A study of hotel employee behavioral intentions towards adoption of information technology

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of perceived IT beliefs, task-technology fit, attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norm on behavioral intention of adopting information technology in hotels in Hangzhou, China. A number of 458 usable self-administered questionnaires were collected. Results show that attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norm are positively related to behavioral intention. Perceived IT beliefs had influence on the intention through attitude formation. Task-technology fit appears to interact with perceived IT beliefs towards attitude formation. Suggestions were provide for hotel practitioners to enhance employees’ intention of adopting new information technologies.     

Emerging bicycle tourism and the theory of planned behavior

In this study, we investigated the process of travelers’ decision formation for bicycle touring as a form of sustainable tourism activity. We extended the theory of planned behavior (TPB), using personal norm and past behavior as predictors and the attractiveness of unsustainable alternatives as a moderator. Results of the modeling comparison showed that our extended TPB model was superior to the original TPB in predicting intention. Our results from the structural analysis revealed that the hypothesized paths linking attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, personal norm, and intention were supported; and personal norm significantly mediated the impact of subjective norm on intention. Moreover, our proposition that bicycle travelers’ decision-making process would differ based on their level of the attractiveness of unsustainable alternatives was generally supported. Overall, our results help us clearly understand the role of volitional and non-volitional processes, personal norm, past behavior, and the attractiveness of unsustainable alternatives in explaining the intention formation of bike traveling.     

Investigating beliefs,attitudes, and intentions regarding green restaurant patronage: An application of the extended theory of planned behavior with moderating effects of gender and age

This study aims to identify customer belief structures underlying the cognitive process of green restaurant patronage by applying the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). The extended TPB model includes two additional predictors (past behavior and dining frequency) and two moderators (gender and age) to predict customers’ intention to visit green restaurants. This study followed recommended two-phase survey procedures. Salient beliefs of the target population were elicited in the first phase, and the relationships between those beliefs and other TPB constructs were analyzed in the second phase. Perceived behavioral control emerged as the most significant determinant followed by attitude and subjective norm in the Korean green restaurant context. The findings support the inclusion of past behavior as an additional predictor and confirm the moderating effects of gender and age. This study provides useful implications for effective marketing strategies for green restaurants.     

Exploring the visitors' decision-making process for Airbnb and hotel accommodations using value-attitude-behavior and theory of planned behavior

Accommodation purchase decision is a complex field that makes predictions of revisit intentions hard to examine. Our work explores psychological factors motivating visitors' decision-making concerning accommodation purchases by integrating the theory of planned behavior and value-attitude-behavior model. Using a group of multiple informants in Swiss universities, we performed partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the impacts of subjective norm, attitude and perception of quality on visitors' revisit intention and loyalty in Airbnb and hotel contexts. Although the influence of said factors on purchase decisions varies in the two contexts, results suggest that subjective norm has an indispensable role in prompting revisit intention towards Airbnb and hotel accommodations. This paper's findings advance our understanding of visitors' decision-making processes concerning traditional hotels and accommodation establishments operating in sharing economy platforms.     

Investigating individuals’ decision formation in working-holiday tourism: the role of sensation-seeking and gender

ABSTRACT

Despite the emergence of working-holiday tourism, little research has been carried out to understand working-holiday makers’ (WHMs) decision-making processes. This study was designed to examine the formation of WHMs’ intentions to participate in working-holiday tourism programs. A study model was proposed by extending sensation-seeking into Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and testing the difference between gender groups. An online survey was conducted with 369 WHMs in China. The study result indicated that the TPB model has a good fit to the data, and that the predictive power of the intention has been improved compared with the original TPB. The results from a structural equation reveal that three critical elements in TPB significantly formed individuals’ intentions for working-holiday programs, sensation-seeking formed positive and significant relationships with subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), and most importantly, significant differences were found between different gender groups. The study’s theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.     

