Better understanding. Based on the two perspectives of service quality
noted, as well as the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction,
the primary goal of the present research is to compare and contrast empirically the
SERVQUAL and Technical/Functional Quality models. Specifically, we wish to
compare the various dimensions of the two service quality models and their effects
on satisfaction. By testing the two perspectives in a single empirical (and largely
exploratory) study, we hope to gain a better understanding of how the models
perform when applied to a common setting, and the relative strengths and
weaknesses of each model within this context. Thus, the first basic (or null)
hypothesis for the study is that the various dimensions of service quality – per the
SERVQUAL and Grönroos perspectives – are approximately equivalent in their
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ability to predict customer satisfaction. Given that the two conceptualizations are
each considered generally to be comprehensive and robust measures of service
quality, and have never been compared directly in an empirical study, there exists
no compelling rationale to suggest otherwise.
A second research goal is to examine the utility of separately measuring
customer satisfaction from the perspectives of both technical and functional
aspects of the service delivery process. By individually examining these
interpretations of satisfaction, we hope to determine whether satisfaction is more
appropriately conceptualized as a general affect (as in traditional definitions) or
rather as a multidimensional construct. Since service quality has been previously
demonstrated to have a variety of distinct elements, it might therefore be expected
that customer satisfaction (as directly impacted by the various components of
service quality) also comprises multiple components. Based on this reasoning, our
hypothesis is that customer satisfaction is a multidimensional construct, and that
these dimensions will be differentially impacted by the various components of
service quality.
The third goal of this study is to extend the existing (albeit sparse) research
on covariates of the quality/satisfaction relationship in services. We seek to
explore new ways in which the quality/satisfaction relationship may (or may not)
vary, depending on particular service settings and/or situations. Based on
established theory from organization economics (i.e. the S-P-P model), we propose
two moderator variables (service failure and communication) and test whether or
not these significantly affect (i.e. moderate) the relationship between service
quality and satisfaction.