Planning an Applied Research Project in Hospitality, Tourism and Sports provides a comprehensive and carefully structured treatment of all the aspects involved in planning a research project. Instead of being a statistically oriented book, this text provides a conceptual and process-oriented approach to planning and conducting research. Written for both students and professionals, it is easy to read, short, and to the point, i.e., practical. The book provides basic, yet comprehensive information about doing research, and can be used not only in a “research methods” course where students will have to plan and conduct a research project, but also in earlier course work to help students learn to write research papers. Planning an Applied Research Project in Hospitality, Tourism and Sports covers a range of subjects including: selecting a topic, conducting a literature review, developing a coherent design, and using various research techniques such as interviews, questionnaires, and observations. It also contains information on analyzing data once it has been collected and developing a proposal to obtain support before undertaking a research project. Unique coverage includes: 2 chapters on conducting and writing a literature review, 1 chapter on analyzing data (from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective), 1 chapter on writing a research proposal, and 3 detailed chapters on techniques. 

Introduction

Chapter 1 Reading and Analyzing Research

Introduction

Industry Articles and Reports

White Papers

Definition of a Scholarly Journal Article

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

Structure of Scholarly Articles

Structure of Quantitative Articles

Structure of Qualitative or Theoretical Articles

Structure of Research Reports or Studies

Evaluating Scholarly Articles

Chapter 2 Developing an Interest or Topic

Introduction

Way to Find Topics: Your Manager or Your Professor

Ways of Finding Topics: Review of Past Reading

Ways of Finding Topics: New Reading

Ways of Finding Topics: Interviewing

Ways of Finding Topics: Brainstorming

Ways of Finding Topics: Conversing

Ways of Finding Topics: Faculty Suggestions

Clarifying and Selecting Areas of Interest

Cognitive Mapping

Purpose Statements

Types of Research

Importance of a Purpose Statement

Developing Research Questions

Purpose Statements and Problem Statements

Chapter 3 Conducting a Literature Review

Introduction

Definition of a Literature Review

Purposes of a Literature Review

What to Look for When Reading Articles

Research Methods

Chapter 4 Reviewing and Revising your Purpose Statement

Introduction

Reasons for Revising Purpose Statements

Importance and Significance of a Purpose Statement

Purpose Statement and Supporting Dimensions

Final Thoughts

Chapter 5 Writing a Literature Review

Introduction

Purposes of a Completed Literature Review

Audience

Voice and Tone

The Perspective of a Literature Review

Constructing the Written Literature Review

Criteria for a Good Literature Review

Chapter 6 Forms of Qualitative Research

Introduction

Differences Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Purposes of Qualitative Research

Analyzing Information in Qualitative Research

Chapter 7 Forms of Quantitative Research

Introduction

Purposes of Quantitative Research

Types of Quantitative Research

Overcoming Confounding Variables

Mixed Methods

The Research Hourglass

Chapter 8 Sampling Issues in Research

Introduction

Reasons for Sampling

Sources of Sample Bias: Systemic Bias

Sources of Sampling Bias: Respondent Bias

Sources of Sampling Bias: Interviewer Bias

Sample Size

Chapter 9 Validity, Reliability, and Credibility in Research

Introduction

Initial Credibility

Validity

External Validity

Reliability

Selecting a Research Design

Suggestions to Ensure Validity and Reliability

Chapter 10 Research Techniques – Interviews

Introduction

Using Interviews

Formats of Interviews

Unusual Interview Formats

Chapter 11 Research Techniques – Questionnaires

Introduction

Purposes of Questionnaires

Types of Questionnaires

Types of Questions

Chapter 12 Research Techniques: Observations, Focus Groups, and Other Techniques

Introduction

Benefits of Observational Research

Observational Roles

Focus Groups

Expert Panels

Content Analysis

Chapter 13 Analyzing Data and Other Information

Introduction

Steps in Analyzing Information

Reviewing the Research Questions or Objectives

Organizing and Sorting Information

Identifying Relationships and Patterns

Significance

Chapter 14 Writing a Research Proposal

Introduction

Reasons for a Proposal

Elements of a Proposal

Audience and Point of View

Prefatory Documents

Executive Summary

Other Supporting Documents

Introduction and Conclusion

Criteria for a Good Research Proposal

Appendix A Refereed Scholarly Journals

Appendix B Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Websites

Appendix C Bibliographical Tools

Appendix D Popular Databases

Appendix E Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Glossary

Index