Consumers’ sustainable food choices: Antecedents and motivational imbalance

This paper examines the antecedents of sustainable food choices by consumers and investigates the differences between consumers based on their state of motivational imbalance. A sample of 609 respondents from Egypt took part in the study. Data were analyzed using a two-step approach of confirmatory factor analysis and structural models. The results indicate that attitudes, perceived behavioral control, personal norms, and activism are significant antecedents of consumers’ intention toward sustainable food. However, the data reveal a non-significant effect of subjective norms. Motivational imbalance has significant moderating effects, such that consumers who experience motivational imbalance showed consistently weaker intentions than consumers who experience motivational balance. Furthermore, there are significant differences between consumers under various scenarios of motivational imbalance. Specifically, the comparison of different motivational conflicts showed that attitude–subjective norm and attitude–activism conflicts cause the most substantial negative impact on consumer intentions. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.     

Segmentation of early casino markets: an exploratory study

This research was conducted to identify variables that can be used to describe the characteristics of innovators, early adopters, and those who are not interested in a newly established casino in South Korea. A total of 220 respondents were segmented into three groups: visited group, intention group, and non-interest group. Based on the discriminant analysis, the research found that attitude, subjective norm, cognitive biases, impulsivity and education level appeared to play important roles in distinguishing among the three groups. The hit ratio was 70 percent. In particular, the classification accuracy of intention group was 85.7 percent and this group had the most favorable attitude toward gambling in a casino. Marketing Implications of the results are discussed.     

Predicting congregate meal program participation: Applying the extended theory of planned behavior

Authorized under Title III-C of Older Americans Act, congregate meal programs provides individuals 60 years of age and older nutritious meals in senior centers. Declining participation in recent years underscores the need to understand factors that affects participation. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain the intention of community-dwelling older adults to participate in congregate meal programs. One additional variable, past behavior, was added to increase the prediction power of participation intention. A total of 238 participant surveys were collected and analyzed. Seven hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The data fits the TPB model well. All predictor variables (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavior control and past behavior) had a significant positive effect on participation intention. Perceived behavior control (PBC) had the greatest prediction power on intention. Based on the research findings suggestions were made to increase congregate meal program participation.     

Behavioral intention of visitors to an Oriental medicine festival: An extended model of goal directed behavior

Despite the importance of Oriental medicine festivals to Oriental medical tourism, little research has been conducted to understand the behavioral intention of visitors to these festivals. Therefore, this study examines the behavioral intention of visitors to a Korean Oriental medicine festival. This study employs the extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB) that incorporates two constructs related to Oriental medicine festivals: the Oriental medicine image of festival site (image) and the perception of Oriental medicine (perception). An on-site survey was conducted with 423 visitors attending the Sancheong Herbal Festival in South Korea. Results reveal that attitude, subjective norm, and positive anticipated emotion influenced visitors' desire to attend the festival, which, in turn, influenced their behavioral intentions. Two constructs of image and perception formed positive and significant relationships with attitude toward attending the festival. Practical implications of the study results are discussed.     

How smartphones enhance local tourism experiences?

This study investigates the application of smartphones in providing local tourism experiences in Isfahan, Iran. A self-administrated questionnaire, employing the theory of planned behavior was developed, and distributed among international tourists visiting Isfahan. The results showed that tourists’ attitude towards smartphones positively influences the intention to participate in local tourism experiences. Findings confirmed that tourists’ perceived behavioral control has a positive and direct influence on their travel intention, while surprisingly no association was found between tourists’ beliefs, subjective norms, and travel intention. Findings also revealed that tourists’ beliefs and subjective norms have a positive and direct influence on participation in local tourism experiences.     

Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities

The present study proposed and tested Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to explain the formation of hotel customers' intentions to visit a green hotel. The findings showed the TPB model has a good fit to the data and better predictive power for intention than the Theory of a Reasoned Action model. Based on theoretical support and suggested modification indices, a refined TPB model was developed. Consistent with the theory, the results of a structural equation analysis revealed that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control positively affected intention to stay at a green hotel. Further investigation indicated the paths between these predictors and intention did not statistically differ between customers who actively practice ecofriendly activities and those who are not often engaged in environmentally conscious behaviors in their everyday lives. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Assessing the intention of land trust representatives to collaborate with tourism entities to protect natural areas

