Residents\u27 Perceptions of Casino Development in Korea: The Kangwon Land Casino Case

This study was developed to examine the underlying relationships among the socio-demographic variables of casino community residents, the perceptions of potential benefits and costs, and the support for casino development based on the social exchange theory. The results show that social and economic benefits were most significant in determining the level of support for casino development. None of the demographic variables significantly affected support level. Based on the results of this study, casino operators and policymakers should make efforts to minimize the negative social factors and maximize social and economic benefits if they want support from residents for further development of casino businesses

Generalizing survey results from student samples: Implications from service recovery research

Using college students as research subjects in consumer research may or may not be appropriate. This paper discusses external validity of research findings using student subjects as surrogates for consumers in experimental, particularly scenario based, studies. A study that investigated differences between a student sample and a customer sample in response to service experience is described. Results were mixed. No significant mean differences were found in complaint intention, preference to complain to an employee or a manager, overall satisfaction, and revisit intention toward service providers. However, significant discrepancies were observed in testing the role of initial overall satisfaction in evaluating recovery satisfaction and in the relative importance of dimensions of justice. For both student and non-student groups, regardless their recovery satisfaction were positive or negative, initial overall satisfaction was a stronger predictor for post-recovery overall satisfaction than recovery satisfaction

The effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND: Previous animal studies have shown that Curcuma longa (turmeric) improves liver function. Turmeric may thus be a promising ingredient in functional foods aimed at improving liver function. The purpose of the study is to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of fermented turmeric powder (FTP) on liver function in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. METHODS: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between November 2010 and April 2012 at the clinical trial center for functional foods of the Chonbuk National University Hospital. The trial included 60 subjects, 20 years old and above, who were diagnosed mild to moderate elevated ALT levels between 40 IU/L and 200 IU/L. Sixty subjects were randomised to receive FTP 3.0 g per day or placebo 3.0 g per day for 12 weeks. The treatment group received two capsules of FTP three times a day after meals, for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in the ALT levels in the two groups. The secondary efficacy endpoints included its effect on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TB), and lipid profiles. Safety was assessed throughout the study using ongoing laboratory tests. Adverse events (AEs) were also recorded. RESULTS: Sixty subjects were randomised in the study (30 into the FTP group, 30 into the placebo group), and among them, twelve subjects were excluded from the analysis for protocol violation, adverse events or consent withdrawal. The two groups did not differ in baseline characteristics. After 12 weeks of treatment, 48 subjects were evaluated. Of the 48 subjects, 26 randomly received FTP capsules and 22 received placebo. The FTP group showed a significant reduction in ALT levels after 12 weeks of treatment compared with the placebo group (p = 0.019). There was also observed that the serum AST levels were significantly reduce in the FTP group than placebo group (p = 0.02). The GGT levels showed a tendency to decrease, while the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), TB, and lipids levels were not modified. There were no reported severe AEs during this study, or abnormalities observed on blood glucose, total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels. CONCLUSION: The data of this trial indicate that FTP is effective and safe, generally well-tolerated without severe AEs, in the treatment of subjects with elevated ALT levels over a 12 weeks period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: http://NCT0163425

Modeling roles of service recovery strategy: A relationship-focused view

This study proposed and tested a theoretical model consisting of antecedents and consequences of recovery satisfaction using scenario experimentation with three dimensions of justice manipulated at two levels each (2x2x2 factorial design). Each participant was provided the same service failure (overcooked steak) scenario and one of the eight recovery scenarios (a combination of dimensions of justice). Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses based on 286 cases. All three dimensions of justice had positive effects on recovery satisfaction. Recovery satisfaction had positive effects on trust and overall satisfaction. Trust had positive effects on commitment and overall satisfaction. Commitment had positive effects on overall satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Although a service failure might negatively affect customers' relationship with the service provider, effective recovery can reinforce attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. The study findings emphasized that recovery efforts should be viewed not only as a strategy to recover immediate satisfaction but also as a relationship tool to build long-term relationships with customers

Dimensional roles of justice on post-recovery overall satisfaction and behavioral intentions: Tests of casual dining experiences

This study examined dimensional roles of justice on post-recovery overall satisfaction (OS), revisit intention (RI), and word-of-mouth intention (WOM). A 2x2x2 factorial design using experimental scenarios was used to test the proposed relationships. Responses from customers (286) and responses from undergraduate students (266) were used for data analysis. For the customer sample, interactional justice (IJ) and procedural justice (PJ) had positive effects on customer OS and WOM. Only IJ had a positive effect on RI. Distributive justice (DJ) did not have a positive effect on OS, RI, or WOM. For the student sample, IJ and DJ had positive effects on OS, RI, and WOM. However, PJ did not have a positive effect on OS, RI, or WOM. The findings indicate that service providers need to consider dimensional roles of recovery efforts not only in transactional evaluation but also in post-recovery attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. One dimension of justice, such as DJ, should not be highlighted at the cost of other dimensions in recovery efforts

Mixed findings on service recovery paradox: An illustration from An experimental study

The purpose of this study was to test the service recovery paradox and double deviation on customers' overall satisfaction considering definitional and methodological issues. This study employed a scenario experimentation manipulated three dimensions of justice at two levels each ( 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design). A convenience sample of 286 casual restaurant customers was used in the study. Paired sample t-tests were employed to test recovery paradox and double deviation effects after selecting four groups of customers based on recovery satisfaction to take into account the if-condition in the definition of the service recovery paradox. Customers' post-recovery overall satisfaction could be higher than their initial overall satisfaction provided customers were highly satisfied with service recovery ( recovery paradox). When customers are somewhat satisfied with recovery efforts, their initial overall satisfaction could be carried over after two transactional evaluations. Double deviation effects were obvious and consistent when customers were either highly dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with service recovery