Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThe goal of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument that would offer tourism managers and planners a useful tool in understanding and planning for memorable tourism experiences (MTE).ObjectivesSpecifically, this study sought to answer the following research questions:1. Does the MTE scale developed in this study yield an appropriate level of reliability and validity?2. Are there relationships among the constructs in the proposed model?3. How well does the construct model fit the data when tested using the analysis technique of structural equation model?MethodologyParticipants and ProceduresAn empirical evaluation of the developed instrument was undertaken using data obtained from U.S. college students at a large Midwestern university. The students were enrolled in 12 classes spread across different academic majors. The participants were first asked to recall their MTE and to evaluate all 85 items on a seven-point Likert-type scale, on which 1 represented I have not experienced at all and 7 represented I have experienced very much. A total of 730 survey questionnaires were handed out and 536 copies were returned, representing an overall response rate of 73.4%.Development and validation of research instrumentIn refining the scale, both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) as well as reliability tests were conducted. After the number of factors was identified and the problematic items were removed based on the results of exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the covariance matrmatrix examine whether the scale items were structurally consistent with the embedded theory or with any a priori logic of scale design. Before the CFA, the sample was randomly split into two 250-case subsamples using SPSS routine for random case selection. One sample was used for calibration and the other for validation.Structural Equation ModelingAfter the convergent and discriminant validity are identified, a further examination of the causal relationships between the derived constructs and other constructs or variables of interest was performed to see if the derived constructs behave in the way stipulated by the underlying tenets guiding the MTE scale development. The resulting data further provides critical indication of construct validity. Researchers regarded this test as a process to assess nomological validity of construct (Anderson & Gerbing, 1988; Campbell, 1960; Chen & Hsu, 2001).ResultsPurification of Measurement ScaleIn assessing the quality of an item, the itemto- total correlations were examined. This is a commonly accepted procedure in developing a scale (Choi & Sirakaya, 2005). In order to purify the scale, items that were poorly correlated (r Exploratory Factor AnalysisEFA was followed by a rotation with both orthogonal (VARIMAX) and oblique (OBLIMIN) methods. Results from two different methods showed similar structures with the same value of explained variances. The results obtained from principal components analysis with an oblique rotation method was used for the data analysis in order to permit the obtained components to correlate and, therefore, followed the assumption that MTE components are related yet distinct from each other (Lee & Comrey 1979). In deciding to retain an item, both factor loading (r > 0.4) and the communality (r>0.5) of each item were examined. Employing a combination of Cattell (1966) scree test and theoretical basis of the scale (i.e., eigenvalues greater than 1), the EFA of the MTE scale extracted seven factors accounting for 74. …

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Development of a scale to measure memorable tourism experiences.

The quality experiences provided to customers, which are indeed memorable, directly determine a business’s ability to generate revenue (Pine and Gilmore 1999). However, the extant tourism literature has provided limited explanation of the factors that characterize memorable tourism experiences. Thus, the goal of the present study was to develop a valid and reliable measurement scale that will assist in understanding the concept and in improving the effective management of the memorable experience. Following Churchill’s (1979) recommended process, we developed a 24-item memorable tourism experience scale that we believe is applicable to most destination areas. The scale comprises seven domains: hedonism, refreshment, local culture, meaningfulness, knowledge, involvement, and novelty. The data support this dimensional structure of the memorable tourism experience as well as its internal consistency and validity (i.e., content, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity). Theoretical and managerial imp...

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Development of a Scale to Measure Memorable Tourism Experiences

Limited research has investigated the antecedents and consequences of memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) empirically. This study helps fill this gap by developing a causal relationship model among perceived image (including country image and destination image), MTEs and revisit intention. The model's predictive capabilities are explored in international tourism context by using PLS- SEM. The results indicate that country image and destination image influence revisit intention via the mediating effect of MTEs. The ‘perceived image-MTEs-revisit intention’ model is supported with 43% of MTEs and 28.7% of revisit intention explained. In addition, this study provides a classification framework of destination attributes (i.e. country image and destination image) in international tourism context for future research and destination marketing practice.

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A model of perceived image, memorable tourism experiences and revisit intention

Client retrospective recall of major misunderstanding events was studied in 19 cases of therapy. A qualitative methodology was used to describe the sequence of 11 resolved and 8 unresolved misunderstanding events. Results indicated that a good relationship, clients' willingness to assert negative feelings about being misunderstood, and therapists' facilitation of a mutual repair effort through maintaining a flexible and accepting stance typically led to resolution. In contrast, a poor relationship, therapists* unwillingness to discuss or accept clients' assertion of negative reactions to being misunderstood, or therapists' lack of awareness of clients' negative feelings led to unresolved misunderstandings and often to clients quitting therapy. The ability of clients and therapists to survive lapses in understanding and to put these critical moments to therapeutic use has been extensively explored from a theoretical perspective (Bordin, 1979; Luborsky, 1983; Safiran, 1993; Safran, Crocker, McMain, & Murray, 1990; Weiss & Sampson, 1986). For example, Kohut (1984) suggested that successive minor lapses in empathy enable clients to learn how to negotiate separateness from their therapists in tolerable doses. Growth, from Kohut's perspective, is evidenced when clients progress from experiencing the most minor misunderstanding as a near rupture to being able to tolerate the inevitable disappointments and misunderstandings that occur within the course of the therapeutic relationship. The ability of clients to communicate openly about their experiences to their therapists when they feel misunderstood is seen as a critical juncture because clients must assert themselves as separate from their therapists if they are to preserve and authorize their own experience. Similarly, experiential and interpersonal theorists acknowledge the importance of helping clients directly communicate their felt experiences. An important part of the change process in experiential therapy is for therapists to help clients identify and bring into awareness what they are feeling at a given moment, including suppressed or unarticulated negative feelings (Greenberg, Rice, & Elliott, 1993; Mitchell, 1988; Safran & Segal, 1990).

