Advanced Course in Tourism Research (5cr)

Objective

The aim of the course is that you familiarize yourself with the paradigms that are most commonly used in tourism research.

At the end of the course, you are expected to be able to
- identify and describe the most important paradigms of tourism research
- outline your own research orientation and relate it to the wider field of tourism research.

Content

The main contents of the course are paradigm as an entity of ontology, epistemology and methodology, the paradigms and paradigmatic development of tourism research, and your personal tourism research orientation.

Qualifications

YMAT0100 Matkailututkimuksen perusopinnot, erityisesti MATY211.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail
Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1–2)
Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3–4)
Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5)
Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Materials

You must use the following literature for the course assignments:
Botterill, D. & Platenkamp, V. (2012). Key concepts in tourism research. London: Sage.
Jennings, G. (2010). Tourism research (2. edition). Milton: John Wiley & Sons Australia.
Munar, A.M. & Jamal, T. (eds.) (2016). Tourism research paradigms: Critical and emergent knowledges. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing.
A collection of articles available in Moodle.

Execution methods

133 hours of self-studying. You can study the course in Moodle at any time of the year.

Accomplishment methods

To pass the course, you must write six paradigm summaries, pass a paradigm identification test, and write a short paper of your own tourism research orientation.