Measuring and predicting national differences in tipping customs: A critical review

A review of research on the predictors of national tipping customs found that they varied with national characteristics likely to affect motivations for and against tipping and/or exposure to other pro-tipping cultures. However, numerous methodological problems undermine confidence in the theoretical processes underlying these effects. In addition, inconsistencies in findings raise questions about which effects are real and how generalizable they are. Measures of national customary tip sizes based on travel guides show weak convergent validity, so some of the inconsistencies may be attributable to weak measurement. Other potential sources of inconsistency are low statistical power and the effects of untested moderator variables. Better measures of national customary tip amounts based on worldwide surveys of national populations are needed as are larger sample sizes and more tests of moderation effects. Such measures and research would benefit researchers, hospitality/tourism businesses, and international tourists alike.