The role of travel experience and gender on travel information source selection

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahar Yasin ◽  
Fakhri Baghirov ◽  
Ye Zhang

Purpose This paper aims to identify the most popular travel information sources used among tourists and investigates how travel information selection differs across travel experience and gender. Design/methodology/approach This study used convenient and quota sampling strategy, questionnaires were distributed to 270 respondents at Sultanahmet and Grand Bazaar areas. A screening question was used to classify respondents. Findings First, past travel experience, travel agent, travel websites and hotel websites are generally the most frequently used travel information sources in destination selection due to conveniences and reliability. Second, first-timers prefer to use external information sources such as Facebook, guidebooks, travel agents and newspapers to gather information about destinations, whereas repeat visitors prefer to use internal information sources such as friends’ suggestions and past travel experience. Lastly, female visitors rely more on internal information sources such as friends’ suggestions and past travel experience. However, males prefer to use external information sources like Facebook, television, blog, travel agents, newspaper and guidebooks in choosing Turkey as a destination. Research limitations/implications Because factors studied, travel information sources selected, number of respondents and questionnaire distribution area are limited, future studies can expand to a bigger area so more respondents could get more reliable results. Practical implications This paper could help tourism industries understand searching behaviours among different types of tourists better to promote businesses in convenient sources and reach target customers easily. Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to study how travel information searching behaviours differ among tourists.

2016 ◽  
Vol 117 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 251-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Kumar Bhardwaj ◽  
Margam Madhusudhan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the online legal information sources available in law libraries in India. Design/methodology/approach – Evaluation method followed with the help of specially designed checklist for e-resources in the field of law in India. The structured checklist was designed keeping in view of the objectives and e-resources/databases existing in Indian libraries, comprising 189 dichotomous questions and categorized into 12 broad categories. Findings – The study revealed that the study legal information sources are lagging behind in exploiting the full potential of Web 2.0 features. No study legal information source has integrated Web 2.0 tools with contents and provision to contribute the contents by user any time, irrespective of location, except online legal information system (OLIS). Majority of e-resources are lacking search features, general features, Web 2.0 tools, better help features and provision to contribute contents by the users. Besides this, a mobile-based view is not available in majority of sources, and open access resources are lacking user-friendly features. Of the 16 legal information resources, only five have all the four citations search parameters. The study reveals that the OLIS has the maximum features and ranked “excellent”, followed by Manupatra ranked “average”. Half of study online legal information sources are ranked “needs improvement” and 37.5 per cent ranked “below average”. Practical implications – The findings of the study will not only guide the law librarians to subscribe/renew legal databases in their libraries but also improve the legal information literacy among the users for effective use of online legal information sources. It is hoped that the evaluation of online legal information sources will enhance the user’s awareness and increase the use. Originality/value – The findings of the study will not only guide the legal libraries to improve their online legal information sources, particularly, better help features and integrated content with Web 2.0 tools, but also provide guidelines for newly established legal libraries in India.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 730-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Lun Liu ◽  
Kathleen A. Keeling ◽  
K. Nadia Papamichail

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences in characteristics, job outcome experiences and attitudes of maximiser and satisficer decision-making style groups working in the retail trade. Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 140 participants who have accepted a job offer in the retail trade in the past six months in the USA was conducted on Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey examined participants’ opinions and attitudes towards their present job and established which job information source(s) they had used to search for retail trade job-related information. Findings – The results show that compared to satisficers, maximisers exert more effort when searching job information, have higher uncertainty avoidance and need for cognition, and experience more post-decisional regret. In this sample, any significant differences between maximisers and satisficers in relation to job satisfaction, company commitment, and intention to quit their present job are restricted to certain groups. For recruitment information sources, while satisficers rely on their families and friends for information, maximisers are more likely to obtain job-related information from other sources such as online discussion forums. Practical implications – Even though some studies suggest that maximisers are unhappy with their choices, this research recommends that retail trade companies should not exclude maximisers from their recruitment pools. Retailers should enhance their candidate pools with both maximisers and satisficers by managing different recruitment information sources. Originality/value – Research of decision-making style in recruitment is relatively limited. This research illustrates the differences of attitudes between maximisers and satisficers towards their present retail job, and also demonstrates the preferences of maximisers and satisficers in recruitment information sources.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siwon Cho ◽  
Jane E. Workman

