“Membership Retention in the Fitness Industry: A Qualitative Study and the Development of a Predictive Model"

The concern over poor membership retention rates in the fitness industry is increasing, yet it has attracted little empirical research. So far, membership retention has mostly been indirectly and narrowly addressed, whereby research has either measured member satisfaction or member usage of a fitness club from mainly a service quality perspective. This paper introduces a mixed-method (QUAL→quan) research project and presents the findings of the qualitative study. 30 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of current and past members of a fitness club. The responses were thematically analysed and used in the development of a predictive model of fitness club membership retention. The model seeks to predict club usage and actual retention, and includes components such as attitudinal, normative, control beliefs, motivation orientation as well as perceived quality, brand identity and commitment

Membership Retention in the Fitness Industry: The Development and Validation of a Predictive Model.

Fitness club managers are becomingly increasingly concerned with membership retention rates yet there appears to be no empirical research into the factors underlying member attrition i.e. what makes people decide to cancel the membership? Whilst there is a wealth of research into member attendance (exercise adherence) as well as member satisfaction there is little, if any, empirical research which bridges the gap between member attendance and retention. The aim of this paper is three-fold. Firstly, to introduce the design of this research project aimed at developing a predictive model of membership retention in fitness clubs. Secondly, to report the findings to date and thirdly, to suggest the managerial implications of this findings. This PhD research project is mixed-method in design (QUAL-Quan); which began with a qualitative phase. This phase consisted of a literature review followed by telephone interviews conducted with a stratified random sample of gym members (n=25). The findings of the interviews were combined with the results of the literature review to identify potential components of a conceptual model of fitness club attendance and retention. Thus, the quantitative phase began. The identified components suggested as underpinning attendance and retention included attitudinal, normative and control beliefs towards attending their fitness club, levels of self-determination towards attending fitness clubs, habitual attendance, social anxiety, social identity, perceived service quality, brand identification and commitment. The Membership Retention Questionnaire (MRQ) was developed to measure the components in this model and firstly ‘snowballed’ to a purposive sample of gym members and secondly distributed to members of one club. This model is subject to further factor analysis and structural equation modelling of the quantitative findings. This research methodology is unique in its application to researching fitness club retention, due to its sampling of fitness club members; not just fitness club users, and an upcoming longitudinal analysis (12 months) of the model’s value in predicting actual membership retention; not just membership intentions. The managerial implications of these findings include the importance of distributing the MRQ to members at various time points throughout their club membership. This allows the measurement of relevant behavioural and psychological factors which can be used to assess ‘risk’ in members and implement effective interventions in order to increase attendance and retention rates

"Can the Research-Practice Gap Ever Really be Bridged? Applying the ‘Applied’ in Evidence-Based Organisational Practice"

Applied Occupational Psychology research provides a valuable evidence base which can potentially be used to inform and improve organisational practice. In reality, however, its actual usage in organisational practice is not a given. After a brief overview of the characteristics of applied research and the challenges faced when conducting it, the valuable role that applied research can have in interpreting organisational behaviour and developing interventions is emphasised. However, this is just the first hurdle for applied researchers, seeking to bridge their research-practice gap. Whilst researchers might succeed in applying their findings to the development of an intervention or practical recommendations, numerous challenges may be encountered during the actual application of these interventions/ recommendations into organisational practice. Subsequently, the gap between research and practice is at risk of remaining unbridged. Using my own PhD research as an exemplar ("Membership retention in the health and fitness industry: A predictive model"), these issues will be illustrated and discussed, including ways in which the gap between research and practice can be successfully bridged

“Membership Retention in the Fitness Industry: A Qualitative Study and the Development of a Predictive model"

The concern over poor membership retention rates in the fitness industry is increasing, yet it has attracted little empirical research. So far, membership retention has mostly been indirectly and narrowly addressed, whereby research has either measured member satisfaction or member usage of a fitness club from mainly a service quality perspective. This paper introduces a mixed-method (QUAL→quan) research project and presents the findings of the qualitative study. 30 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of current and past members of a fitness club. The responses were thematically analysed and used in the development of a predictive model of fitness club membership retention. The model seeks to predict club usage and actual retention, and includes components such as attitudinal, normative, control beliefs, motivation orientation as well as perceived quality, brand identity and commitment

Alien Registration- Watts, Helen (Bangor, Penobscot County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/13963/thumbnail.jp

Personality Trait Differences Between Traditional and Social Entrepreneurs

Purpose This research seeks to identify personality trait differences between social and traditional entrepreneurs. Design/Methodology The Durham Business School’s General Enterprise Tendencies (GET) test was chosen to measure an individual’s entrepreneurial personality. The choice was based on the test’s established use within industry and its ability to measure traits most commonly considered ‘entrepreneurial’ by the extant literature. The test was adapted for this study and distributed to both social and traditional entrepreneurs. The results were then statistically analysed to test for significant differences between the two groups. Findings It was found that social entrepreneurs exhibited statistically significantly higher levels of creativity, risk taking, and need for autonomy than traditional entrepreneurs. The results were then discussed critically in light of the literature. Limitations The modest sample size was the main limitation of the research. In addition, the sample set was fairly culturally homogeneous. It has been recommended that an additional test be carried out with a larger sample size, consisting of a more culturally diverse range of participants, in order to improve the generalisation of the findings. Originality/Value This research provides new insights into personality trait differences between social and traditional entrepreneurs and is particularly useful to those with an interest in entrepreneurial orientation and those interested in the identification and development of social entrepreneurs

Are we Doing Enough to Develop Career Competency?

How can you make sure that the graduates you employ are ‘career competent’? Are they prepared for your workplace when they arrive? How can you develop their competency