Environmental degradation and dwindling natural areas can negatively impact a destination's image. Nonprofit land trusts have become important organizations in the US conservation movement and elsewhere. Their method of negotiating with landowners to protect land, yet leave the land in private ownership and on the tax rolls, is often popular with the public and local governments. This study explains how land trusts operate. It measured the collaboration potential between land trusts and tourism entities in the US, from the land trust representatives’ point of view, by embedding six propositions considered necessary for collaboration into the theory of planned behavior. An email survey of land trusts in the US yielded 279 usable replies. Approximately 71% of the representatives’ intention to collaborate was accounted for, with opinions of peers (subjective norm) providing the most influence; 64% of the representatives’ attitude toward collaboration was identified. Land trusts were found to be able and willing to provide an efficient, economical method of protecting the landscape, while working with tourism entities that could provide financial support, promotion and increased awareness of the importance of natural areas to both local population and tourists.     

旅游电子商务成熟度对在线旅游预订意向的影响——以携程旅行网为例

旅游服务商为了抢夺市场份额,纷纷投资进行技术改造和产品扩张,促进旅游电子商务不断走向成熟。近年来,IT管理的成熟度理论开始应用于旅游电子商务领域,旅游在线预订及其影响因素研究也日渐增长。但是在学术界,旅游电子商务成熟度对在线旅游预订意向的影响研究却十分少见。文章以携程旅行网为例,基于文献研究提出相关概念模型,运用探索性因子分析及结构方程模型,探讨旅游电子商务成熟度对在线旅游预订意向的影响机制。确认旅游电子商务成熟度的4个维度均正向影响顾客信任,但交易机制对顾客信任的效用最大,其次是信息质量;4个维度中,顾客为中心、服务响应正向影响顾客的积极态度,以服务响应对积极态度的效用最大;旅游电子商务成熟度的4个维度通过顾客信任和积极态度这两个中介变量影响在线旅游预订意向,且顾客信任和积极态度是完全中介效用,统计意义上,顾客信任对积极态度没有显著影响。     

Unraveling public support for casino gaming: The case of a casino referendum in Penghu

By integrating the social exchange theory (SET) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study unravels the factors associated with residents’ intention to support casino gaming development in Penghu in future referenda. Residents’ attitudes toward casino gaming development in their community were examined in the SET framework while their intention to support such development was investigated in the TPB framework. Despite that partisan difference did not have a significant interaction with TPB variables, past behavior exerted moderating effects determining residents’ intention to support casino gaming development through two TPB variables: subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. Implications are provided.

Abbreviations: ATTU: attitude; DPP: Democratic Progress Party; ECOI: perceived economic impact; ENVI: perceived environmental impact; INT: intention to support casino gaming development in future referenda; KMT: Kuomingtang; PBC: perceived behavioral control; PPB: perceived personal benefit; SET: social exchange theory; SN: subjective norms; SOCI: perceived social impact; TPB: theory of planned behavior     

Testing the sufficiency of the theory of planned behavior: a case of customer dissatisfaction responses in restaurants

This study tested the sufficiency of both the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the extended TPB models by adding the variable of past behavior. In addition, the present study examined the mediating role of the TPB variables on the relationships between past behavior and customers’ intentions to engage in different types of dissatisfaction responses (i.e., voice, negative word-of-mouth communication, and exit). Results of the study demonstrated the strong predictive power of the original TPB mode but the inclusion of past behavior did not significantly improve the predictability of the three dissatisfaction response intentions. Furthermore, the mediating analyses indicated that the influence of past behavior was mediated by TPB variables. In the contexts of negative word-of-mouth communication, the effect of past behavior on intention was mediated by attitude. Meanwhile, both subjective norm and perceived behavioral control mediated the relationship between past behavior and the intention to engage in voice behavior.     

