A Bayesian Network Estimation of the Service-Profit Chain for Transport Service Satisfaction

Bayesian network methodology is used to model key linkages of the service-profit chain within the context of transportation service satisfaction. Bayesian networks offer some advantages for implementing managerially focused models over other statistical techniques designed primarily for evaluating theoretical models. These advantages are (1) providing a causal explanation using observable variables within a single multivariate model, (2) analysis of nonlinear relationships contained in ordinal measurements, (3) accommodation of branching patterns that occur in data collection, and (4) the ability to conduct probabilistic inference for prediction and diagnostics with an output metric that can be understood by managers and academics. Sample data from 1,101 recent transport service customers are utilized to select and validate a Bayesian network and conduct probabilistic inference

Lodge Selection and Satisfaction: Attributes Valued by Ecotourists

Although the ecotourism literature is growing rapidly, few researchers have systematically examined how ecotourists select and evaluate lodging alternatives. Understanding lodging attributes of importance to ecotourists is the first step in modelling lodge selection and satisfaction processes of interest to both managers and researchers. We report on the results of two studies designed to gather such attributes. Study 1 uses e-mail survey responses from dedicated birders, while Study 2 uses data from on-site interviews with visitors at ecolodges in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. The two most-commonly mentioned attributes in both studies were “proximity to natural areas” and “cost.” These and numerous other attributes are described. We close by discussing implications of our findings and offering suggestions for future research

Education and Ecotourism: A Framework and Analysis of Education in Ecolodges in Costa Rica and Panama

Education of tourists at nature-based lodges is an important but under-researched component of ecotourism. This paper proposes a framework that identifies and develops a typology of possible educational goals and activities in an ecotourism context. Using data from interviews and participant observation at fourteen leading ecolodges in Costa Rica and Panama, the paper describes, classifies and compares educational efforts directed toward ecolodge guests, with a particular emphasis on the role of nature guides in the educational process. Relationships among several educational goals, tourists\u27 satisfaction, and views of the performance of nature guides are uncovered and explicated. Multiple managerial implications and propositions for future research are offered

Dimensions of Internet Commerce Trust

Trust is a central construct and plays a critical role in understanding Internet consumer behavior. This research seeks to directly address the subject of Internet Commerce Trust (ICT) by developing a valid, reliable, and generalizable scale to measure this multifaceted subject. Two separate studies reveal a common five-factor structure. These dimensions are labeled (1) Certification, (2) Resources and Capabilities, (3) Shopping Method, (4) Reliability, and (5) Communication Viability. An accurate measurement of ICT will serve as a viable control factor in future studies of Internet consumer behaviors, segmentation analyses, and in marketing strategy research

Building Internet Trust: Signaling through Trustmarks

Consumers\u27 concerns about privacy, security, and control of personal information highlight the importance of trust in building marketing relationships in the computer-mediated environment. Internet firms have begun posting third-party certifications, labelled “trustmarks”, as signals of reliability, credibility, and general trustworthiness. This paper integrates the literatures on signalling theory and trust, and makes extensions to the internet. It identifies and categorises sets of internet signals, highlighting the critical role of trustmarks in the computer-mediated environment. It develops a series of propositions related to the effectiveness of trustmarks, including variables such as source and culture. Lastly, it provides direction for future research