The differential effects of clothing interest and knowledge on the utilization of price and intrinsic attributes on product evaluation and behavioral intentions were investigated. The impact of clothing interest and knowledge, price, and intrinsic attributes on attitude toward advertisements and perceptions of relevance, typicality, and fashionability were examined. Causal relationships among constructs were verified through path analysis.

A conceptual model was developed and tested. To test the proposed model and additional propositions, a survey was conducted with manipulated variables. Data were collected in Clothing and Textiles departments of three universities and Communications and Marketing departments in one university. Respondents evaluated a pair of dress slacks inclusive of manipulated price and intrinsic attributes. A total of 417 questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis. The items used to measure the theoretical constructs were thoroughly tested to assure the reliability of the measures and manipulation checks were conducted. The data were analyzed by multiple regression to test the significance of the proposed relationships. To test the differences between the high and low clothing interest and knowledge conditions, subjects were divided into two groups based on median scores on clothing interest and clothing knowledge scales. Then the data were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test.

The results indicate that taken together, price, intrinsic attributes, clothing interest and knowledge significantly help to predict perceptions of quality, monetary sacrifice, perceptions of benefits, perceptions of value, willingness to buy, search intention, and attitude toward advertisements. Intrinsic attributes were significant in predicting the perceptions of quality, benefits, monetary sacrifice, value, and subjects' willingness to buy, search intention, attitude toward advertisements, and perceptions of typicality. Clothing interest was significant in predicting perceptions of monetary sacrifice, perceptions of benefits, perceptions of value, and willingness to buy. The proposed effect of clothing knowledge was significant in predicting subjects' perceptions of quality and intentions to search. The model specifying the causal relationships among the proposed variables was analyzed by Path Analysis. The results indicated that the relationships were significant and thus the proposed model was supported.