FINAL REPORT

DPB5023 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Title of Research Proposal :

THE EFFECT OF MONEY ATTITUDE AND COMPULSIVE BUYING BEHAVIOUR
AMONG YOUNG WORKING ADULTS

Prepared By:

SHUBASHINI SEVARAM 06DAT15F2045

PAVITRA A/P B. MOHAN 06DAT15F2015
HAARVIN A/L SUNDRAPANDIAN 06DAT15F2058
SHARVIN A/L SUPERMANIAM 06DAT15F2049
RENISHADEWY A/P JEYAGOPI 06DAT15F2030

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
PORT DICKSON POLYTECHNIC

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 CONFIRMATION OF PROJECT REPORT

A report entitled The effect of money attitude and compulsive buying behaviour

among young working adults was submitted, reviewed and certified as set as the

requirements and needs of Project Report Writing.

Checked by :
Supervisor Name :
Supervisor Signature :
Date :

Approved By :
Supervisor Name :
Supervisor Signature :
Date :

ii
 DECLARATION

“We declare that the work in this project was carried out in accordance

with the regulation of Polytechnic. It is original and is the results of our

own work, unless otherwise indicated or acknowledged as referenced work”.

Signature :
Name : SHUBASHINI A/P SEVARAM
Students ID : 06DAT15F2045

Signature :
Name : HAARVIN A/L SUNDRAPANDIAN
Students ID : 06DAT15F2058

Signature :
Name : PAVITRA A/P B. MOHAN
Students ID : 06DAT15F2015

Signature :
Name : SHARVIN A/L SUPERMANIAM
Students ID : 06DAT15F2049

Signature :
Name : RENISHADEWY A/P JEYAGOPI
Students ID : 06DAT15F2030

DATE : MARCH 2018

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, we would like to express deepest gratitude to Puan Nurulyasmin Ju
Ahmad for her invaluable guidance, advice, encouragement, suggestions, comments, and
patience from the early stage until the completion of our research project. Without her guidance, it
would not be possible to produce such a good standard of research.

Besides that, we would like to thank all of our lecturers from Commerce Department.
We express our gratitude for their kind support, advices, and knowledge given to us.

Also not be forgotten for a group member who has given fully committed, sacrifice time,
energy and material in realizing this project.

Big thanks to all our friends and colleagues, for all of their assistance and helpful
suggestions. Last but not least, an honorable mention goes to our family members for their
understandings and supports on us in completing this project. Without their help of what we
mentioned above, we would face many difficulties while doing this project.

Thank you all for the wonderful and unforgotten help and support.

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 ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of money attitude and compulsive buying
behavior among young working adults at Port Dickson district. Here, researchers are going to
look into on objective of the study is to determine the relationship between power- prestige,
retention time, distrust, anxiety and compulsive buying and which money attitude has the
greatest influence on buying behavior. This study carried out to get respondent feedback on their
money attitude toward compulsive buying. These studies use the primary and secondary sources.
In order to fulfill the objectives of the study, the questionnaire will be dispensed to
approximately 360 participants at a major shopping complex in the Regina Mall, Port Dickson to
get the research information.

Key Words: Compulsive buying, Money attitudes

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CONTENTS Page

CONFIRMATION OF PROJECT REPORT ii

DECLARATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

LIST OF CONTENTS vi-vii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1. General Introduction 1

1.2. Problem Statement 2

1.3. Objectives of The Study 3

1.4. Research Question 3

1.5. Scope of Study 3

1.6. Limitations of Study 4
1.7. Significance of Study 4
1.8. Hypothesis 4
1.9. Operational Definition
1.9.1. Money Attitudes 5-6
1.9.2. Young Working Adults 6
1.9.3. Compulsive Buying 7
1.10. Conceptual Framework
1.10.1. The Proposed Conceptual Framework 8
1.11. Gun Chart 9-10

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CONTENTS Page

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Introduction 11
2.2. Relationship between power-prestige and compulsive buying behavior 11-12
2.3. Relationship between time- retention and compulsive buying behavior 12
2.4. Relationship between anxiety and compulsive buying behavior 13
2.5. Relationship between distrust and compulsive buying behavior 14

