Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to explore the opinions of the residents living in the areas where Japanese-owned companies have been located in the U.S.A. Particularly, the analysis is directed toward examining determinants of unfavorable opinions toward Japanese-owned companies. The survey was conducted in three States, where Japanese-owned companies have been operating. In the present study, telephone interviews were carried out for the residents in the area within 10 miles areas around the center of a Japanese manufacturing company in each State. The response were obtained from 1,050 residents. Using Cronbach's α-coefficient, the unfavorable opinion index was calculated by combing five items that assess residents' evaluation of Japanese-owned companies. In order to search the determinants of unfavorability, this index was subjected to examinations as a dependent variable for quantification theory type I. The results were summarized as follows. (1) The more the residents had chances of contact with Japanese-owned companies, the more favorably did the residents rate them. (2) The more positively the residents rate the Japanese People, the less unfavorably the residents rated Japanese-owned companies. (3) People who stood for free trade tended to rate Japanese-owned companies more favorably than did those who had held the protectionismic opinion. (4) The more the residents considered Japanese-owned companies as giving support to local industries or activities in their region, the more favorable were their opinions to Japanese-owned companies.
