Konstantinos Alexandris

Perceived Constraints on Recreational Sport Participation: Investigating Their Relationship with Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation and Amotivation

This study aimed to investigate the influence of constraint dimensions on intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation. The self-determination theory and the hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivationwere used as the theoretical framework. Two hundred and fifty seven (N = 257) adult individuals (residents of the city of Thessaloniki, Greece), who reported participation in some type of sport and physical activity, completed the Sport Motivation Scale and the leisure constraints questionnaire. The results indicated that intrapersonal constraints accounted for 38% of the variance in amotivation, and 15% of the variance in intrinsic motivation. No relationships were revealed between interpersonal and structural constraints and motivation, and between constraint dimensions and extrinsic motivation. These results suggest that intrapersonal constraints act as de-motivating forces for individuals. They support elements of the hierarchical model of leisure constraints, and further clarify the role of motivation in the model. Finally, they suggest that future research should focus on the conceptualization of intrapersonal constraints, and their relations with other social and psychological mediators of motivation that have been proposed in the literature.

Can perceptions of service quality predict behavioral intentions? An exploratory study in the hotel sector in Greece

The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which behavioral intentions could be explained by service quality dimensions. Zeithmal et.’s theoretical framework was used to measure behavioral intentions; the five dimensions of SERVQUAL were used to measure perceived service quality. A total of 205 customers of two hotels in north Greece particpated in the study. The results indicated that the service quality dimensions explained a very high proportion of variance in word‐of‐mouth communications and purchase intentions (93 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively). These findings have theoretical implications in terms of developing a framework for conceptualizing service loyalty and identifying its antecedents. They also have practical implications in terms of designing effective customer retention strategies.

An empirical investigation of the relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction and psychological commitment in a health club context

This study aimed to test the applicability of a simplified version of the service quality model, proposed by Brady & Cronin (2001) in the context of a health club, and test the degree to which service quality perceptions and customer satisfaction predict psychological commitment and word‐of‐mouth communications. One hundred and seventy five members of a private health club in Greece participated in the study, and completed: a) a service quality scale (measuring interaction quality, physical environment quality, and outcome quality); b) the Sport Commitment Scale (Scanlan et al., 1993); c) an adjusted version of Olivers (1997) customer satisfaction scale; and d) a three‐item scale measuring word‐of‐mouth communications. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support for the factorial validity of the three primary dimensions. The psychometric properties of all the scales were satisfactory. The results also revealed an adequate fit of the structural model, which accounted for 29% of the variance. The physical environment and outcome dimensions significantly influenced satisfaction, which, in turn, had a stronger influence on word‐of‐mouth communications than on psychological commitment.

Demographic differences in the perception of constraints on recreational sport participation: results from a study in Greece

Are any sub-groups of the Greek population particularly influenced by the experience of leisure constraints? The present study aimed to investigate demographic differences (age, gender, education and marital status) in the perception of constraints on recreational sport participation, in relation to demographic differences in annual sport-participation rates. The data were collected by means of a self-administered household questionnaire survey conducted in an urban area in Greece. The results indicated that: (a) females were significantly more constrained than males, especially by intrapersonal constraints; (b) the perception of constraints significantly increased among less-educated individuals; (c) there was an inverted U-relationship between perception of constraints and age; (d) married individuals were significantly more constrained than single persons on time-related constraints. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the ‘negotiation’ and ‘balance’ propositions. The study prov...

An analysis of leisure constraints based on different recreational sport participation levels: Results from a study in Greece

What constraints are experienced by a sample of the Greek population when participating in recreational sport activities? An attempt was made to answer this question by using data collected by a household survey conducted in an urban area in Greece. The study aimed specifically to investigate (a) constraints on recreational sport participation, as experienced by a sample of the Greek population; (b) the relationship between constraint dimensions (derived by a principal component analysis) and sport participation or nonparticipation; and (c) the relationship between constraint dimensions and frequency of sport participation. The results indicated that (a) the most important perceived constraints were time and facilities‐ or services‐related problems; (b) nonparticipants were significantly more constrained than participants, particularly in the intrapersonal dimension; and (c) perception of constraints decreased with the level of participation. The study provides support of the hierarchical model of leisure...