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
3.1. Introduction 15
3.2. Population and Sample 15-16

3.3. Data collection 16

3.4. Measurement Instrument 16-17
3.5. Analysis data

APPENDIX A
REFERENCES
Questionnaire

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Money changes everything. Money affects career and relationship choices as well as mater of
control, safety, self-esteem, and also well-being. Majority of decision made and people
personality is developed by what people believe about money. Money is not about numbers but
involve feelings, it is about the way we feel about it. Engelberg and Sjoberg (2006)felt that
money is huge emotional, psychological and symbolic unit to people. People bring their own
meanings, emotion and experiences on their relationship with money.

Money attitude influence people lives in nearly all aspects such as relationship, health,
spending attitude, and career. One’s cultural background influence the symbolic meaning of
money,(Tang 1993).Money attitudes are always developed through one’s surrounding
background. Parental Income, parenting practices, education, social class, beliefs and money
habits all influences one’s money attitude(Tang and Gilbert 1995). One the other hand, mass
media has influences on money attitude as well. Money attitude are created since our childhood
and well remain almost consistent throughout our life(Tang and Gilbert 1993).

Beyond money attitudes, compulsive buying are also likely to play a pivotal role in affecting
other psychological tendencies among consumers. All marketers and businesses would be happy
with high and continued purchases from consumers. Some consumers may however
uncontrollably and excessively purchase to a point where they become compulsive buyers.
Compulsive buying is viewed as a dysfunctional behavior (Dittmar, 2005. Sociopsychological
and demographic factors are reported to be some of the drivers of compulsive buying in
developed and developing countries (Deon, 2011; Dittmar, 2005). Compulsive buying is also a
growing problem among young consumers, such as Generation Y (Gen Y) (Dittmar, 2005).

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1.2 Problem Statement

Today, compulsive buying has grown and become a main problem, as people who involve in
compulsive buying could not control their habits toward spending. It also can cause a marriage to
be broken down or bankruptcy and consequently involve in deep financial and social problems.
In view of that, this issue should be among the main research area today because the life style
and work environment of people today have affected the buying of individuals regardless of
negative economic consequences. The problem is that compulsive buyers are not aware about
possible consequences of overspending such as debt, bankruptcy, frustration over their lack of
control their buying and decreases the interpersonal relationships (O'Guinn & Feaber, 1989).
Compulsive buyers were defined as people who are spending more than they did in the past and
more than they realize (Schor, 1998).

Moreover, much of research on compulsive buying discovered that compulsive buyers suffer
significantly greater levels of guilt after their buying binges (O'Guinn & Faber 1989; Faber &
O'Guinn 1992; Scherhorn et al., 1990). The degree of regret among non-impulse buyers was not
as great as among compulsive buyers (O'Guinn & Faber 1989). Therefore, they spent more
money than they have, destroying their lives and the lives of their families (d'Astous 1990; Faber
& O'Guinn 1992; Rendfleish et al., 1997). Hirschman (1992) has categorized compulsive buyers
as distressed compulsive consumers because of the degree to which they express guilt and
remorse over their actions. Compulsive buying has left the negative consequences to
individuals who involve in addict buying. Financial problems and social problems are among
many problems caused by compulsive buying.

Therefore, the study of compulsive buying among young working adults can help in recording
a number of financial problems and social problems including personal bankruptcy filings. To
sum up, this study hopes to unveil the effect of money attitude and compulsive buying behavior
among young working adults.

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1.3 Objectives of The Study
 To identify the factors effecting the money attitude among working adult.
 To determine the relationship between Power- prestiges, retention time, distrust, anxiety
and compulsive buying.
 To determine which money attitude has the greatest influence on buying behavior

1.4 Research Question

This study aims to contribute to the effect of money attitude on compulsive buying behavior
among young working adults. Therefore, the present study has three questions to investigate,
which are as follows:

RQ1 Has the money attitude among young working adults affected the compulsive buying
behavior?

