Advanced Research Methods for
Tourism and Hospitality
Lecture 1 – Introduction to
Advanced Research Methods
Session Aims
• To introduce the unit
• To explore some definitions of research
• To critically assess research needs in
tourism and hospitality
What is research?
• “The aim, as far as I can see, is the same in all
sciences … to make known something
previously unknown to human beings. It is to
advance human knowledge, to make it more
certain or better fitting … The aim is …
discovery”
(Elias, 1986, in Veal, 2006:2)
Why Research
• We can’t teach you all the answers, but we
can equip you with the tools and skills
needed to find, test and confirm the
answers, enabling you to make effective
decisions to manage tourism and
hospitality
Why is Research Important?
• Problem Solving
• Investigation of issues
• Creating Theory
• Testing theory
• Identifying trends and patterns
• Assessing the context of an issue
• Seeking truth
• Remember – just because something is printed, it isn’t
necessarily true, and just because something is true in one
situation doesn’t mean it will be in another
Two types of research
• Pure Research – research for the sake of
research, or to research ‘Research’
• Applied research – research carried out to
investigate an industry issue or solve an
industry problem