Kara Ka Wah CHAN

Dr. Kara Chan (PhD in psychology; City University of Hong Kong) worked in the advertising profession and as a statistician for the Hong Kong Government before she joined the academia. Her research areas include advertising and children/youth, as well as cross cultural consumer studies. She has published eight books as well as over 180 journal articles and book chapters. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Bradley University. Her journal articles won five Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence. She received Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2006 and 2014 and a Knowledge Transfer Award in 2016. She was the Finalist for the 2020 University Grants Committee Teaching Award (individual category), recipient of President’s Award of Outstanding Performance in Research Supervision in 2018, General Education Teaching Award 2020/21. She served as the editor-in-chief of Young Consumers in 2020-2021. 

Research Interests

Advertising and Children
Advertising Effect
Cross-cultural Consumer Studies
Social Inclusion
Health Communication

Publications

Books

Chan, K., and Dong, D. (2019) Traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong: Professionalism and integration (Eds.), 212 pages, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, ISBN 978-962-937-379-5

Chan, K. (2017) Social issues of advertising (edited), 216 pages, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, ISBN 978-962-937-283-5

Chan, K. and Tsang, L. (2015) Public Relations and Crisis Management公關與危機管理, Chinese, 166 pages, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, ISBN 978-962-937-243-9

Chan, K. (2014) Girls and Media; Dreams and Realities, English, 243 pages, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, ISBN 978-962-937-226-2

Book chapters

Ting, H., Gong, J., Cheah, J-H. & Chan, K., (2024), “Editorial: The infodemic, young consumers and responsible stakeholdership”, Young Consumers. 25, 4, p. 421-424 4 p.

Chan, K., Fung, M. S. K., Lau, J. & Zhang, J., (2023), “A bootcamp as an experiential learning activity for nurturing creative talent: A Hong Kong case study” in Vocational education and training transformation for digital, sustainable and socially fair future: Proceedings of the 5th Crossing Boundaries Conference in Vocational Education and Training. Tūtlys, V., Vaitkutė, L. & Nägele, C. (eds.). Kaunas, Lithuania: Vytautas Magnus University Education Academy, Institute of Educational Science, p. 93-106 14 p.

Chan, K., Fung, M., and Thomas, T. (2017). Perception of physical beauty among boys and girls in Hong Kong, in Lemish, D. and Gotz, M. (Eds.) Beyond the Stereotypes? Images of Boys and Girls, and their Consequences, (pp. 107-118), Sweden, Nordicom.

Chan, K. Ng, Y.L., Chen, Z., and Zhang, J. (2017). Adolescent girls in China: Managing conflicts in gender role expectations, in Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk, B., Wilson, P.A. and Croucher, S.M. (Eds.) Approaches to Conflict: Theoretical, Interpersonal, and Discursive Dynamics, (pp. 79-92), Lanham, Maryland, Lexington Books.

Lee, L. and Chan, K. (2017). Practices of CSR in China and Hong Kong, In Dielh, S., Karmasin, M., Mueller, B., Terlutter, R., and Weder, F. (Eds.) Handbook of Integrated CSR-Communication, (pp. 317-341), Switzerland, Springer.

Referred Journal articles

Fan, F., Chan, K. & Tsang, L. L. L., (2024), “Health information-seeking behavior and perceived information source credibility among middle-aged and older adults”,  Health and New Media Research. 8, 1, p. 82-88 7 p.

Chan, K., Fung, M., Lau, J., Tse, M. & Zhang, J., (2024), “Co-Curriculum Development and Instructional Strategies for Nurturing Content-Creation Skills for the Creative Industry”,  TVET@Asia The online journal on technical and vocational education and training in Asia. 22, p. 1-17 17 p.

Chan, K., Serban, F. C., Tse, M. & Ho, A., (2024), “Impact of collaboration with ICT industry partners on secondary students’ knowledge, attitudes, and IT competence”, Education and Information Technologies. 29, 5, p. 5259–5282 24 p.