RQ2 What are the factors effecting the money attitude among young working adults?

RQ3 Which money attitude has the greatest influences on buying behavior?

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the relationship between money attitude (power prestige, retention
time, distrust, anxiety) and compulsive buying behavior among young working adults in Port
Dickson. The scope of this study would be limited only to young working adults at Port
Dickson district. The sample was drawn basically from young working adults. The sample
also considers being a fair representative of young working adults, where the majority of
them are young age; between 21 -25years olds. Finally, due to temporal constraints, the study
use only one elicitation research instrument, which was a questionnaire.

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1.6 Limitations of Study
 The sample selection for present study is limited to working adults in Port Dickson
 Description of limitation should be state in future tense because the research is not yet start.

1.7 Significance of Study

 To understanding how individual make decision to spend their available resources like
time, money, and effort while purchasing goods.
 To overcome the financial problem among young working adult
 For young working adults, the study will help them to understand the intricacies of
Budgeting finance and buying behavior so that future buying decisions can be made at
the most cognitive level and to spend their money effectively.
 This will guide consumers to plan their expenditure and hopefully the results from the
study will help provide suggestions on the way to control compulsive buying.

1.8 Hypothesis

 H1. The relationship between power-prestige dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

 H2. The relationship between the anxiety dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

 H3. The relationship between the distrust dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

 H4. The relationship between the time retention dimension of money attitude and
compulsive buying behavior for young working adults

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1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

1.9.1. Money Attitudes

The symbolic and psychological values of money are far exceeding its relative economic
value, as common associations with power, prestige, security, status, achievement, anxiety,
distrust, love, and freedom illustrate (Furnham and Okamura, 1999). Research on money
attitudes is limited in the marketing discipline (Durvasula and Lysonski, 2010) even though it
can potentially influence a wide variety of consumer behavior (Rose and Orr, 2007). Bonsu
(2008) suspect that outcomes of consumer behavior like credit card abuse, compulsive buying,
consumer debt accumulation and bankruptcy may emanate from high scorers of certain money
attitude dimensions.

On examining the relationships between dimensions of money attitudes and compulsive buying,
researchers (e.g., Roberts & Jones, 2001; Li et al., 2009) have mainly used Yamauchi and
Templer (1982) money attitudes scale. Money attitudes have impacted all areas of a person’s life
which include saving habits, spending, workplace performance, political ideology, charitable
giving, and attitude towards the environment.

Compulsive buyers are found to possess relatively lower self-esteem and self-doubt than
‘normal’ consumers, and perceive beliefs that money can reflect the symbolic ability to enhance
self-esteem (Chang and Arkin, 2002; Hanley and Wilhelm, 1992). Those who were more likely
to use money for power or status, such as buying a certain car because it is “higher class” would
be likely to buy on impulse than those who were not (Lai, 2010).

Attitudes toward possession and spending such as compulsive spending and materialism, were
found to be important indicators of debt (Norvilitis et al., 2006). Norvilitis, Szablicki, and
Wilson (2003) found contradictory information from Norvilitis et al. (2006) which showed no
relationship between attitudes towards money and behavior .

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There are Five dimension in money attitude (Yamauchi and Templer (1982) :

Power-Prestige: This factor implied that money can be used as the power to influence and
impress others

Retention-Time: This factor focused on financial planning for future and careful use of money

Distrust: This factor show hesitant, suspicious, and doubtful attitudes with respect to money.

Quality: This factor focus on the buying of quality, name brand products

Anxiety: This factor has difficulty making spending decisions and feel that money saved is never
enough.

1.9.2 Young Working Adults

Young working adults are defined as people between 21-25 years age. They are entering into the
workforce and also they need to protect their income potential from the uncertainties’ of life.
During this stage of life many young working adults will find themselves facing some instability
in “in between “period of their lives(Kohn, Michael R.2013) .We posit that this term is linked to
attitudes towards money . According to Bohlander et al. (2001), young age is defined through a
maximum of forty years old.

