Does hotel cleanliness correlate with surfaces guests contact?

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 2933-2950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haeik Park ◽  
Sheryl Fried Kline ◽  
Jooho Kim ◽  
Barbara Almanza ◽  
Jing Ma
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Areas ◽  
Collection Methods

Purpose This study aims to strengthen implications about hotel cleaning outcomes by comparing guests’ perception of the amount of contact they have with cleanliness of hotel surfaces. Design/methodology/approach This study used two data-collection methods, a survey and an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test. Data were collected from recent hotel guests using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Guests were asked to identify hotel surfaces that they touch most frequently. Actual hotel cleanliness was measured using empirical data collected with ATP meters. The two data sets were used to compare guests’ perceptions about the amount of contact they have with actual cleanliness measurements of those hotel surfaces. Findings This study found that amount of guest contact was related to cleanliness of surfaces in guestrooms. Significant differences were found in guest perception between high- and low-touch areas and between guestrooms and hotel public areas. More high-touch areas and higher ATP readings were found in guestrooms than in hotel public areas. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge this study is the first to compare guest contact with hotel surfaces to a scientific measure of hotel cleanliness. In addition, this study is unique because it assesses guest contact and cleanliness of public areas to provide a holistic view of hotel-cleaning needs. The study offers industry empirically based results from guest perception and scientifically based data that can be used to improve hotel housekeeping programs.

The asymmetric patterns of adverse extension effects on narrow and broad brands: perspectives on brand structure and extension typicality

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 985-997
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Brand Extensions ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Similarity ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to examine the impacts of brand structure (i.e. brand cohesiveness and similarity) on brand perceptions and the adverse effects of brand extensions. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected online via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Overall, 188 US residents participated in the 2 (extension typicality: typical and atypical) × 3 (brand cohesiveness: high, medium and low) between-subject experimental design. Findings Narrow brands are favored over cohesive broad brands, and cohesive broad brands are favored over incohesive broad brands. When new extensions are typical, brand cohesiveness dominates brand similarity in terms of adverse extension effects. Negative extension information exerts more salient adverse effects on narrow brands and cohesive broad brands than on incohesive broad brands. Conversely, when new extensions are atypical, brand similarity dominates brand cohesiveness on adverse extension effects. Negative extension information exerts more salient adverse effects on narrow brands than on cohesive and incohesive broad brands. Research limitations/implications Brand cohesiveness is more impactful than brand similarity on brand perceptions. The identical adverse effects of typical extensions on narrow, and broad brands exist only when the portfolio products of the broad brands are cohesive. Practical implications Cohesive broad brands have the advantages of being more favored than incohesive broad brands and being less vulnerable to negative atypical extension information than are narrow brands. Originality/value This study advances brand research by examining the interplay between brand structure (i.e. category cohesiveness and similarity) and extension typicality on adverse extension effects.

scholarly journals Motivational, emotional and memorable dimensions of non-Muslim tourists’ halal food experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erose Sthapit ◽  
Peter Björk ◽  
Senthilkumaran Piramanayagam
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Travel Motivation ◽  
Halal Food

Purpose This study aims to explore non-Muslim tourists’ general halal food preferences, motivations for tasting halal food during their recent trips, positive and negative emotions and memorable dimensions associated with their recent halal food experiences after returning from holiday. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using the authors’ personal networks and Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) using a questionnaire. An email containing a link to the questionnaire was sent to the authors’ personal networks and posted on MTurk in January 2021. Findings Of the 311 non-Muslim respondents, more than half considered themselves as food neophiliacs and considered halal food experiences as imperative whilst travelling. However, tasting halal food was not a major travel motivation. Novelty and taste were the two main motivations for tasting halal food whilst at a tourism destination. Emotions elicited by halal food experiences focussed on “joy” and “love”. The proposed conceptual framework for memorable halal food experiences comprises several dimensions: taste, spending time with family and friends, novelty, quality and safety, hospitality, ambience (setting/servicescape) and experiencing others’ culture through food. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to explore non-Muslim tourists’ motives, emotions and memorable dimensions of halal food experiences.