The role of visa exemption in Chinese tourists’ decision-making: a model of goal-directed behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of visa exemption in tourist decision-making using the extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB). Surveys were administered to Chinese tourists interested in traveling to South Korea. The structural equation model indicates that the inclusion of the expectation of tourist visa exemption enhanced Chinese tourists’ behavioral intention. Specifically, positive and negative anticipated emotions, perceived behavioral control, and the notion of a subjective norm were important antecedents of travel intention. Desire was the only significant factor affecting Chinese tourists’ travel intention. This study enhances our understanding of Chinese tourists’ intention to travel to South Korea.     

乡村旅游开发中女性村官参与行为影响机理研究--以湖南省女性村官为例

随着我国乡村旅游进入新的发展阶段,乡村旅游开发的组织机制问题越发引人关注,女性参与乡村旅游开发已经成为不争的事实,女性村官对乡村旅游开发的决策作用日渐显著。因此,乡村旅游开发中女性村官参与行为影响机理研究对于深入研究乡村旅游开发组织机制问题,促进我国乡村旅游可持续发展意义重大。文章在改进计划行为理论（TPB）模型基础上构建乡村旅游开发女性村官参与行为意向影响框架,以282位湖南女性村官的调查问卷为数据来源,应用结构方程模型（SEM）对女性村官参与乡村旅游开发行为意向的影响机理进行研究。研究发现：（1）女性村官对于借助旅游开发带动农村经济发展的参与行为意向较高;（2）主观规范、行为控制认知以及参政特征3个变量对乡村旅游开发中女性村官参与行为具有显著的影响,影响系数分别为0.406、0.258和0.250,其中,主观规范影响最大;（3）女性村官参与旅游开发的行为态度对行为意向没有直接影响,而是通过参政特征变量间接影响行为意向;行为态度的中介作用变得更为复杂,这与已有计划行为研究不同。     

Effect of environmental perceptions on bicycle travelers’ decision-making process: developing an extended model of goal-directed behavior

Despite the rapid develop of bicycle tourism, research examining decision-making processed for bike-traveling as a leisure-time choice has been insufficient. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the formation of bike travelers’ decisions by extending the model of goal-directed behavior (MGB). Specifically, this study incorporated two vital constructs in bicycle tourism, namely environmental connectedness and environmental behavior, into the MGB framework. An on-site survey was administered to collect the data with 394 bicycle tourists in bicycle clubs in China. The results of the structural analysis showed that our extended MGB included a satisfactory level of ability in predicting bike-travelers’ intentions and was superior to the original MGB. Our findings also reveal that two incorporated constructs were significant variables influencing bicycle travelers’ decision formation. Moreover, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and positive anticipated emotion influenced bicycle travelers’ desire, in turn, influenced their behavioral intentions. The implications of this are discussed.     

Investigating airline customers' decision-making process for emerging environmentally-responsible electric airplanes: Influence of gender and age

The present study was designed to investigate airline customers' green intention generation process for eco-friendly electric airplanes by considering the influence of environmental value, environmental awareness, green image, injunctive social norm, personal norm, and personal characteristics. We used a survey methodology and a quantitative approach. Results of the structural analysis revealed that environmental value, environmental awareness, green image, and injunctive social norm are vital activators of personal norm and important contributors to building green intentions. Our finding found that enhancing and activating customers' personal norm is unavoidable for eliciting their positive decisions for electric airplanes. In addition, our result of invariance test included a theoretical and practical importance as it informs us that gender and age difference exists on airline customers' eco-friendly intention formation for electric airplanes. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.     

The Theory of Planned Behavior in the Context of a Food and Drink Event: A Case Study

The present case study seeks to contribute to the culinary event management literature, investigating key motivators among participants to the Derbyshire Food and Drink Fair, United Kingdom. A questionnaire, which was partly based on predictors related to the theory of planned behavior was designed and distributed; 308 usable responses were collected. The validity and impact of attitude toward the behavior, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms on behavioral intention was confirmed. Additionally, several motivators, such as “commitment and perceived importance,” “consumption and entertainment,” “attendance and discovery,” and “joining others” were identified as key factors. Finally, statistically significant differences were noticed among various participating groups, namely, in terms of age, gender, or distance traveled to the event. The findings have important implications for event managers and organizers, in terms of promotion, and addressing the needs and wants of various segments of food festival attendees.