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1.9.3 Compulsive Buying

Compulsive buying is defined as a “frequent preoccupation with buying or impulses to buy

that are experienced as irresistible, intrusive, and/or senseless” (Muller et al., 2005, p. 3)
Compulsive buying can exist as a consumers’ primary response for individuals to compensate for
stress, frustration, disappointment, lack of self-esteem, structural deficit, and distortion of
autonomy in their lives through the act of buying (Neuner et al., 2005; O’Guinn and Faber, 1989;
Koran et al., 2006). Dittmar et al. (2007) have identified three core features of compulsive
buying namely; consumers experience an irresistible urge to buy, consumers’ control over
buying behavior is lost, and consumers continue to buy despite adverse consequences in their
personal, social, or occupational lives, and financial debt. O’Guinn and Faber (1989) explained
that once buying behavior is developed, the individual should face great difficulty in controlling
buying even after its detrimental effects are recognized. Koran et al. (2006) added that once an
individual is unable to control buying, they will frequently purchase unnecessary items or more
than what they can afford, and shop for longer periods than was intended.

From a scientific perspective, compulsive buying is frequently overlooked and has been
classified as an impulsive control disorder not otherwise specified (Black et al., 1998; Mueller et
al., 2007). Based on the preliminary findings by Mueller et al. (2007), it was suggested that
compulsive buying is more common in women. The endorsement of materialistic values has
emerged as a significant predictor of compulsive buying tendency. Individuals with high
materialistic values believe that the acquirement of material goods is a crucial goal for life as a
prime indicator of success and the key to happiness and self-definition. Kasser and Kanner
(2004) ascribe that the orientation of materialistic values is central to current consumer culture.
Thus not only materialistic values entail a strong focus on obtaining material goods, but it is also
related to the beliefs that consumer goods can provide a psychological benefit. They also found
that younger individuals who endorsed a materialistic value demonstrate a stronger compulsive
buying tendency than the older individuals. Thus, it can be suggested that a materialistic value
system direct individuals toward psychologically motivated buying behavior.

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1.10 Conceptual Framework

1.10.1 The Proposed Conceptual Framework

To study the effect of money attitude and compulsive buying behavior, a framework is
constructed based on the previous studies. The proposed framework consists of two components;
the concepts of money attitude and the effect of money attitude towards compulsive buying.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT VARIABLE

MONEY ATTITUDE

Power-
Prestige
Retention-
time Compulsive
Buying
Anxiety

Distrust

Figure 1: The proposed Model Framework to identify the Effect of Money Attitude toward
Compulsive Buying Tendencies

In this study, compulsive buying is proposed to be a function of money attitude (power-prestige,

retention-time, anxiety and distrust) for this study.in other words, compulsive buying is
dependent variable while money attitude (power-prestige, retention-time, anxiety and distrust)
are antecedents of compulsive buying.

1.11 Gun Chart

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DATE TOPIC DISCUSSION
20/12/201 First Day Meeting with our  Search title and article(open title)
7 supervisor PN Yasmin  E.g. Saving/accident/current issue
/popular news
 And take some notes from our
supervisor about to search articles
27/12/201 SEMESTER BREAK  Searching for article that related
7 and print out.
 Each one of us looking for articles
in different topics.
9/1/2018 Second meeting –to choose the title  All of us bring one related title
and articles
 E.g. Saving, obesity, accidents,
abuse case
 Then still we not yet confirm our
title
17/1/2018 Third meeting-unfortunately the  Then we bring another four tittle
research title is change from open i)saving
title to accounting field title. ii)bonds
iii)investment
iv)unemployment
 From above, we choose saving
title so regarding that we search
more articles

25/1/201 Forth meeting-discuss about From saving we bring a lot of related article
8 chapter 1(introduction) & .After a few discussions from saving we
2 (literature review) specifically choose money attitude toward young

