Ten markers of quality in designing and publishing qualitative tourism research

Abstract

The use of qualitative research methodologies in tourism is growing; however there are concerns over the quality and rigour of some studies and the way they have been written up and justified to audiences. This research note presents ten common problems with qualitative research that the authors have encountered while reviewing journal articles and examining theses, with the aim of stimulating discussion as to what constitutes good qualitative research and how best to present qualitative findings in a tourism context. Issues covered include the consideration of philosophical underpinnings, detail about the methodological approach, reflexivity, sampling, the use of thick description, the importance of creating a narrative and demonstrating the trustworthiness of the study.

Tourism Hospitality as a Key Competence for Professionals in the Rural Communities of the Province of Chimborazo-Ecuador

“…The methodology adopted in the development of the study, generating a coherent, objective, and systematic process of grafts around the theories associated with the subject of study. For this, it was possible to articulate interpretations generated to the scientific method through a type of documentary research (Frost and Frost, 2021). However, the dimension of the research allowed us to generate the description as a method that embraces interdisciplinary and systemic approaches, since, from the ethical vision in the hospitality of rural communities, different processes of tourism services are addressed, considering the perception of customers.…”

Disaster recovery responses of transnational tour operators to the Indian Ocean tsunami

“…An interpretive approach sees people and their perceptions, meanings and understandings as the primary data source. The approach allows for the researcher to understand the world from those being studied through collecting data from an insider's perspective, and is subjective and open to multiple explanations and realities (Frost & Frost, 2021; Jennings, 2010). A qualitative case study approach was selected for the research as it provides for a rich in‐depth investigation of a bounded issue or problem (Creswell & Poth, 2018).…”

“…A purposive sampling method was chosen and utilised to determine the study units that were most appropriate to include (Creswell & Poth, 2018; Frost & Frost, 2021). The use of semi‐structured interviews allowed the participants to tell their own stories in their own words and provided verisimilitude through the detailed or ‘thick’ description of their attitudes and actions in response to the crisis (Ponterotto, 2006).…”