Abstract

This volume seeks to expose and illustrate new approaches and thinking in qualitative methods that are being developed and implemented in tourism research. The contributions bring together various qualitative methods and approaches while also providing suggestions for the juxtaposition of qualitative and quantitative methods in mixed methods research. The book has been written with a cross-disciplinary approach which provides an insight into the art of research development from business, sociology and tourism perspectives. The chapters provide readers with a context and practical application examples for each method. They present a distinctive opportunity for social researchers from a range of disciplines, in particular tourism, to examine how to adapt the wide variety of qualitative approaches to their particular research needs.

Wendy Hillman is Senior Lecturer in sociology at Central Queensland University, Australia. Her research interests include qualitative social research, urban and rural sociology, gender studies, and the tourist industry in Nepal.

Kylie Radel is Senior Lecturer in marketing and tourism at Central Queensland University, Australia. Her research interests include Indigenous social justice, sustainable lifestyles and qualitative research methodologies. 

What qualitative research technique should I use to address this tourism issue? This text helps answer this oft-asked question. Hillman and Radel have brought together a diverse range of qualitative research experts to explain the plethora of qualitative techniques relevant to tourism research and when each should be used. This well-written edited volume will be a valuable resource to enhance understanding of qualitative research for graduate students and researchers in tourism alike.

Hillman and Radel present a diverse, coherent and articulate array of contributions on qualitative research. The various contributors provide insights into why the application of thorough qualitative approaches is advancing within tourism. The insightful case studies provide clarity for complex methodological terminologies and a bridge between theory and practice.

This book offers tourism scholars and students invaluable insight into the merits and challenges of qualitative research. Hillman and Radel provide an excellent framework for exploring various qualitative approaches including grounded theory, ethnography, and phenomenology. The ethical framework, the emphasis on cultural considerations, and the case studies set it apart.