purpose is to understand the meaning of clothing as material possessions and the challenges consumers face in the field of sustainable clothing consumption. The findings of the study indicate that lending clothing represents sustainable way of clothing consumption. Attributes most contributing to positive perceptions of the service is the available assortment of clothing and the social aspect of the service. In order to gain user satisfaction, the assortment of clothing is to meet the size and style requirements of the user. In addition the ease use of the service including the store location, opening hours and the easy maintenance of the clothing were found to be the main factors contributing to the user satisfaction. In my study, the importance of owning clothing is determined through the functional and symbolical meanings of the clothing. The functionality is mainly experienced through the ease of use and functionality of the clothing in everyday life. Quality, good fit and attachment, which is formed through use, were found to be the main contributors for functionality. The importance of owning clothing is restricted to basic and trustworthy clothing as well as to meaningful clothing that represented certain memories. However, the desire for variation, which is experienced through clothing, is hard to fulfill with the basic and functional clothing. Lending is found to be a good way to satisfy the desire for variation without attachment to material possessions. According to the study sustainable ways to consume clothing is seen as a trivial matter. Consumers have different practices in order to attain sustainability including decreasing consumption, saving and investing in quality. Overall the interviewees’ experience that lending clothing is an effective way to question the consumption practices and the real needs related to clothing. Lending service is also found to have an educational feature, as the users’ knowledge of Finnish designers, quality and maintenance of clothing is cultivated through the use of the service.