Chan, K., (2024), “What marketers of after-school educational services and educators can learn from children’s perceptions of intelligence”, Young Consumers. 25, 2, p. 273-287 15 p.

Chan, K., Tsang, L., Lee, L., Lam, S.S.K., Cheng, B.K.L., Fan, F., Huang, L., Ng, T., Wong, J., Wong, M., Yeung, F., Zhan, Q., and Li, Q. (forthcoming) A discipline-based communities of practice: Life-long learning of advertising and public relations educators, under review, Learning Communities Journal

Chen, J. and Chan, K. (forthcoming) Perception of a green university: An exploratory study among students, International Journal of Higher Education and Sustainability

Terlutter, R., Diehl, S., Koinig, I., Chan, K., and Tsang, L. (2021) “I’m (not) offended by whom I see!” The role of culture and model ethnicity in shaping consumers’ responses towards offensive advertising in Asia and Western Europe, Journal of Advertising (SSCI journal), published online DOI: 10.1080/00913367.2021.1934199

Chan, K., Shi, J., Agante, L., Opree, S., and Rajasakran, T. (2021) Applying regulatory-fit theory to predict perceived effectiveness of public service advertising appeals, International Review of Public and Non-profit Marketing, published online DOI: 10.1007/s12208-021-00291-6

Chan, K. (2021) Children’s perception of YouTube videos with product endorsements, Asian Journal of Business Research, 11(1). DOI 10.14707/ajbr.210101

Chan, K. and Fan, F. (2020). Perception of advertisements with celebrity endorsement among mature consumers, Journal of Marketing Communications, publish online https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2020.1843063

Zhen, W. and Chan, K. (2020) Heroism as narrative strategy: Children’s animation and modernity in Chinese TV, TV and New Media, published online https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1527476420933584 (SSCI journal)

Baker, A. and Chan, K. (2020). The effects of life events on the development of materialism and compulsive consumption: A life course study in the United States and Hong Kong, Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science Special Issue, published online https://doi.org/10.1080/21639159.2019.1613904

Chan, K., Siu, J.Y.M., and Lee, A. (2020). A school-based intervention in promoting healthy dietary practice among adolescents in Hong Kong, Health Education Journal, 79(3), 277-289. (SSCI journal) DOI: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0017896919880575

Chan, K. (2019). Perception of material possessions and personality traits among adolescents, Humanities and Social Sciences Review, 9(1), 115-126.

Chan, K. and Chen, M. (2019) Experience of stress and burnout among pastors in China, Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling, published online https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305019886533

Chan, K. and Zhang, T. (2019) Perception of celebrity endorsement in public services advertising, International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, published online https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-019-00225-3

Fan, F. and Chan, K. (2019) Young adults perception of personal loan commercials, Young Consumers, 20(2), 109-120.

Ng, Y.L., Chan, K., Balwicki, L., Huxley, P., and Chiu, M.Y.L. (2019) The digital divide, social inclusion, and health among persons with mental illness in Poland, International Journal of Communication, 13, 1652-1672. (SSCI journal)

Chan, K. and Wong, M. (2018) Experience of stress and coping strategies among pastors’ wives in China, Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling, 72(3), 163-171. DOI: 10.1177/1542305018782518

Siu, J.Y.M, Chan, K., and Lee, A. (2019) Adolescents from low-income families in Hong Kong and unhealthy eating behaviours: Implications for health and social care practitioners, Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(2), 366-374. doi/abs/10.1111/hsc.12654  (SSCI journal)

Chan, K. and Wong, M. (2018) Experience of stress and coping strategies among pastors’ wives in China, Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling, 72(3), 163-171.