Identity matters

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-127
Author(s):  
Simone Mariconda ◽  
Alessandra Zamparini ◽  
Francesco Lurati
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Identity ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organizational Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conceptually develop and empirically test a model according to which a crisis leads to a greater reputational damage when it is highly relevant to the firm’s organizational identity or highly relevant to stakeholders’ identity. Design/methodology/approach A total of 299 participants based in the USA were recruited online using the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform. The study uses a 2 (relevance of crisis to organizational identity: low vs high) × 2 (relevance of crisis to stakeholders’ identity: low vs high) between-subjects experimental design. Findings The results confirm the hypotheses that an organizational crisis leads to greater reputational damage when it is highly relevant to the firm’s organizational identity or when it is highly relevant to stakeholders’ identity. No significant interaction between the two variables was found. Research limitations/implications Future research could focus on further elaborating on how the two identity-related variables tested in this paper interact with other variables that have already been studied for moderating the effects of crises on reputation damage. Practical implications The paper reaffirms the deep interconnection between identity, stakeholders and reputation. Concretely, the results of the study suggest an informative way of mapping the degree to which risks or issues could potentially damage organizational reputation. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by providing a more situational understanding of how the same exact crisis can damage the reputation of organizations differently. By doing so, the paper opens several new avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Do personalisation and emotions affect the use of cancer-related websites?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunčica Hadžidedić Baždarević ◽  
Alexandra Ioana Cristea
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Survey Questionnaires ◽  
Collection Methods ◽  
Constant Support

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the type of personalisation services satisfying the needs of cancer websites’ target users, and the influence of their emotional states on website usage intentions. Design/methodology/approach Three data collection methods were employed. Survey questionnaires were distributed to online health users. Interviews with representatives of the cancer-affected population further explored emotions as stimuli for online cancer-related activities. Finally, availability of personalisation features was evaluated on existing health websites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK. Findings A clear preference emerged for personalisation on cancer-related websites. There are specific personalisation features the cancer-affected population desires. Interestingly, certain emotions were found to stimulate visits to health websites. Research limitations/implications Fighting cancer implies constant support, including from cancer-related websites. It is thus vital to understand the required personalisation, stemming from target users’ actual needs, including the neglected user characteristics, as are emotions for cancer-affected people. This supports emotion-based personalisation. Originality/value The paper focusses on the cancer-affected population, and developing a comprehensive understanding of their personalisation needs in online health services. It further shows which emotions influence intentions to use cancer websites. The three concepts combined have not yet been studied, to the best of the authors’ knowledge.

Technology-enabled bullying and adolescent resistance to report

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Connolly ◽  
Pamela Hussey ◽  
Regina Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Reporting Behaviour

Purpose – This paper aims to highlight the need to examine the factors that influence adolescents' resistance to report their cyberbullying experiences to adults. Design/methodology/approach – It outlines key factors that need to be considered when defining, operationalizing and examining adolescent cyberbullying as well as providing an examination of the literature on non-reporting behaviour both internationally and in the specific context of Ireland. Findings – By doing so, it provides justification for the need to examine the causal factors that influence adolescent resistance to report their cyberbullying experiences. Research limitations/implications – As the purpose of the paper is to provide a synthesis of the literature on cyberbullying and specifically the literature that point to the phenomenon of adolescent non-reporting of cyberbullying experiences, its contribution is necessarily non-empirical. Instead, it provides guidance that will assist other researchers seeking to build on this work through empirical data collection. Social implications – Adult interventions to address adolescent cyberbullying can only take place if adolescents report their experiences to adult caregivers, be they parents or teachers. By outlining the factors that need to be considered when examining cyberbullying, this study will assist researchers who wish to examine this issue as well as teachers, parents and policy makers who seek to eliminate cyberbullying behaviour. Originality/value – Research on cyberbullying and on the factors influencing adolescent non-reporting is remarkably limited. This study provides a strong academic framework contribution for other researchers seeking to progress the understanding of an emerging issue.

Access services statistics: showing our story through LibInsight

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 17-20
Author(s):  
Bethany Badgett Sewell ◽  
Amanda Cowell
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Access Services

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Springshare tool LibInsight, and describe the ways it was implemented at the R. Barbara Gitenstein Library at The College of New Jersey. Design/methodology/approach Going beyond traditional data collection, LibInsight allows the library to blend and analyze library data in a single dashboard. It enables decision-makers to see analytics presented visually, identify new patterns and quickly address problems or opportunities. LibInsight can visualize, evaluate and assess library services and collections and compare them both internally and against industry standards. Findings Historical data for data sets ranging from gate counts and circulation were uploaded into LibInsight. In addition, custom data sets were created and new data, such as patron activity at the circulation desk, was collected. Originality/value This is a review of the product, LibInsight, and data sets kept in access services.