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine gender, need for affect and tolerance for risk-taking as influences on consumers’ use of information sources. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted using a convenience sample of 171 male and 180 female US college students. Data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18 and Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) 18. Findings – Results showed that consumers may be characterized by their use of information sources. First, consumers who use internal information sources are women. Second, consumers who use personal external information sources are women and individuals who enjoy processing feelings. Third, consumers who use impersonal external information sources are women, feeling processors, and risk-takers. Consumers in the third group may find the market-dominant information more useful than the personal opinions of reference groups, indicating that they may tend to be pro-active in exploring and getting what they want rather than allowing their reference groups to suggest ideas to them. Research limitations/implications – Results of the current study cannot be generalized to the larger population of other consumer groups. This research affirms and extends the Consumer Decision Process Model (Blackwell et al., 2005) regarding individual difference variables (e.g. gender, need for affect, tolerance for risk-taking) related to consumers’ use of information sources in apparel shopping. Practical implications – Results of the study suggest that apparel marketers who provide information through impersonal sources pay special attention to women and risk-takers because they are more likely to be the group of consumers on the other side of the communication link. Marketers may want to focus on promotional strategies that stimulate consumers’ emotions and valence toward products, brands, and/or stores thereby responding to customers’ need for affect. It is also recommended that marketers consider which categories of impersonal sources best fit their target customers. Originality/value – This study is the first to investigate the effects of consumers’ gender, need for affect, and tolerance for risk-taking on their preference of using information sources in clothing shopping.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Ahmed Jamil ◽  
Abdul Qayyum

Purpose This study aims to compare the effects of YouTube information sources (influencer vs word of mouse) on the consumer purchase decision. This paper extends the information adoption model (IAM) to include information language as a central cue and skepticism toward online information as a moderating factor. Design/methodology/approach A between-subjects experiment, 2 (influencer vs word of mouse) × 2 (positive vs negative information), was designed to test hypotheses. A total of 171 consumers participated in the experiment and multigroup structural equations modeling (AMOS 21) was applied. Findings The results indicate that consumers perceive argument quality to be more useful when the information comes from word of mouse (WOMS). While information language was deemed more useful when the information source was a YouTube influencer and the information type was positive. The study also found that skepticism toward online information reduced the overall effects, particularly for influencers and positive information. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the theory by identifying and investigating the existing gaps in knowledge. For practitioners, findings speak to the synergetic power of YouTube influencers and WOMS as an effective marketing strategy. Originality/value This paper is one of the first to compare the effects of YouTube influencers and consumer comments by using the IAM. It also extends IAM with the inclusion of information language as a central cue and skepticism toward online information as a moderating factor.


2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-460
Author(s):  
Knut Alstad ◽  
Morten Hertzum

