Accurately assessing expectations most important to restaurant patrons:the creation of the DinEX scale

Over the years, those studying the restaurant industry have attempted to accurately assess what expectations are most important to restaurant patrons. The results have been centered on the domains of food, service, and atmosphere. This research adds the domain of social connectedness and homophily to the model. A scale to accurately and efficiently measure these concepts was created utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research techniques and engaging 5 samples numbering 2,500 respondents. Five stages were employed to provide validity, reliability, stability, and homogeneity. A 20-item sale—DinEX—was created using a two-step confirmatory analysis approach

Where everybody knows your name:homophily in restaurant atmospherics

Atmospherics are an underresearched, yet important aspect of restaurant performance. This study takes an exploratory approach to measurement development, by conceptualizing a social capital scale to measure homophily in five different restaurant settings, and all three traditional meal periods. A national sample of 1,220 restaurant-goers was obtained, and a unidimensional construct reflecting homophily was found overall; for breakfast and lunch periods, and within three of the five restaurant types. We offer insight into these findings, and discuss the use of the scale in future research