| The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic assessment of tourist information search behavior in relation to prior knowledge, need for information and source credibility.; A mail survey was conducted in the fall of 2000. The overall sample was comprised of individuals who had booked a resort vacation that would take place at three resorts in Florida during the 12 months following the original date of contact (November 2000 to December, 2000). Names and addresses were systematically collected from lists provided by a firm managing three separate resorts. These lists included the names and addresses of every person (n = 5,853) who had booked a vacation at one of the three resorts from December 1, 2000 to December 1, 2001. A total of 900 (300 from each resort) individuals were contacted and 410 usable questionnaires were returned for an effective response rate of 46.2%.; Fifteen research questions were proposed to address the relationships between variables theorized to affect the tourist information search process model. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify need for information dimensions. A series of multiple regression and correlation analyses were developed to assess the relationship between prior knowledge, need for information and source credibility and information search behavior. Results revealed prior knowledge as a multi-dimensional construct composed of two dimensions, familiarity/expertise and past experience, and identified the five need for information dimensions (i.e., Utilitarian, Risk Avoidance, Aesthetic & Hedonic, Sensation Seeking & Hedonic, Social). The results of this study indicated that prior knowledge, need for information and source credibility were significantly related to information search behavior and differed in their directionality in information search. Furthermore, the credibility of sources was found to have the most crucial influence on the selection and use of the source, compared with the effects of prior knowledge and need for information.; In response to the study findings, a new tourist information search process was proposed. In this new model, need for information as well as prior knowledge are shown to be directly related to information search. Prior knowledge is not related to need for information. Additionally, credibility of information sources is directly linked to information search behavior and mediates the relationships between need for information and information search as well as between prior knowledge and information search. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
