2. Session Overview
• Smarter searching for Literature review
• Critically understand the importance of Ethics in the Research Process.
• To be familiar with sampling and selection techniques that should be
applied to research.
3. L9 Thesis Structure – Word count 18,000
• Chapter overview
- Title Page. Abstract and keywords
- Declaration
- Acknowledgements
- Content Page – clearly labelled
- - list of tables
- - list of figures
- Chapter 1 – Introduction and Context of the Research
- Chapter 2 – Literature Review
- Chapter 3 – Research Approach and Methodology
- Chapter 4 – Findings
- Chapter 5 – Discussion
- Chapter 6 – Conclusion and Recommendations
- References
- Appendices
18,000 words
4. Research Proposal – 5000 words
Main content of a research proposal
• Title page
• Abstract and keywords
• Background and Rationale
• Research Aim(S) and Objectives
• Literature Review
• Research Approach and Methodology
• Reference List
5. Presentation Schedule for AS1
• Can be located on Moodle under
‘Week 9’
• Please take note of your
presentation time. These will take
place via zoom. Guidance to follow
in due course.
7. Smarter Searching
Why do you need to search the literature?
• Provide an overview of key concepts and context of your own research
• Establish what is already known about your research topic
• Identify significant patterns and/or areas of uncertainty or disagreement
• Identify the existing critical opinions and theories
• Identify any gaps in the research
• Identify potential appropriate research methods
• Comparison with your own findings
Source: Galvan (2017)
8. Have a Search Strategy
• Identify keywords
Make a list of alternatives
alternative spellings & endings
different terminology
• Define scope and parameters:
Year
Geography
document type
9. Climate Change
Global Warming
Carbon Emissions
GreenhouseEmissions
Gas emissions
Tourism
Visitors
Sightseers
Holiday Maker
Tourists/
Mass Tourism
Climate Change and Tourism
10. Global Warming
Carbon Emissions
GreenhouseEmissions
Gas emissions
Visitors
Sightseers
Holiday Maker
Tourists/
Mass Tourism
Policies
UK Legislation
United Nations
Framework
Convention
EU Directives
Kyoto Protocal
Challenges -
Local v Global
Environmental impacts
Ecosystems
Erosion
Types of travel
Travel Industry
World Trade Organisation
Specific Locations:
Alpine/Forest/Ocean/Reefs etc
Human interaction
Responsibility/Sustainability
Footprint
Diminishing/Diminish
Reducing/Reduce
Decrease
11. Find the Information
• To start you on your journey through academic literature it is first a good idea to
familiarise yourself with the TUS library site and some useful academic databases
and search engines.
• Library: https://library.ait.ie/collections/books/
• A-Z of Databases: https://library.ait.ie/a-z/
ScienceDirect
Emerald
SAGE Journals
Taylor and Francis Online
EbscoHost Academic Search Complete
Scopus
12. Group Task – 10 minutes
List 5 reasons why ethics in the research
process is so important?
What are the Key Ethical Issues one would
face when conducting Tourism Research?
13. Research Ethics Defined
• Research Ethics is a world-wide set of principles governing the way
any research involving interaction between the researcher and other
humans or data relating to humans, is designed, managed and
conducted. In preparing a research project, the dignity, rights, safety
and well-being of human participants must at all times be considered,
respected and safeguarded.
• Those same principles apply to you the researcher.
14. Importance of Ethics in Research
• Ethics is important in research because it keeps the researcher from
committing errors while seeking knowledge and truth. It promotes essential
values that help researchers working on a topic to have a common
understanding of the purpose of the research, necessity of participation, role
in research etc.
• Ethics is what binds (the researcher(S) and participants) together by
considering the important values such as accountability, cooperation,
coordination, mutual respect, and fairness among others.
• Ethics protects participants so that they are safeguarded from exploitation
• Ethics ensures fullest respect, dignity, privacy, disclosure and fair treatment
for the participants. Maintained at all times.
• Ethics builds the capabilities of subjects to accept or reject participation in a
research study.
15. Ethical Issues/Considerations
• Essential that researchers address ethical issues when designing a
study.
• A researcher has a moral and professional obligation to be ethical,
even when research subjects are unaware of or unconcerned about
ethics
17. • GDPR - You should take physical and IT security measures appropriate to the risk
level of the personal data. Personal data on mobile devices should be encrypted.
You should have written procedures setting out how the personal data is to be
handled, stored and accessed.
Consent as one of GDPR’s lawful bases for legally processing personal data is
different to, and should not be confused with, consent that researchers usually seek
from people to participate in a project.
• Data Handing and Storage: You must ensure that personal data are kept secure
and are not disclosed to unauthorised persons. You should use a locked storage
container such as a filing cabinet in a locked office for paper-based personal data;
for digital data, password-protected or, preferably, encrypted storage.
Ethical Considerations Cont.
19. How would we go about fully informing and
disclosing relevant information to Participants?
• Cover Letter/Participant
Information Sheet
• What is a Cover Letter?
Its purpose is to alert the
respondent about the
questionnaire it accompanies
and to provide the details of
requested actions on the part
of the respondent.
What are the elements to be
included on a Cover Letter?
20.
21. Ethical Approval
RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE APPLICATION FORM
https://www.ait.ie/uploads/downloads/Research_Ethics_Application_F
orm.pdf
https://www.ait.ie/contact/staff/quality/research-ethics
• You may each need to fill out an ethics form for your chosen research
study when you are writing a research proposal to be submitted
through Moodle page - TBC
22. Local Authority Sustainable Planning For
Tourism in Ireland
What do you think the ethical considerations
for this study was?
26. