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This paper aims to inform the promotion of sustainable modes of transport. For this purpose, it deploys a means-ends framework as a type of second-order cybernetics and uses it to explore cognitive transport mode choice structures.

The empirical study relies on a purposive sample and a qualitative research methodology known as laddering. It is aimed at the identification and comparative analysis of the cognitive means-ends structures of transport users.

The results reveal more positive and complex associations for the car than for public transport. Two main positive means-ends structures are identified for public transport, one related with the relaxation and the other with doing useful things while travelling. Dominant positive structures for the car are related with self-confidence, satisfaction and personal freedom. Negative means-ends structures in addition reveal important justifications and rationalizations for car use.

Based on the identified distinct means-ends elements and structures, this study holds important implications for developing a communications strategy and policy interventions seeking to promote public transport.

Means-ends theory is proposed as an integrative cybernetic framework for the study of stakeholders’ (customers’) mental models. The empirical study is the first to concurrently and comparatively examine positive and negative means-ends chains for the car and for the public transport modes.

This study intends to decompose the tourist choice process into two stages (decision to take a holiday and tourist expenditure), and to propose and test various expectations on the dimensions which explain the above decisions.

In order to simultaneously model the two decisions, we use a system of equations based on the Heckit model.

The dimensions affecting the decision to go on holiday are income, household size, education, size of the city of origin and opinion of going on holiday. The determinant factors influencing the level of expenditure are distance between origin and destination, type of accommodation, income, household size, age, marital status and length of stay. An important finding of this analysis is the differentiated effect of a given dimension on each decision.

The lack of information on some explanatory dimensions. Joint modelling. The spending decision should be modelled jointly with the decision to go on holiday due to the dependency between them.

The promotion of destinations should be developed with special attention paid to some faraway markets of origin, due to the expected propensity for these tourists to spend longer periods at the destination. The specialisation of destinations in terms of accommodation type and length of stay. The design of holiday packages should be adapted to the needs of the tourists identified, as they represent the most profitable tourist profiles.

The particular findings, and the research and practical implications proposed show the relevance of the topic analysed. Also, these aspects are backed by a sample of 3,781 individuals, which assures the robustness of the results.

This paper seeks to examine the relationship between service quality and behavioural purchase intentions in the public‐sector transport industry in Spain.

The study first identifies five distinctive research streams in service quality. An empirical analysis is then carried out in which the SERVPERF scale is adapted to the study of service quality in the public‐sector transport industry. The study then examines the relationship between service quality and purchase intention using an aggregated ordered logit model.

The findings confirm a relationship between the five dimensions of service quality and purchase intentions.

The study provides a useful guide to research into service quality by identifying five distinctive streams of research on the field. The study also contributes from a methodological perspective by offering a measurement scale for service quality in the public‐sector transport industry. Finally, the study contributes to studies of perceived service quality by providing an aggregated ordered logit model, and by confirming the link between service quality and behavioural intention in a public‐sector context.