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how often geoscientists use different information sources and how this pattern of source use balances their perceptions of the quality and ease of use of the information sources. Design/methodology/approach The geoscientists at the Geological Survey of Norway were surveyed about their information-seeking behavior. The response rate was 70 percent. Findings The geoscientists primarily relied on web search and colleagues for information. These two information sources were perceived as easy to use, more so than bibliographic databases (GeoRef, Web of Science, and the library database). Bibliographic databases were used infrequently and perceived as yielding poorer quality results than consulting a colleague. The likelihood of using web search and colleagues to find information about a new topic was determined by the ease of using these sources. In contrast, the quality of the resulting information did not determine the frequency with which any of the information sources were used. The geoscientists who spent more time looking for information searched the web more often, had more reservations toward the quality of information obtained from colleagues, and read more journal articles and conference papers. Research limitations/implications Geoscientists’ use of an information source is self-reinforcing and unlikely to increase through improving its quality alone. It should be noted that the study is restricted to one geoscience organization. Originality/value The main reference about the information-seeking behavior of geoscientists is almost three decades old. This study provides an update.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Choudhary ◽  
Amit Gangotia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the association of gender and travel decision-making style of generation Y (Gen Y) – recreational, price conscious, impulsive, perfectionist, high quality, novelty seeker, habitual, confused by over-choice – to the use of social networking sites (SNS) for travel information share. The study focuses on purchase decision pattern of young travelers by examining the travel decision-making styles. Design/methodology/approach The author has adopted the quantitative approach for the fulfillment of the objectives of the study. The exploratory method is used to get a better understanding of different concepts used in the study, Social Networking Sites and Decision-Making Style and Gen Y, and the primary information is collected from the structured questionnaire. Using travel decision-making style and gender as grouping variables, different tests were performed to test the hypothesis and to understand the influence of different travel decision-making style and gender on travel information share on SNS. Findings The present study identifies the existing seven travel decision-making styles of Gen Y, which are Confused by over-choice, Habitual, Novelty seeker, Price conscious, Perfectionist high-quality conscious, Recreational and Impulsive. The results of the study reflect that confused by over-choice, habitual, perfectionist, price conscious travel dimensions have an association with SNS for travel information share. In addition, gender also has an association with usages of SNS for travel information share. Research limitations/implications This study has only used consumer typology approach to study decision-making styles, whereas other variables like personality and attitude can be further studied. Second, the study is limited by the spatiotemporal limitation, as the study is just restricted to one geographical area and time, and generalizations can vary with the change in spatiotemporal features in the study. Practical implications The findings of the study imply that Gen Y is an important travel market segment, and to cater this segment, SNS can be used as an effective marketing tool. The study of various segments in different groups will help in understanding the market more clearly and using SNS more effectively. In addition, finding association of travel decision-making style with SNS helps in forming effective and innovative marketing strategies. Originality/value India is a developing country where many market segments are still unexplored and Gen Y is being one of them. The study was conducted, keeping in mind the need of tourism industry. The study explores the tourism market segment of Gen Y by identifying the decision-making style and also identifies the association of different decision-making style with Gen Y information-sharing behavior on social networking site.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 928-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Tariqul Islam Khan ◽  
Siow-Hooi Tan ◽  
Lee-Lee Chong

Purpose Given the special feature of institutional investors in Malaysia, the purpose of this paper is to explore how these investors acquire and employ different information sources in their investing decisions. Design/methodology/approach The study uses self-reported information sources collected via a survey of 66 institutional investors following convenience sampling, and estimates the relationship via Smart-PLS (Partial Least Squares) path modeling. Findings The results suggest that although investors place greater importance on fundamental and technical indicators, they do not implement these information sources in their decisions. Rather, gathering information from economic statistics and ratios, discussion with colleagues, historical returns of the Malaysian stock market, decisions of other market players, specialized press and stock exchange bulletins, and statements of opinion leaders are more closely related to trading, risk taking, and financial asset holding. This finding supports the limited information processing of bounded rationality, irrespective of the type of information source. Practical implications Institutional investors should critically assess the information sources upon which they rely to collect information as irrational information processing may adversely affect the stock market efficiency. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the unique features of institutional investors in Malaysia in conjunction with their sources of information, and to identify which sources matter when making investing decisions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Bauman ◽  
Natalia Velikova ◽  
Tim Dodd ◽  
Trey Blankenship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine generational differences in consumer Web 2.0 information source adoption for wine purchasing decisions, particularly social media and internet-based sources. Design/methodology/approach An online survey resulted in 276 responses from wine consumers residing in Texas, USA. Information source usage was tested in two common purchasing situations: for casual and formal consumption. Chi-square analyses and ANOVA were used to examine differences among the generational cohorts in their use of information sources, levels of objective and subjective wine knowledge, wine involvement and risk perception for the two purchasing situations. Findings Younger consumers were found to be significantly more inclined to use Web 2.0 information sources, such as wine blogs, wine applications, their contacts’ recommendations on social media and wine experts on social media. Older consumers were more likely to use their own wine knowledge. Of greater interest is that in terms of their reliance on various wine information sources, Generation X behaves as the bridge between Generation Y and Baby Boomers. Generational differences regarding wine involvement, wine knowledge and risk perception also support this notion. Practical implications The results of this study reinforce the need for wineries to adopt or create strategic initiatives using Web 2.0 elements. This study also suggests that depending on the purchasing context, consumers use certain information sources more than others. Originality/value This research extends the understanding of the information acquisition process by expanding the types of information sources, and also yields valuable insights for consumers’ off-premise wine purchasing decisions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 753-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sa Vinhas ◽  
Douglas Bowman

