ABSTRACT

In this exploratory study, we tested the relevance of social learning, rational choice, and social control theories as explanations of “dining and dashing,” an act that has substantial financial implications for the restaurant industry yet one that has received almost no empirical attention. Dine and dash is defined as people using a food and/or beverage service that is expected to be paid for and leaving the premises with no intention of returning to pay. Using a survey sample of 358 undergraduate and graduate students from a Canadian university, we found partial support for social learning and rational choice theories. Individuals who knew someone else who had dined and dashed were more likely to dine and dash themselves (social learning theory) (OR = 17.85, p < .001). When a person thought they would suffer consequences (e.g., paying a fine), they were less likely to dine and dash (rational choice theory) (OR = 0.76, p < .001). Those who considered the benefits of dining and dashing were more likely to dine and dash (OR = 1.24, p < .01). No variables drawn from social control theory were related to dining and dashing.

摘要

在这项探索性研究中，我们测试了社会学习、理性选择和社会控制理论作为“用餐和冲刺”的解释的相关性，这一行为对餐饮业具有重大的财务影响，但几乎没有受到实证关注。Dine and dash 的定义是人们使用预期会得到报酬的食品和/或饮料服务并离开场所而无意返回支付。使用来自加拿大大学的 358 名本科生和研究生的调查样本，我们发现对社会学习和理性选择理论的部分支持。认识其他人用餐和冲刺的人更有可能自己用餐和冲刺（社会学习理论）（OR  = 17.85，p< .001)。当一个人认为他们会承担后果（例如，支付罚款）时，他们不太可能用餐和冲刺（理性选择理论）（OR  = 0.76，p < .001）。那些认为用餐和冲刺的好处的人更有可能用餐和冲刺（OR  = 1.24，p < .01）。没有从社会控制理论中得出的变量与用餐和冲刺有关。