Yun Su, Hui Wang, Guangju Liu, Yunyi Wang, Jianlin Liu and Miao Tian
The paper aims to reveal the relationship among energy efficiency, thermal comfort and thermal regulation of electrically heated footwear and to investigate influencing factors on…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to reveal the relationship among energy efficiency, thermal comfort and thermal regulation of electrically heated footwear and to investigate influencing factors on the energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
Design/methodology/approach
A finite volume model was proposed to simulate the two-dimensional heat transfer in electrically heated footwear (EHF) under an extremely cold condition. The model domain consists of three-layer footwear materials, a heating pad, a sock material, an air gap and skin tissues. Model predictions were verified by experimental data from cold-contact exposure. Then the influencing factors on the energy efficiency and thermal comfort were investigated through parametric analysis.
Findings
The paper demonstrated that the skin temperature control (STC) mode provided superior thermal comfort compared to the heating pad temperature control (HPTC) mode. However, the energy efficiency for the HPTC mode with a heating temperature of 38 °C was 18% higher than the STC mode. The energy efficiency of EHF while reaching the state of thermal comfort was strongly determined by the arrangement and connection of heating elements, heating temperature, thickness and thermal conductivity of footwear materials.
Originality/value
The findings obtained in this paper can be used to engineer the EHF that provides optimal thermal comfort and energy efficiency in cold environments.
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Ping Wang, Hongxiu Li and Yong Liu
The purpose of this paper is to show how different combinations of the subdimensions of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) information quality (consisting of its accuracy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how different combinations of the subdimensions of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) information quality (consisting of its accuracy, completeness, relevance, timeliness, and sidedness) may affect consumers' eWOM use behavior from a configurational approach.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a synthesis of past literature, five precursors of eWOM use were considered. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was employed to understand the configurations that lead to travel-related eWOM use. The study was conducted with 311 consumers from an online travel service company.
Findings
Findings identified six solutions that explain eWOM use. EWOM accuracy, completeness, and sidedness are found to be core conditions reinforcing consumers' use of eWOM in combination with different peripheral conditions, including the subdimensions of eWOM information quality and the traits of the consumers (such as social media use time and gender).
Practical implications
Factors related to eWOM information quality and traits of the consumers, when considered in combination, predict eWOM use behavior in particular sets of conditions.
Originality/value
This work enriches the eWOM literature by providing an in-depth understanding of eWOM use from a configuration perspective. Configuration analysis serves as a better tool for explaining the complex relationships among variables than a regression analysis approach does. Additionally, in response to the need to move beyond multiple regression analysis to algorithmic approaches, this study shifts the emphasis from a symmetric paradigm to an asymmetric perspective for data analysis focused on eWOM use.
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Weisha Wang, Wentong Liu, Haiming Hang and Zhifeng Chen
Esports is emerging as a global sensation, yet its distinctive nature complicates our understanding of players' motivations. This study leverages self-hierarchy and…
Abstract
Purpose
Esports is emerging as a global sensation, yet its distinctive nature complicates our understanding of players' motivations. This study leverages self-hierarchy and self-determination theories to examine the motivations that define players at individual, relational, and community levels, seeking to identify which motivations are most valued.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-method approach was employed, focusing on Honor of Kings esports players in China to explore the answers to the research questions. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted to uncover self-definitional motivations at various levels. Second, a quantitative study was conducted with 607 regular Honor of Kings players to empirically examine the effects of the identified motivations on satisfaction.
Findings
The qualitative and quantitative data results reveal that self-efficacy and self-worth at the individual level, recognition and emotional attachment from close others at the relational-self level, and cocreation and belongingness at the collective level positively influence game satisfaction. More importantly, self-definitional motivations at the relational level are valued the most. Additionally, identification with a game character moderates the effects of self-definitional motivation at the collective level and emotional attachment at the relational-self level.
Originality/value
This research delves into players' motivations for engaging with Honor of Kings, anchored in self-hierarchy and self-determination theories. It uncovers that motivations rooted in different aspects of self-identity have distinct associations with players’ satisfaction level. This suggests a vital strategy for game designers and operators to adopt: to enhance player satisfaction, they should specifically address and emphasize the aspects of self-identity that matter most to their audience.
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Xin Qi, Xinlei Lv, Zhigang Li, Chunbaixue Yang, Haoran Li and Angelika Ploeger
Understanding young adults’ organic food purchasing behavior in the fresh food e-commerce platforms (FFEP) is crucial for expanding the global environmental product market. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding young adults’ organic food purchasing behavior in the fresh food e-commerce platforms (FFEP) is crucial for expanding the global environmental product market. The study aims to investigate how specific characteristics of platforms and organic food information impact young adults’ perceived value, leading to their subsequent purchase intention.
