This article examines the role of perceived importance of service elements, or
importance weighting, in client satisfaction measures. Drawing on the debate over
importance weighting in the life satisfaction literature, this article assesses the adequacy of
and the need for importance weighting in client satisfaction measures. Based on a client
satisfaction survey (N = 156), the current study explored (1) whether or not all service
elements of homecare services were considered equally important, and (2) whether or not
the relationships between overall satisfaction with homecare services and satisfaction with
various service elements of homecare services varied significantly across perceived
importance of service elements. Findings showed that (1) not all service elements of
homecare services were considered equally important, and (2) relationships between
overall satisfaction with homecare services and satisfaction with various service elements
of homecare services varied significantly across perceived importance of service elements.
The findings support the incorporation of perceived importance of service elements into
client satisfaction measures.
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