9
 working adult because looks different and we
like to learn about it.
5/2/2018 Fifth meeting-submit our draft  Draft our research and recheck with our
proposal in writing format. supervisor until Chapter 2(literature review)
 Then we still adjust the title again because
the entire article is below 1999 years and its
very old articles.
 Then we change again our title
(The effect of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior among young working adults
at Port Dickson district)
 And we search a lot of article relate to the
above title.
8/2/2018 Sixth meeting We show our articles to supervisor and then
successfully confirmed that title. Then we start
to draft new proposal based on new title.
14/2/201 Semester Break Ready up our proposal based on research process
8
20/2/201 Seventh meeting Submitted our proposal until chapter 3 to our
2 supervisor for remark
23/2/201 Eight meeting Our supervisor correct and show the mistakes
2 guide us by give some ideas on how to complete
our proposal.
26/2/201 Ninth meeting Before we send our proposal: we ask our group
8 members to recheck it.
27/2/201 Tenth meeting Submitted our proposal again after some
8 correction to our supervisor for recheck

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

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2.1 Introduction

This chapter reviews the previous research regarding money attitudes on compulsive buying
behavior. This chapter will cover the literature of money attitudes (power, retention time,
distrust, and anxiety), on compulsive buying.

2.2 Relationship between power-prestige and compulsive buying behavior

Based on Yamauchi and Temple’s (1982,p.532) money attitude scale, individuals scoring high
on the power prestige dimension hold ‘…attitudes that indicate the importance of status seeking,
competition, external recognition and acquisition’ Individuals use money as a status symbol to
influence and impress others and to give them ability to remove obstacles that obstruct their path
in achieving goals. In other words, symbolizes a command over goods and services that are
compulsory to advance the self-interest of an individual in a free enterprise economy (Roberts
and Jones, 2001)

According to Roberts and Jones (2001), the power prestige dimension of money attitude can
also be supported by the social comparison theory which suggests that individuals tend to
compete and compare with each other. In today’s society status is regarded through the
ownership of status products rather than through personal, occupational, or family reputation.
Thus in their effort to come out best in this social power by displaying their wealth through the
ability to purchase goods and services (material objects).This is because wealth has been
regarded as the best indicator of a person’s power and status in this modern society (Roberts and
Jones, 2001)

This confirms Robert and Jones (2001) assertion that compulsive buyers are more likely to
correlate buying with social status. In addition, Tang and Luna-Arocas (1997)stressed how
completion creates pressure on individuals perform in a corporation as well as in social arena to
acquire more material objects in their quest to prove their social status i.e. through consumption.
Consequently, this continuous drive to compete and acquire prestigious goods and services may
lead to compulsive buying. Schor (1998) supports the notion of self-desired image when she

11
pointed out that individuals use commodities as a mean of signaling to the outer world who they
want to be, and that consumption is an act of comparison.

H1. The relationship between power-prestige dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

2.3 Relationship between time- retention and compulsive buying behavior

The retention-time dimension of the money attitude scale describes individuals scoring high on
this dimension as having high self-esteem. They also place a great value on the process of
preparation to carefully plan and closely monitor their financial future (Roberts and Sepulveda,
1999; Yamauchi and Templer’s 1982). In contrast, individuals with low scores are low on self-
esteem and tend to be very presenting oriented rather than future oriented. Consequently, there is
little concern for the careful management of their funds. For example, some findings such as
Hayhoe et al. (1999) revealed that students holding more credit cards tend to score lower on
retention-time dimension. Tokunga (1993) found that a close correlate of compulsive buying in
the form of unsuccessful credit users took fewer steps to retain their money. This may partially
confirm Hanley and Wilhelm’s (1992) findings that compulsive buyers also score lower on the
retention-time dimension. Tang and Gilbert (1995) also found an inverse relationship between
careful budgeting and compulsive spending. Thus, it can be hypothesized that:

H2 The relationship between the time retention dimension of money attitude and
compulsive buying behavior for young working adults

2.4 Relationship between anxiety and compulsive buying behavior

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The third type of consumer represents those who view money as a source of anxiety. These
consumers engage in compulsive buying to alleviate expeditiously their anxiety. Escape from
anxiety is the primary motivator for consumers who exhibit addictive buying behavior. The
anxiety dimension of the money attitude scale describes a person scoring high in this dimension
to be very worried and anxious about money and views money as a source of protection from
anxiety (Roberts and Jones, 2001; Lim and Teo, 1997; Yamauchi and Templer, 1982).