Design/methodology/approach
Around 535 valid responses were collected through an online survey and then analyzed applying a two-stage structural equation model (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) approach.
Findings
Results of this research show that platform characteristics (including system quality and evaluation system) and product information characteristics (including organic label, ingredient information and traceability information) significantly affect young adults’ perceived utilitarian and hedonic value. The platform’s service quality has a strong effect on their perceptions of hedonic value, while the delivery system strongly influences their utilitarian value. Moreover, the perceived value, as a crucial mediator, plays a significant role in moderating the influence of platform and product information characteristics on the purchase intentions of young consumers regarding organic food.
Originality/value
Previous research has overlooked the credence attributes of organic food and particularities of online purchasing, focusing instead on general platform and product characteristics. This study addresses this gap by proposing a more appropriate model that integrates the characteristics of both the platform and product information. This offers theoretical and managerial implications for effectively stimulating organic food consumption among young adults in online environments.
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Chaofan Yang, Yongqiang Sun, Nan Wang and Xiao-Liang Shen
Although extant studies have investigated the antecedents of negative electronic word of mouth (eWOM), they treated it as a unidimensional concept without classification. To…
Abstract
Purpose
Although extant studies have investigated the antecedents of negative electronic word of mouth (eWOM), they treated it as a unidimensional concept without classification. To bridge this knowledge gap, this paper distinguishes rational negative eWOM (RNW) from emotional negative eWOM (ENW) and leverages the consumer value framework to investigate their drivers in the context of peer-to-peer accommodation platforms (PPAPs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected data through an online survey of 437 PPAP users. Partial least squares (PLS) were used to validate the proposed hypotheses. Further, the path coefficients comparison method was adopted to distinguish the different impacts of consumer values on RNW and ENW.
Findings
This research showed that self-presentation exerted a positive impact on RNW, but its relationship with ENW was insignificant. Anger and regret were, respectively, positively related to ENW and RNW. Besides, altruism exerted a positive effect on RNW, whereas it had a negative effect on ENW.
Originality/value
First, this paper makes a fresh attempt to categorize negative eWOM into RNW and ENW. Second, this paper draws upon the consumer value framework to dissect varied motivations for posting RNW versus ENW on PPAPs. Third, this paper empirically verifies the differential influences that consumer values exert on RNW and ENW.
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Abdulaziz Elwalda, İsmail Erkan, Mushfiqur Rahman and Deniz Zeren
Mobile messaging applications (MMAs) have surpassed top social media platforms. Recent and rapid use of MMAs has made it extremely difficult to ignore the existence of…
Abstract
Purpose
Mobile messaging applications (MMAs) have surpassed top social media platforms. Recent and rapid use of MMAs has made it extremely difficult to ignore the existence of customer-to-customer (C2C) mobile information. This study, therefore, aims to expand the knowledge of customers' adoption behaviour of such information.
Design/methodology/approach
Through applying and utilizing social support theory (SST) and the information adoption model (IAM), this study introduces a holistic theoretical model, explaining customers' adoption of information derived from MMAs and exploring the antecedents of IAM. Based on the data collected from 305 UK MMA users, this study empirically tests the research model using structural equation modelling estimation.
Findings
The results of this study reveal that social support is a key antecedent of information quality and credibility and support IAM in terms of its ability to explain MMAs' information adoption.
Practical implications
The insights are valuable for businesses and marketers to understand customers' mobile communications and be socially support-oriented while developing marketing communication strategies.
Originality/value
The study integrates SST and IAM to improve the understanding of customers' information adoption behaviour. It is the first attempt that establishes that social support is a key antecedent of IAM.
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This paper aims to examine the association between the perceived values of information (economic, hedonic, functional, psychological) and the actual use of social networking…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the association between the perceived values of information (economic, hedonic, functional, psychological) and the actual use of social networking channels (Instagram/Facebook groups/SNS personal profiles or messaging) for seeking information on accommodations.
Design/methodology/approach
879 respondents aged 18–55, who travel abroad as individual tourists at least once a year and are responsible for their own accommodation choice, were surveyed.
Findings
The study shows that all the values of information are more likely to be provided through posting a question on one's profile/messaging options (i.e. friends and relatives), than through Facebook groups and Instagram. The multivariate findings show that different values are associated with different SNS channel choices for seeking information.
Originality/value
The study provides an innovative approach to the motivations behind the use of different SNS platforms for travel information search by consumers. It offers practical implications, suggesting how to provide the relevant content on each channel.
