Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

 
METHODOLOGY 
Sample and Data Collection 
A systematic random sampling method was used to select the sample travel agents from a list of 2900 
member travel agents of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies. According to their sales volume and the scope 
of the activity, travel agents in Turkey are divided into three segments. This study includes Type A travel agents 
because of their size and their structured management style comparing to the others. The sample size was 
determined based on 95 percent confidence level with a z value of 1.96 and estimated population promotion of
π
= 
.90. The suggested minimum sample size was 131 and the samp1e size of 200 was used in the study.
Two hundred questionnaires were distributed and 160 questionnaires, representing 80 percent response rate 
were returned. Incomplete questionnaires were eliminated after screening. The valid number of questionnaires for 
this study after elimination was 133 representing a final response rate or 66 percent. The sample of the study 
consists of president/owner, general manager and operation managers of the travel agents. Managers of the travel 
agents were contacted via the mail and invited to complete a three-part questionnaire. Dillman's (2000) methods of 
multiple mail process for the mail survey were utilized. To increase response rate, telephone calls were placed to 
non respondents. Non-response bias was examined by calling a random sample of non-respondents (N=27). 
Differences between the respondents and non respondents were tested. No significant differences were found.