Lim and Teo (1997) suggest that individuals who have experienced hardship will tend to
experience more financial anxiety. However, their research did not indicate any significant
differences in the tendency of such individuals to save and reduce spending. Roberts and Jones
(2001) clarified that compulsive buying is viewed as a resolution to anxiety and that compulsive
buyers react to stress with higher levels of anxiety than do non-compulsive buyers. This could
indicate that though consumers may experience financial anxiety, they still tend to spend
indiscriminately.

Hirschman’s (1980) theory of experiential consumerism states that sensory and imaginary
processes may motivate shopping as a means of maintaining high state of arousal and
individuality. Furthermore, Valence et al. (1988) described that anxiety provokes spontaneous
action and pushes the consumer to reduce tension, which leads to excessive consumption i.e.
compulsive buying. Thus, one can assume that the prime motivation for buyers to engage in
compulsive buying behavior is to escape from anxiety, to relieve stress, and to make them feel
happy, a notion supported by Roberts and Jones’ (2001) study.

Unfortunately, these attempts to escape from problems tend to be temporary and will most likely
result in even higher level of anxiety and guilt over the money spent earlier (Desarbo and
Edwards, 1996). Therefore, this study hypothesis that:

H3: The relationship between the anxiety dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

2.5 Relationship between distrust and compulsive buying behavior

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 In terms of money attitudes, the second type of consumer is those who show hesitation, distrust,
and suspiciousness when dealing with money. Such consumers are likely to have limited skills in
making sound purchases. These consumers are typically price sensitive. They do not have the
ability to make efficient purchases, and are unlikely to be compulsive buyers. Consumers who
show lack of trust in dealing with money are rated highly on the distrust dimension of MAS.
Such individuals tend to be insecure and wary of their ability to maximize the value of their
money through efficient purchase (Yamauchi and Templer (1982).

Roberts and Jones (2001) suggested that this dimension should be regarded as price sensitivity
because the items focus on consumer’s sensitivity to the price paid for goods and services. In
addition, they believe that individuals who obsess over the price paid for goods and services are
less likely to engage in compulsive buying. Women expressed less confidence in their financial
dealing (Frugality-Distrust and Anxiety) and more security minded in money handling
(Planning-Saving) than men (Prince, 1991.Based upon the above this study hypothesizes:

H4: The relationship between the distrust dimension of money attitude and compulsive
buying behavior for young working adults

CHAPTER 3

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 METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design and methodology that have been utilized in
this research up to the data analysis procedures. This chapter covers a series of steps,
including outlines of the, population and sampling, data collection methods, measurement
instrument, and data analysis procedures.

3.1 Introduction

This research is to determine the relationship between money attitudes and compulsive buying
among young working adults in Port Dickson. The questionnaire will be dispensed to
approximately 360participants at a major shopping complex in the Regina Mall, Port Dickson.
Each questionnaire took around 10minutes to complete.

3.2 Population and Sample Size

According to Sekaran (2000), population refers to the entire group of people, events
or things of interest that researcher wishes to investigate. The primary objective of
this study was to assess the relationship between money attitudes and compulsive buying among
young working adults in Port Dickson. The population of this study was 360, i.e. the total
number of young working adults in Port Dickson district. Based on Sekaran's (2001) criteria, the
required sample size for this study was 127. However, the questionnaire will be dispensed to
approximately 360participants at a major shopping complex in the Regina Mall, Port Dickson.
Each questionnaire took around 10minutes to complete. The main consideration in selecting the
respondents from young working adults is most of them are newly entering into the workforce
and also they need to protect their income potential from the uncertainties’ of life. During this
stage of life many young working adults will find themselves facing some instability in “in
between “period of their lives. Furthermore, they are attached to several companies throughout
Malaysia. Most of the respondents are below twenty five years of age which represent the
majority of Malaysian population. According to Bohlander et al. (2001), young age is defined
through a maximum of forty years old. They were easy to be accessed and have been always

15
exposed to surveys and questionnaires. As such, by taking the young working adults as the
respondents, this study will contribute to the understanding of the consumer behavior; as an
important sector to the Malaysian society. Similarly, the respondents' ideas were regarded as
valuable source which allow the researcher to gain data and information relevant to the study.

