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A multi-level analysis of mixed gender couple’s food decisions in a tourism context

Guliz Coskun (Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Serdivan, Turkey)
Laura W. Jodice (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, College of Health, Education and Human Development, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA)
DeWayne Moore (Department of Psychology, College of Health, Education and Human Development, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA)

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights

ISSN: 2514-9792

Article publication date: 21 May 2019

Issue publication date: 21 May 2019

410

Abstract

Purpose

Through application of multi-level structural equation modeling as the data analysis technique, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the group-level impacts on a couple’s food choices during travel at a coastal destination.

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers obtained 380 individual questionnaires from 190 mixed gender couples (who eat oysters) in Charleston and Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA. Data were collected from both members of the couple during their vacation. Due to missing data and normality issues 5 couples and 30 individuals were eliminated. The remaining data were analyzed with SPSS 21 and EQS 6.2 with advanced confirmatory factor analysis and multi-level (ML) regression techniques.

Findings

The study results indicated that while women have a more negative attitude than men toward oysters, their intention to eat oysters during vacation is not different from their partner. By detecting the interdependency of responses of individuals within a couple, this study revealed that a ML approach is a more powerful way to understand the decision-making process of couples. Additionally the difference in the results of single- and ML models showed that the latter approach lowers the chance of Type 2 error and provides more accurate results.

Originality/value

In tourism decision-making literature, the focus has been mostly on the individual despite the collectivistic nature of tourism activity. The current study is the first to analyze a couple’s decision-making process at the group level. Furthermore by collecting data from both members of the group during their vacation, this study has distinguished itself from previous studies.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This paper was prepared by Clemson University as a result of work sponsored by the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium with NOAA Financial Assistance No. NA10OAR4170073. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium or NOAA.

Citation

Coskun, G., Jodice, L.W. and Moore, D. (2019), "A multi-level analysis of mixed gender couple’s food decisions in a tourism context", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 121-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-09-2018-0060

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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