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DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorSchool of Hotel and Tourism Managementen_US
dc.contributor.advisorWong, Simon (SHTM)-
dc.contributor.advisorCheung, Catherine (SHTM)-
dc.creatorSun, Hongli-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/8158-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic University-
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleThe relationships between individual modernity, parental influence, perceived hotel job image and career intentions : a study of hospitality students in Chinaen_US
dcterms.abstractThis study investigated the general perceptions of hotel job image among hospitality students in mainland China and developed measurement scales to test the empirical relationships between individual modernity, parental influence, perceived hotel job image and career intentions. Churchill's (1979) paradigm for developing norms was adopted to facilitate the development of valid scales, and a mixed methodology was designed to achieve the study's objectives. In the first part of the sequential mixed methods, qualitative data-gathering strategies involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were adopted. Content analysis was applied to gain an understanding of how hospitality students perceive hotel job image.The results of the qualitative data analysis provided inputs into the design of the quantitative survey instrument, which was subsequently tested for validity and reliability via two pilot studies involving hospitality students. The first pilot study was conducted to refine the initial items and identify the underlying dimensions. The second was conducted to collect another sample to test the validity and reliability of the purified instruments. After the validity and reliability of the instrument were confirmed, the main survey was conducted. The 736 valid samples obtained were analysed via exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Three dimensions of perceived hotel job image were generated and validated from the analyses: (1) staff integrity, (2) non-routine job nature and (3)the characteristics and uniqueness of hotel careers.Structural equation modelling was carried out to clarify and test the hypothesised causal relationships among the study{174}s four constructs, i.e., perceived hotel job image, individual modernity, parental influence and students' career intentions.en_US
dcterms.abstractThe statistical results indicated that the model fit the data, and the results provided evidence to support or reject some of the hypotheses. The direct positive effect of perceived hotel job image on students' career intentions was found to be significant. Furthermore, perceived hotel job image was found to completely mediate the relationship between individual modernity and students' career intentions. However, the direct effect of individual modernity on career intentions was not supported. The direct relationship between parental influence and students' career intentions was also insignificant, and the indirect effect proved to be significant. This indicates that perceived hotel job image mediates the relationship between parental influence and students' career intentions. Finally, hospitality students in mainland China were found to have low intentions to pursue careers in the hotel industry after graduation.The findings of this study make theoretical and empirical contributions to the current body of knowledge. First, this study developed and validated a measurement scale of perceived hotel job image in mainland China that could serve as a solid foundation for future research. Second, it provided evidence that perceived hotel job image is a significant predictor of career intentions, offering a new approach to investigating students' career intentions in the hotel industry. Finally, it empirically proved the mediating effect of perceived hotel job image. Perceived hotel job image was found to be a complete mediator, which may explain how individual modernity and parental influence affect students' career intentions.In addition to the theoretical contributions, the findings have managerial implications for both hotel-related educational institutes and the hotel industry at large. Given that perceived hotel job image was found to be an important factor influencing students' career intentions, strategies to improve perceptions of a hotel job image may go a long way in attracting hospitality graduates to choose careers in the hotel industry.en_US
dcterms.extentxiii, 286 pages ; 30 cmen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2015en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.educationalLevelPh.D.en_US
dcterms.LCSHCollege students -- China -- Attitudes.en_US
dcterms.LCSHHotel management -- China.en_US
dcterms.LCSHCareer development -- China.en_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsopen accessen_US

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/8158