The behavioural consequences of perceived service quality: An exploratory study in the context of private fitness clubs in Greece

This study aims to investigate the behavioural consequences of perceived service quality dimensions in the context of private fitness clubs in Greece. Zeithmal, Berry, and Parasuramans (1996) theoretical framework of behavioural consequences was used for the measurement of behavioural intentions, and the five dimensions of SERVQUAL (Parasuraman, Zeithaml, & Berry, 1988) were used for the measurement of perceived service quality. Three hundred members of three private franchised fitness clubs participated in the study. The results indicated that the service quality dimensions predicted significant and high proportions of variances in word‐of‐mouth communications and purchase intentions across all three facilities. The tangible and assurance dimensions offered the most significant contributions. The results further revealed no significant relationships between the price sensitivity and complaining behaviour dimensions and perceptions of service quality. These results have theoretical implications for developing a framework for conceptualising service loyalty and identifying its antecedents. They also have practical implications for designing effective customer retention strategies.

Do Left-Handed Competitors Have an Innate Superiority in Sports?:

This study assessed handedness distributions among (a) sporting competitors (n = 1,112) and nonsporting university students (n = 1,112), (b) sporting competitors engaging in interactive (n = 576) and in noninteractive sports (n = 536), and (c) sporting competitors engaging in direct interactive (n = 219) and indirect interactive (n = 357) sports. Chi-squared showed that there were statistically significant differences in proportions of left-handed persons in (a) sporting competitors and nonsporting university students, (b) sporting competitors engaging in interactive and noninteractive sports, (c) sporting competitors engaging in interactive sports and nonsporting university students, and (d) sporting competitors engaging in direct interactive and indirect interactive sports. It appears that left-handers are more common among those who engage in competitive manual activities. This superiority of the left-handers may be fully explained by a consideration of tactical or strategic factors associated with handedness during sporting interactions. The results with important implications for the measurement and evaluation of handedness are discussed in the light of the current findings on laterality.

Testing the role of service quality on the development of brand associations and brand loyalty

Purpose – The study aims to: measure brand associations in the context of a fitness club, test the influence of brand associations on the development of brand loyalty, and investigate the role of service quality on the development of brand associations.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 165 members of a managed‐owned fitness club, located in North Greece, participated in the study. They completed a 25‐item questionnaire to measure brand associations, and a 25‐item questionnaire to measure service quality.Findings – The exploratory factor analysis revealed eight brand association factors: popularity, management, logo, escape, vicarious achievement, nostalgia, pride and affect. In terms of the relationships among brand associations, loyalty and service quality, the regression analyses revealed that: five of the eight brand associations (escape, nostalgia, pride, logo, and affect) significantly contributed to the prediction of loyalty, the service quality dimensions predicted significant amount of vari...

Measuring customer satisfaction in fitness centres in Greece: an exploratory study.

Meeting the demands of customer satisfaction is among the most difficult tasks facing sport managers today. Measuring customer satisfaction is not a straightforward issue, as research has shown that satisfaction is a multi-dimensional concept. The aim of the present study was to develop and standardize a scale measuring customer satisfaction, based on a sample of Greek population. The present study was based on previous work by Beard and Ragheb, who measured satisfaction in leisure activities. Two hundred and ten members of three private fitness clubs participated in the research and completed the instrument. The results supported the multidimensionality of the concept of customer satisfaction, and revealed the existence of five factors: facilities/services, individual/psychological, relaxation, social, and health/fitness. The total scale and the sub-scales were shown to have satisfactory psychometric properties.

Segmenting Winter Sport Tourists by Motivation: The Case of Recreational Skiers

This study examined motivation, involvement, and loyalty among recreational skiers to develop a typology of user segments. Recreational skiers (N = 268) from a major ski resort in north Greece participated in the study. Motivation was measured with an adjusted version of the Recreational Experience Preference (REP) scale (Manfredo, Driver, & Tarrant, 1996), involvement was measured with the three dimensional model (attraction, centrality, and self-expression, Kyle et al., 2004), and loyalty was measured with an intention scale. A principal component analysis of the motivation scale revealed seven dimensions: escape, social recognition, enjoying nature, excitement/risk, socialization, skill development and achievement. A cluster analysis was used to categorize these dimensions into four segments labelled: Novice, Multiple-interest, Naturalist, and Enthusiast. Analysis of variance revealed differences among the four groups in both the loyalty and the three involvement sub-scales. As a general trend the fourth segment (enthusiast) had statistically higher scores than all other groups. The marketing implications of the results are discussed.