The service quality of the companies providing recreational sport/fitness programme

The Service Quality of the Companies Providing Recreational Sport/ Fitness Programme In this study, it is aimed to study the private sports centre members? expectations and perceptions about the service quality given according to gender, economic conditions, educational background, membership duration, duration and frequency of use, time of transportation, and time spent in the centre with sub-dimensions of staff, changing rooms and the facility; and the quality of service in the centres. As measurement means, Turkısh Version of The Service Quality Assessment Scale (SQAS-T) developed by Gürbüz (2003) was used. For data analysis SPSS16, 0 statistical packet programme was used. The data was tested for normal distribution with One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. To study the difference among the independent variables Independent-Sample T test and ANOVA test was used. The reasons of the differences according to the independent variables were studied with multiple comparison test- Tukey test. The error level was taken as 0, 05. The current data of the study was gained from the questionnaires of 274 male, 349 female members of random private sports centres in Ankara. When the educational background of the members is studied, the expected service quality differs only in programme and staff; whereas the perceived service quality differs in staff, programme, changing rooms and the facility. When the duration of membership is studied, the expected service quality differs in staff, changing rooms and facility sub-dimensions; and perceived service quality differs in terms of facility. When the duration of use is studied, the expected service quality differs in changing rooms and facility; perceived service quality differs in terms of programme, changing rooms and facilities. When the centres? frequency of use of the members is studied, the expected service quality differs in programme and facilities; on the other hand when the duration of use of the members- namely the time spent in the centres is studied, it differs in terms of programme. From the aspect of time spent in the centres, the perceived service quality differs in staff and changing rooms; when it is studied from the aspect of membership durations, it differs in programme and facilities. In this research studied in Ankara. It is concluded that the expectations of the sports centres? members are high. However, it was also concluded that the perceived service quality scores are low in terms of some sub-dimensions. Taking the importance of sports which has become an aim rather than a means, and measurable service quality into consideration; the sports centres should show the necessary sensitivity to the point for themselves and the society. Otherwise; it is impossible for them to survive or to move along. Key Words: Recreation, sport, service quality.