Measuring socio-demographic differences in volunteers with a value-based index: illustration in a mega event

The phenomenon of volunteering can be analysed as a consumer experience through the concept of value as a trade-off between benefits and costs. In event volunteering, both the expected value (pre-experienced) and the perceived value (post-experienced) of volunteering can be assessed. With this purpose, an online quantitative survey is conducted with a sample of 711 volunteers in a religious mega event, with questions related to five dimensions of their experience: efficiency, social value, play, spirituality and time spent. These five scales, properly tested are used for building a multidimensional index of both the expected and perceived value of the volunteer experience. ANOVAs test show significant differences on the index in both moments upon the socio-demographic profiles: negative expectations/experience balance by age, contrasted results by sex, and more experienced volunteers being more critical with the value experienced. Implications for event managers are proposed, in line with the motivation of volunteers

Creating the Profile of Participants in Mobility Activities in the Context of Erasmus+: Motivations, Perceptions, and Linguistic Needs

With millions of participants, Erasmus+ is a unique opportunity to study, train, gain work experience or volunteer abroad. However, the lack of language competences is still one of the main barriers to participation in European education, training, and youth programs. This work aims to identify, analyze and present the language needs of the participants involved in mobility activities supported under Erasmus+ Key Action 1. Data were collected by means of an online questionnaire to identify all the necessary information regarding the language needs of the Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility participants as well as their motivations to participate in the mobility. Also, in order to collect additional information in creating a profile and identifying the linguistic needs of all the Erasmus+ participants, a series of semi-structured interviews with Erasmus+ key stakeholders and with Erasmus+ National Agency Officers was conducted. Findings from the online questionnaire and interviews revealed important considerations regarding the language needs of the participants, their motivations and expectations, as well as their challenges/difficulties during the mobility. The contribution of this manuscript is to provide a piece of new knowledge regarding the Erasmus+ KA1 participants profiles emphasizing the need for new strategies to facilitate further mobility in the context of Erasmus+ and enhance the idea of multilingualism across Europe

From retail innovation and image to loyalty: moderating effects of product type

This study aims to analyse value-satisfaction-loyalty relationships in retailing by examining the contribution of image and innovation and understanding value as a multidimensional construct. Furthermore, to identify possible differences in these relationships the moderating effect of the type of product marketed in the store is examined. On a sample of 820 customers from four types of stores, SEM methodology and multigroup analysis were applied. The results confirm that image has more influence than innovation on the dimensions of value and that entertainment and excellence are the main antecedents of satisfaction. Some relationships have also been found in which the type of product marketed in the store has a moderating effect

Watching A Bite of China: The impact of a food and culture documentary on previsit perceptions and expectations

Based on 15 semi-structured interviews with recent viewers of the successful documentary A Bite of China, this chapter examines the impacts of the food and culture documentary on previsit perceptions and expectations. The results show that the documentary can change viewers’ perceptions of regional cuisine and has a more prominent impact on first-time viewers. Food image is highlighted through representations of unique regional cooking methods, ingredients, customs and everyday life of locals as part of local culture. Those credible food images aid the process of building perceptual images that distinguish a destination from other similar destinations. The documentary, therefore, has the potential to motivate viewers to visit destinations they were initially interested in