Sociology
Customer Explanations of Tipping Behavior and the Relationship between Customer Characteristics and Tip
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Sociology
Start Date
11-4-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 10:30 AM
Sponsor
Katherine Novak (Butler University)
Description
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between certain characteristics of a customer and the frequency and quality of tips given to a pizza delivery driver. The dimensions of age, race, sex, religion, and socioeconomic status are examined in relation to the customer's given tip. Past literature has shown mixed support in some of these dimensions, and the current study will add more data to this uncertain area. Furthermore, the study attempts to discover the motivations and determinents of tipping behavior by the customers as it pertains to pizza delivery. An overwhelming majority of previous research has explored tipping behavior set in a restaurant environment with a server. Pizza delivery is believed to be a novel setting with different influences and factors that effect tipping behavior. A survey was given by the student researcher, a pizza delivery driver working at the time of survey distribution, to the customer after receiving payment and any tip for their order. Customers were instructed to complete the paper survey with the delivery order in mind then mail their responses to the sturdent researcher when completed. Expected results will indicate more frequent and higher quality tips will be received by white, middle-aged, nonreligious men of middle class status, as supported by previous literature. Customer explanations of their tipping behavior are expected to highly correlate with the size of their bill.
Customer Explanations of Tipping Behavior and the Relationship between Customer Characteristics and Tip
Indianapolis, IN
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between certain characteristics of a customer and the frequency and quality of tips given to a pizza delivery driver. The dimensions of age, race, sex, religion, and socioeconomic status are examined in relation to the customer's given tip. Past literature has shown mixed support in some of these dimensions, and the current study will add more data to this uncertain area. Furthermore, the study attempts to discover the motivations and determinents of tipping behavior by the customers as it pertains to pizza delivery. An overwhelming majority of previous research has explored tipping behavior set in a restaurant environment with a server. Pizza delivery is believed to be a novel setting with different influences and factors that effect tipping behavior. A survey was given by the student researcher, a pizza delivery driver working at the time of survey distribution, to the customer after receiving payment and any tip for their order. Customers were instructed to complete the paper survey with the delivery order in mind then mail their responses to the sturdent researcher when completed. Expected results will indicate more frequent and higher quality tips will be received by white, middle-aged, nonreligious men of middle class status, as supported by previous literature. Customer explanations of their tipping behavior are expected to highly correlate with the size of their bill.