Purpose This study aims to determine the antecedents and consequences of information source choice to support a purchase decision for services high in experience attributes. Design/methodology/approach The authors conduct two studies to test their propositions. Study 1 is a single-category application using data from a national survey of 974 consumers who recently made a hotel-stay purchase/reservation. Correspondence analysis was used to identify search patterns, and regression analysis was used to identify their antecedents and influence on search outcomes. Study 2 is a cross-category study using data from a survey of 422 MTurk respondents reporting on search processes across six different services contexts, including hotel reservations. In this study, the authors seek generalization of their results to other services categories. Findings The authors identify four dimensions that characterize what information sources consumers, on average, use together when purchasing services. It is found that loyalty program membership and consistency in service delivery across a brand’s outlets for the brands in a consumer’s evoked set are important determinants of search patterns. Search patterns partially mediate the impact of consumer characteristics, choice context and choice set characteristics on search effort and, ultimately, on price paid. Practical implications An understanding of the factors that are associated with consumers’ choices of information sources and whether these choices are systematically related to search outcomes has implications for market segmentation and for marketers’ initiatives with respect to what information content to emphasize across sources. Originality/value The contribution is an understanding of the antecedents and consequences of consumer search patterns – and what information sources consumers tend to use together, considering the diversity of both internet and non-internet sources. There are limited insights in the services literature regarding how the internet impacts information search processes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Llodra-Riera ◽  
María Pilar Martínez-Ruiz ◽  
Ana Isabel Jiménez-Zarco ◽  
Alicia Izquierdo-Yusta

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyse how tourists form the cognitive, affective and unique images of a tourism destination, taking into account that: travellers use user-generated content (UGC) as one of the more important sources of information about the destination, sources of information influence on travellers’ motivation to visit some destination and motivations influence on the dimensions of the destination image. Design/methodology/approach – Taking into account the works of Beerli and Martin (2004), Seabra et al. (2007) and Qu et al. (2011), this paper proposes an integrative model that shows how different types of information sources influence on individuals’ motivations, as well as the different dimensions of the image of the tourist destination are influenced by tourists’ motivations. Moreover, the design and validation of new scales of measures, adapted to the new tourist profile 2.0, is proposed. The model is empirical tested by analysis of 541 national and international tourists, as well as residents in Mallorca: data were analysed using a structural equations model. Findings – The results confirm the strength and robustness of the constructed theoretical model, and contrasting the assumptions made in the work. Likewise, also confirms the validity and adequacy of the proposed new scales of measurement to the current reality of the tourism sector. The principal conclusions obtained are: motivations for visiting a place are influenced by information sources consulted by tourists, among which social media can be included; cognitive image is influenced by travellers’ motivations; and affective image is influenced by cognitive one. From these results, some managerial recommendations are suggested. Research limitations/implications – The present study offers important contributions for both researchers and managers in the field of destination brand image management. At theoretical level, the work provides a deep review of the literature, that has permitted the construction of a strong and robust theoretical model, as well as the design and validation of new measurement tools. Both are designed from the rigour and precision that provides scientific research, allowing the understanding and analysis of the current situation of the tourism sector. On the other hand, the work has important implications on a practical level, providing strategic management and travellers destination marketing organization stakeholders. Originality/value – This study constitutes an initial, but also newness approach to this line of research. The construction of a theoretical model that: contemplates UGC as information source, and considers the direct and moderating relationships between different variables such as information sources, motivations and the various dimensions of the image.


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