Measuring the relational benefits of private club membership: A factor analytic evaluation

Understanding the relational benefits private club members seek and experience is important to both club managers and researchers. However, there is limited research of such benefits in the hospitality literature. To address this gap, this study operationalizes a multidimensional scale reflective of the relational benefits private club members experience as a result of their relationship with their club. A sample of private club members from an athletics club and a beach club is used to operationalize the scale. Additionally, as a methodological contribution, this study implements a factor analytical approach that emphasizes the use of Bayesian estimation and the consideration of multiple model specifications that relax the local independence and simple structure assumptions associated with general factor analysis approaches. This contribution is suggested as best practice for all researchers using factor analysis for multidimensional construct operationalization.