3.3 Data collection

Data will collected via a mall intercept at a major shopping complex in the Regina Mall, Port
Dickson. Shoppers approached to participate in a self-administered questionnaire which takes
about 10 minutes to complete. Participants were required to be at least 20-25 years old and must
be a young working adult to participate. Every individual that crossed a designated spot outside
the main entrance of the mall was approached to participate. Only individuals between the ages
of 20-25 were requested to continue with the survey. Prior to the data collection, researchers
train and instruct on how to administer the survey instrument and to include respondents with
different demographic profiles. The data collections conduct over a two week period on both
weekdays and weekends.

3.4 Measurement Instrument

The instrument comprised of 4 sections. The first section began with a screening question. The
second section comprised of a modified version of Yamauchi and Templer’s (1982) twenty-two
items money attitude scale (MAS) used to measure respondent money attitudes. Responses to all
items were based on a 5-point Likert scale, which range from ‘Always’ to ‘Never’. Power-
Prestige money attitude is the use of money for power or status. Someone who has a Retention-
Time money attitude thinks that it is important to save money to be financially stable and create
a stable future. Besides someone who has a the anxiety dimension of the money attitude scale
describes a person scoring high in this dimension to be very worried and anxious about money
and views money as a source of protection from anxiety. People scoring high on this factor have
difficulty making spending decisions and feel that money saved is never enough. The last
dimension contained six items and was labeled Distrust. High scoring people on this factor show
hesitant, suspicious, and doubtful attitudes with respect to money.

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 The third section consists of the clinical screener developed by Faber and O’Guinn (1992) used
to identify compulsive buyers. The 5-point Likert scales asked respondents to indicate their
agreement with the statements present as well as the frequency of experiencing a behavior on a
5point scale ranging from ‘Always’ to ‘Never’. High scores indicated compulsive buying.

The format of a typical five-level Likert item is:

1. Never

2. Sometimes

3. Often

4. Very Often

5. Always

3.5 ANALYSIS DATA

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Appendix A:

SECTION A

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Items of the screening question

1. Gender

2. Marital Status

3. Purchase Frequency

SECTION B

Items of the Power prestige (Yamauchi and Templer, 1982)

1. I behave as if money were the ultimate symbols of success.

2. In all honesty, I own things in order to impress others.

3. I use money to influence individuals to do things for me.

4. Individuals tell me I place too much emphasis on the amount of money a person has as a
sign of success.

5. Although I should judge the success of individuals by their deeds, I am more influenced
by the amount of money they have.

6. I must admit that I purchase things because I know they will impress others.

7. I seem to find that I show more respect for individuals with more money than I have.

5 point Likert Scale: 1- Always, 5- Never

Items of the Retention-Time (Yamauchi and Templer, 1982)

1. I follow a careful financial budget.

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 2. I save to prepare for my old age.

3. I put money aside on a regular basis for the future.

4. I do financial planning for the future.

5. I keep track of my money.

6. I have money available in the event of another economic depression.

5 point Likert Scale: 1- Always, 5- Never

Items of the Anxiety (Yamauchi and Templer, 1982)

1. I worry I will not be financially secure

2. I show signs of nervousness when I don't have enough money

3. I show worrisome behaviour when it comes to money.

5 point Likert Scale: 1- Always, 5- Never

Items of the Distrust (Yamauchi and Templer, 1982)

1. I argue and complain about the cost of things I buy

20
 2. I hesitate to spend money even on necessities

3. I automatically say ' I can't afford it ", whether I can or not

4. When I buy something, I have a suspicion that I have been taken advantage of

5. After buying something, I wonder if I could have gotten the same for less elsewhere

6. When I buy things I complain about the price I paid

5 point Likert Scale: 1- Always, 5- Never

SECTION C

Items of the Compulsive Buying Scale (Faber and O’Guinn, 1992)