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Amin Jan, Mehmood Khan, Mian M. Ajmal and Ataul Karim Patwary
Considering the transition of communicational channels from physical to digital spaces, this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for understanding engagement in…
Abstract
Purpose
Considering the transition of communicational channels from physical to digital spaces, this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for understanding engagement in electronic word of mouth (eWoM) among managers and customers in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the four aggregate dimensions, namely, performance expectancy, efforts expectancy, social influence and facilitations condition. Further, this paper uses the 14 second-order themes of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology with a data set that represents elements that can trigger eWoM, both from managers’ and customers’ perspectives. The process of data structuration follows thematic analysis and axial coding techniques.
Findings
The results of this study show that performance expectancy, facilitation conditions, social influence and effort expectancy all trigger positive eWoM generation in the hospitality and tourism industry indicating customers’ and managers’ perspectives.
Originality/value
This novel study provides a theoretical foundation and novel propositions for future research work on the role of novel antecedents that can trigger eWoM in the hospitality and tourism industry. This paper also provides a benchmark for practitioners and policymakers in their strategic decisions-making towards improving business performance through positive eWoM.
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Depeng Zhang, Jiaxin Ma and Zhenxing He
With the appearance of additional review functionality on e-commerce platforms emotional changes in composite reviews have become more diverse. How consumers process the emotional…
Abstract
Purpose
With the appearance of additional review functionality on e-commerce platforms emotional changes in composite reviews have become more diverse. How consumers process the emotional changes in composite reviews is an important concern for companies. This study investigates the impact of explores how changes in the emotional valence and emotional intensity of composite reviews on consumers' information adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on emotion as social information theory, this study constructs a double mediation model of how the change in emotional valence of composite reviews affects consumers' adoption intention and examines the moderating effect of the dynamic change of emotional intensity. One field and three online experiments were conducted to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
Consumers were more likely to adopt positive–negative composite reviews than negative–positive composite reviews. Compared to negative–positive composite reviews, positive–negative composite reviews led to higher perceived empathy and lower motivational suspicion, which, in turn, led to higher information adoption. Moreover, dynamic changes in emotional intensity played a moderating role in this effect. Interestingly, the amount of attribute difference changed the differences in perceived empathy and motivated consumer suspicion generated by the composite review when considering the reviewer’s attribute difference description.
Originality/value
The findings have important theoretical contributions that deepen business and consumer understanding of the impact of composite reviews and have practical implications for improving the management of composite reviews by businesses.
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Abror Abror, Dina Patrisia, Okki Trinanda, Maznah Wan Omar and Yunia Wardi
This paper aims to examine the impact of religiosity on Muslim-friendly destination performance, customer engagement and customer satisfaction; the mediating impact of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of religiosity on Muslim-friendly destination performance, customer engagement and customer satisfaction; the mediating impact of Muslim-friendly destination performance, customer engagement and customer satisfaction on the link between religiosity and word of mouth (WOM); and the moderating impact of religiosity on the relationship between Muslim-friendly tourism, customer engagement and customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The population of this study was all tourists who visited West Sumatra Indonesia. By using a survey through questionnaires, this study has got 393 out of 450 collected responses (83.6%). This research used the structural equation modeling as the data analysis technique.
Findings
This research found that religiosity is a significant antecedent of Muslim-friendly tourism, customer engagement and tourist satisfaction. This study revealed that Muslim-friendly tourism, customer engagement and tourist satisfaction significantly mediate the link between religiosity and WOM. This research also found that religiosity significantly moderates the effect of Muslim-friendly tourism on tourist satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
This study was only conducted in Indonesia; hence, it lacks generality. Accordingly, future studies can expand to several other countries such as Southeast Asian countries which have big Muslim population. This study only focused on Muslim-friendly tourism industry as a whole. For future studies, it can be extended to several related industries, such as hotel, food and beverage and halal cosmetic.
Practical implications
This study has shown the important of manager knowledge about religiosity of customers. Accordingly, when they want to increase tourists’ WOM, they have to increase tourist perceived quality of Muslim-friendly tourism attributes which also have an impact on customer engagement and tourist satisfaction.
Originality/value
This study proposes the direct relationship between religiosity and Muslim-friendly tourism, the religiosity-customer engagement link and the religiosity-tourist satisfaction relation. This research has revealed the mediating effect of Muslim-friendly tourism, satisfaction and engagement on the link between religiosity and WOM. This study has also revealed the impact of religiosity in strengthening the link between halal tourism and tourist satisfaction which is limited previously.