Qualitative Research in Tourism: Ontologies, Epistemologies and Methodologies

Whilst qualitative approaches are beginning to be more commonly used and accepted in tourism, discussions of research methods have rarely moved beyond practical considerations. To date there has been limited attention given to the underlying philosophical and theoretical underpinnings that influence the research process. This book links the theory with research practice, to offer a more holistic account of how qualitative research can be used in tourism. Qualitative Research in Tourism is the first book to focus solely upon qualitative research in tourism. It combines discussions of the philosophies underpinning qualitative research, with chapters written in a reflexive style that demonstrate the ways in which the techniques can be used. The book is based on a range of empirical tourism studies set in the context of theoretical discussion. It demonstrates the benefits of using a range of qualitative approaches to research tourism and the text explores the ways in which a number of techniques, including participants observation, memory work, biographical diaries, focus groups and visual exercises, have been adopted by researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to undertake empirical research in tourism. The book provides a range of case studies written by leading scholars from the UK, Greece, Scandinavia, America, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. The book makes it clear, in an accessible style, the ways in which these pieces of research have been informed by the authors’ epistemological, ontological and methodological standpoint. Qualitative Research in Tourism will be indispensable to any final year undergraduates, Masters and PhD students embarking on research in the field, and also academics with an interest in either tourism research or qualitative methodology.