This research specifically addresses the issue of construct validity as it applies to past research in the study of services. Existing empirical research efforts examining the services sector have largely produced mixed results and have consistently failed to support a theoretical framework from which a greater understanding of service organizations could be developed. This has been the case in spite of the seemingly correctness and strong theoretical support for existing models. Thus, this study did not undertake an attempt to develop a new model for understanding services, rather, the goal was to extend existing theory through operationalizing a construct valid definition of the service concept. / Ph. D.