Siu, J.Y.M, Chan, K., and Lee, A.T.B. (2018) Adolescents from low-income families in Hong Kong and unhealthy eating behaviours: Implications for health and social care practitioners, Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(2), 366-374 doi/abs/10.1111/hsc.12654

Lee, L., Yip, L., and Chan, K. (2018) An exploratory study to conceptualize press engagement behavior with public relations practitioners, Public Relations Review, 44(4), 490-500.

Chan, K. and Tsang, L. (2018) Attitudes toward Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 12(2), 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPHM-02-2017-0009 (published online)

Chan, K. and Feng, Z. (2018) Do medical professionals understand barriers of and motivations in self-management of working diabetes patients? International Journal of Communication and Health, 13, 23-31.

Balwicki, L., Chan, K., Huxley, P., and Chiu, M.Y.L. (2018) Applying SCOPE to measure social inclusion among people with mental illness in Poland, Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Mental Health, DOI 10.1007/s40737-018-0113-5 (published online)

Albuquerque, P., Brucks, M., Campbell, M. C., Chan, K., Maimaran, M., McAlister, A. R., and Nicklaus, S. (2017) Persuading children: A framework for understanding long-lasting influences on children’s food choices, Customer Needs and Solutions, 5(1), 38-50.

Chan, K., Tsang, L., and Chen, J. (2017) Marketing bank services to youth in China, Young Consumers, 18(3), 278-289.

Chiu, M.Y.L., Lim, K.H., Chan, K., Evans, S., and Huxley, P.J., (2016) What does social inclusion mean to Singaporeans? A qualitative study of the concept of social inclusion, Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, DOI:10.1080/02185385.2016.1218357 (published online)

Dong, D. and Chan, K. (2016) Authorization, rationalization, and moral evaluation: legitimizing acupuncture in Hong Kong’s newspapers, Asian Journal of Communication, 26(2), 114-132. DOI: 10.1080/01292986.2015.1089915 (impact factor 0.38)

Chan, K., Chiu, M.Y.L., Evans, S., Huxley, P., and Ng, Y.L. (2016) Application of SCOPE-C to measure social inclusion among mental health services users in Hong Kong, Community Mental Health Journal, 52(8), 1113-1117. DOI: 10.1007/s10597-015-9907-z (impact factor 0.98)

Chan, K., Tse, T., Tam, D., and Huang, A. (2016) Perception of healthy and unhealthy food among Chinese adolescents, Young Consumers, 17(1), 32-45. DOI:10.1108/YC-03-2015-00520

Chan, K., Siu, J., and Fung, T. (2016) Perception of acupuncture among users and non-users: A qualitative study, Health Marketing Quarterly, 33(1), 78-93. DOI:10.1080/07359683.2016.1132051

Chan, K., Prendergast, G., and Ng, Y.L. (2016) Using an expanded Theory of Planned Behavior to predict adolescents’ intentions to engage in healthy eating, Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 28(1), 16-27.DOI:10.1080/08961530.2015.1089088

Huxley, P., Chan, K., Chiu, M., Ma, Y., Gaze, S., and Evans, S. (2016) The social and community opportunities profile social inclusion measure: Structural equivalence and differential item functioning in community mental health residents in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 62(2), 133-140. DOI: 10.1177/0020764015607550  (impact factor 1.36)

Chan, K., Huxley, P., Chiu, M.Y.L., Evans, S., and Ma, Y. (2016). Social inclusion and health conditions among Chinese immigrants in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom: An exploratory study, Social Indicators Research, 126(2), 657-672. DOI 10.1007/s11205-015-0910-0. (impact factor 1.45)

Awards/Grants/Honors

2021
General Education Teaching Award (Individual), HKBU

2020
Teaching Award, Finalist, University Grants Committee (UGC)

2019
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy, UK

2018
President’s Award of Research Supervision, HKBU

2016
Knowledge Transfer Award, Knowledge Transfer Office, HKBU

2014
Award for Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work, School of Communication, HKBU
Outstanding SS Alumni Award, Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2014 Highly Commended Award
Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2012 Highly Commended Award

2008
Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2008 Highly Commended Award