scholarly journals The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the digital transformation of work

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 861-875
Author(s):  
Lisa Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Of Work ◽  
The Future ◽  
Digital Work ◽  
Long Term Consequences

PurposeThis study investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an acceleration of the digital transformation in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic from March to April 2020 on the crowdsourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk.FindingsThe findings show an increase of people working from home offices and that many people believe that digital transformation of work has accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People who noted this acceleration can imagine working digitally exclusively in the future. Moreover, the importance of traditional jobs as a secure source of income has decreased, and digital forms of work as a secure source of income have increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers believe that digital work will play a more important role as a secure source of income in the future than traditional jobs.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the survey was conducted online, respondents may have had a certain affinity for digital work.Originality/valueThis study assesses the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of work, showing that changes in the perception of digital transformation and the willingness to work exclusively in a digital manner have arisen as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To estimate the long-term consequences of the pandemic on the digitisation of work, research that includes macroeconomic consequences in its forecast is necessary.

scholarly journals Crowd-sourcing (who, why and what)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Oluchukwu Ikediego ◽  
Mustafa Ilkan ◽  
A. Mohammed Abubakar ◽  
Festus Victor Bekun
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Crowd Sourcing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internet Age ◽  
The Future ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Work Model

Purpose There is growing interest in innovative online problem-solving models such as crowdsourcing to serve individuals, firms and the society as a whole. Crowdsourcing is the combination of efforts from various sets of individuals who are either volunteering or working part-time for socioeconomic production, basically in the cyber world. This hybrid work model is already in use by businesses and entrepreneurs; some of the platforms include Amazon mechanical Turk, 99designs, Hit RECORD and Design Crowd. Design/methodology/approach Much has been parleyed and published, and this is primarily because of the efficient socioeconomic potentials crowdsourcing offers. Findings This paper addressed the following three questions to help have a better understanding of crowdsourcing: who can perform crowdsourcing? why it is relevant to crowdsource in this present proliferated internet age and if there are going to be some changes in the future and the last but not the least what can be done to promote it in the society? Originality/value This paper discusses the three W’s and concludes with challenges facing the crowdsourcing work model.

scholarly journals Ambidexterity and organizational learning: revisiting and reconnecting the literatures

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Brix
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Organizational Ambidexterity ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Seminal Paper ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Model ◽  
Multiple Levels

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to investigate how the processes of exploration and exploitation have developed in parallel in the literature of organizational ambidexterity and organizational learning, since James March published his seminal paper in 1991. The goal of the paper is to provide a synthesis of exploration and exploitation based on the two areas of literature.Design/methodology/approachThe study is conceptual and no empirical data have been used.FindingsThe study advances current understanding of exploration and exploitation by building a new model for organizational ambidexterity that takes into account multiple levels of learning, perspectives from absorptive capacity and inter-organizational learning.Originality/valueThe study’s novelty lies in the creation and discussion of a synthesis of exploration and exploitation stemming from organizational ambidexterity and organizational learning.

Improving recommender systems’ performance on cold-start users and controversial items by a new similarity model

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoud Mansoury ◽  
Mehdi Shajari
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cold Start ◽  
Selection Function ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Similarity ◽  
Active User ◽  
Similarity Model

Purpose This paper aims to improve the recommendations performance for cold-start users and controversial items. Collaborative filtering (CF) generates recommendations on the basis of similarity between users. It uses the opinions of similar users to generate the recommendation for an active user. As a similarity model or a neighbor selection function is the key element for effectiveness of CF, many variations of CF are proposed. However, these methods are not very effective, especially for users who provide few ratings (i.e. cold-start users). Design/methodology/approach A new user similarity model is proposed that focuses on improving recommendations performance for cold-start users and controversial items. To show the validity of the authors’ similarity model, they conducted some experiments and showed the effectiveness of this model in calculating similarity values between users even when only few ratings are available. In addition, the authors applied their user similarity model to a recommender system and analyzed its results. Findings Experiments on two real-world data sets are implemented and compared with some other CF techniques. The results show that the authors’ approach outperforms previous CF techniques in coverage metric while preserves accuracy for cold-start users and controversial items. Originality/value In the proposed approach, the conditions in which CF is unable to generate accurate recommendations are addressed. These conditions affect CF performance adversely, especially in the cold-start users’ condition. The authors show that their similarity model overcomes CF weaknesses effectively and improve its performance even in the cold users’ condition.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document