1. If I have any money let at the end of the pay period, I just have to spend it

2. Felt others would be horrified if they knew of my spending habits

3. Bought things even though I couldn't afford them

4. Wrote a check when I knew I didn't have enough money in the bank to cover it

5. Bought myself something in order to make myself feel better

6. Felt anxious or nervous on days I didn't go shopping

7. Made only the minimum payments on my credit cards

5 point Likert Scale: 1- Always, 5- Never

APPENDIX B

QUESTIONNAIRE

21
 A SURVEY: THE EFFECT OF MONEY ATTITUDE AND COMPULSIVE BUYING
BEHAVIOUR AMONG YOUNG WORKING ADULTS

INSTRUCTION: The purpose of this survey is to is to determine the relationship between money
attitudes and compulsive buying among young working adults in Port Dickson. The statements in the
questionnaire represent common behaviors associated with money and buying behavior. Read each
statement and circle the number to the right of each statement to indicate the extent you engage in the
behavior. There are no right and wrong answers. You encourage to be free and candid in responding.
Please respond to every statement.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION A
Please tick (/) appropriate response for each item

1) What is your gender

Female Male

2) What is your Marital Status

Single Married Divorced

3) What is your purchase frequency

 Less than Once  Once a Month 2-3 times a month
4-5 times a month 6 times or more

SECTION B
Please circle the number the appropriate statement based on the Likert Scale given below

22
 Very Often
Sometime

Always
Never

Often
NO ITEMS

I behave as if money were the ultimate

1) 1 2 3 4 5
symbols of success

In all honesty, I own things in order to

2) 1 2 3 4 5
impress others.

I use money to influence individuals to do

3) 1 2 3 4 5
things for me.

Individuals tell me I place too much

4) emphasis on the amount of money a 1 2 3 4 5

person has as a sign of success.

Although I should judge the success of

individuals by their deeds, I am more
5) 1 2 3 4 5
influenced by the amount of money they
have.

I must admit that I purchase things

6) 1 2 3 4 5
because I know they will impress others.

I seem to find that I show more respect for

7) 1 2 3 4 5
individuals with more money than I have

8) I follow a careful financial budget 1 2 3 4 5

9) I save to prepare for my old age. 1 2 3 4 5

I put money aside on a regular basis for

10) the future. 1 2 3 4 5

11) I do financial planning for the future 1 2 3 4 5

12) I keep track of my money 1 2 3 4 5

I have money available in the event of 1 2 3 4 5

13)
another economic depression.

23
 14) I worry I will not be financially secure 1 2 3 4 5

I show signs of nervousness when I don't

15) have enough money 1 2 3 4 5

I show worrisome behavior when it comes 1 2 3 4 5

16)
to money.
I argue and complain about the cost of
17) things I buy 1 2 3 4 5

I hesitate to spend money even on

18) necessities 1 2 3 4 5

I automatically say ' I can't afford it ",

19) whether I can or not 1 2 3 4 5

When I buy something, I have a suspicion

20) that I have been taken advantage of 1 2 3 4 5

After buying something, I wonder if I

21) could have gotten the same for less 1 2 3 4 5

elsewhere

When I buy things I complain about the 1 2 3 4 5

22)
price I paid

SECTION C
Please circle the number. The appropriate statement based on the Likert Scale given below

If I have any money let at the end of the

1) pay period, I just have to spend it 1 2 3 4 5

Felt others would be horrified if they

2) 1 2 3 4 5
knew of my spending habits

24
 Bought things even though I couldn't
3) 1 2 3 4 5
afford them

Wrote a check when I knew I didn't have

4) enough money in the bank to cover it 1 2 3 4 5

Bought myself something in order to make

5) 1 2 3 4 5
myself feel better

Felt anxious or nervous on days I didn't go

6) 1 2 3 4 5
shopping

Made only the minimum payments on my

7) 1 2 3 4 5
credit cards

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