Researching hospitality and tourism : a student guide / Bob Brotherton.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-234) and index.

1 The Nature and Relevance of Research 1
Key Concepts and Issues 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 The Nature of Research 2
1.3 The Characteristics of Scientific Research 6
1.4 Types of Research 12
1.5 The Main Research Approaches 16
1.6 Research Issues, Questions and Problems 19
Summary 22
Further Reading 22
2 Research Philosophies and Schools of Thought 24
Key Concepts and Issues 24
2.1 Introduction 24
2.2 The Nature of Knowledge and Reality 25
2.3 Positivism and Phenomenology 30
Summary 40
Further Reading 40
3 Developing the Research Proposal and Plan 42
Key Concepts and Issues 42
3.1 Introduction 42
3.2 Finding and Refining A Topic 43
3.3 Refining the Research Question(s) 50
3.4 Developing Aims and Objectives 51
3.5 Putting the Research Proposal Together 54
3.6 Ethical Considerations 55
Summary 57
Further Reading 57
4 Sourcing and Reviewing the Literature 59
Key Concepts and Issues 59
4.1 Introduction 59
4.2 Why is a Literature Review Necessary? 60
4.3 What is Literature? 63
4.4 What is a Literature Review? 65
4.5 Sourcing, Searching and Accessing the Literature 67
4.6 Evaluating and Reviewing the Literature 70
4.7 Writing the Literature Review 72
Summary 75
Further Reading 75
5 Developing the Conceptual Framework 77
Key Concepts and Issues 77
5.1 Introduction 77
5.2 The Conceptual Framework 78
5.3 Constructs and Concepts 81
5.4 Variables 82
5.5 Theories and Models 89
5.6 Hypotheses 90
5.7 Operationalisation 92
5.8 Measurement and Scales 95
5.9 Establishing Good Measures 100
Summary 103
Further Reading 103
6 Choosing the Empirical Research Design 105
Key Concepts and Issues 105
6.1 Introduction 105
6.2 Experimental Research 108
6.3 Survey Research 112
6.4 Comparative Research 119
6.5 Case Study Research 122
6.6 Observational Research 126
6.7 Action Research 127
Summary 129
Further Reading 129
7 Collecting the Empirical Data 131
Key Concepts and Issues 131
7.1 Introduction 131
7.2 Questionnaires and Questions 132
7.3 Interviewing 151
7.4 Observation 154
7.5 Projective Techniques 157
Summary 161
Further Reading 161
8 Sampling 163
Key Concepts and Issues 163
8.1 Introduction 163
8.2 What is Sampling and Why is It Important? 164
8.3 Quantitative Data Sampling 168
8.4 Qualitative Data Sampling 171
Summary 173
Further Reading 174
9 Analysing Quantitative Data 175
Key Concepts and Issues 175
9.1 Introduction 175
9.2 General Issues 176
9.3 Descriptive Statistics 182
9.4 Bivariate Analysis 188
9.5 Inferential Statistics 195
9.6 Data Reduction Techniques 202
Summary 205
Further Reading 205
10 Analysing Qualitative Data 207
Key Concepts and Issues 207
10.1 Introduction 207
10.2 What Kind of Qualitative Data do You Have? 208
10.3 Basic Principles and Stages in Qualitative Data Analysis 210
10.4 Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques 211
10.5 Justifying Qualitative Data Analysis Choices 213
Summary 214
Further Reading 214
11 Writing Up the Research Project 216
Key Concepts and Issues 216
11.1 Introduction 216
11.2 Style, Presentation and the Reader 217
11.3 The Contents 220
11.4 References in the Text and Bibliography 222
Summary 229
Further Reading 230