Client Retrospective Recall of Resolved and Unresolved Misunderstanding Events.

This study investigates the effects of travel experiences on the autobiographical memory. A structural equation modeling analysis reveals that the experiential factors of involvement, hedonic activity, and local culture positively affected the autobiographical memory of recollection and vividness of past experiences. Specifically, the experiential factors of involvement and refreshing experiences are found to increase an individual's ability to recollect past travel experiences and retrieve the experiences vividly. Alternatively, the experience of local culture enhances the recollection of past travel experiences, albeit not as vividly. The findings of the present study suggest that marketing efforts used at the anticipation stage of travel experiences are necessary to provide memorable travel experiences. The theoretical and managerial implications of the results obtained are discussed in detail.

Determining the Factors Affecting the Memorable Nature of Travel Experiences

Essays written by 238 college students and 66 noncollege adults about their most memorable leisure experiences and most meaningful commonly occurring leisure and work experiences were content analyzed for the presence of 46 constructs describing 39 attributes and 7 benefits of the experiences. Significant differences were found in the frequency with which these constructs were used in describing leisure and work activities. Leisure experiences were most frequently characterized as providing enjoyment (intrinsic satisfaction), companionship, novelty, relaxation, aesthetic appreciation, and intimacy. In contrast, work was most frequently described as providing extrinsic rewards, accomplishment, learning, and altruism.

Attributes of leisure and work experiences.

A construct validation study of the Expectations about Counseling-Brief form: Factorial validity.

Analyse statistique de la relation entre les attentes d'etudiants vis-a-vis du conseil psychologique et trois mesures psychometriques du developpement psychosocial des etudiants

Level of psychosocial development, perceived level of psychological difficulty, counseling readiness, and expectations about counseling: Examination of group differences.

To report social workers' involvement in supporting patients with cirrhosis.Six intervention studies (three published in the past 3 years) highlighed the potential role of social worker-led interventions to improve the outcomes of patients with cirrhosis. In studies of patients with alcohol-related liver disease (n = 4), social workers conducted psychosocial assessments, screened for substance use disorder and psychological distress, coordinated referrals to addiction services, and provided relapse prevention therapy. In studies including transplant recipients or candidates (n = 2), social workers focused on psychosocial interventions. In two studies (n = 1 patient with alcohol-related liver disease; n = 1 transplant recipients), social workers provided practical support (e.g., housing, transportation). Most articles provided limited information about the intervention and the role of the social worker, making comparisons of the studies difficult.More high-quality evidence is needed to formally assess the impact of social workers in improving the outcomes of patients with cirrhosis.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11938-022-00381-2. 

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The Impact of Social Workers in Cirrhosis Care: a Systematic Review

Background Psychosocial, lifestyle and practical needs are not routinely attended to during outpatient hepatology management, and little is known about the type and effectiveness of support services accessed by patients with cirrhosis. We quantified the type and use of community and allied health services in patients with cirrhosis. Methods The study included 562 Australian adults with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Health service use was assessed via questionnaire and via linkage to the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule. Patient needs were assessed using the Supportive Needs Assessment tool for Cirrhosis (SNAC). Results Although most patients (85.9%) used at least one community/allied health service for support with their liver disease, many reported requiring additional help with psychosocial (67.4%), lifestyle (34.3%) or practical needs (21.9%) that were not met by available services, or patients did not access services. A multidisciplinary care plan or case conference (in the 12 months prior to recruitment) was accessed by 48% of patients, 56.2% reported the use of a general practitioner for support with cirrhosis, and a dietician was the allied health clinician most accessed by patients (45.9%). Despite the high prevalence of psychosocial needs, there was relatively limited use of mental health and social work services (14.1% of patients reported the use of a psychologist), confirmed by a low prevalence of use of mental health services (17.7%) in the linked data. Conclusion Patients with cirrhosis who have unmet complex physical and psychosocial needs require better strategies to increase their engagement with allied health and community services.

Janise A. Hinson

Papers

Attributes of leisure and work experiences.

A construct validation study of the Expectations about Counseling-Brief form: Factorial validity.

Level of psychosocial development, perceived level of psychological difficulty, counseling readiness, and expectations about counseling: Examination of group differences.

The Impact of Social Workers in Cirrhosis Care: a Systematic Review

Low Prevalence of Use of Allied Health and Community Services for Patients with Cirrhosis in Australia: A Need for Greater Engagement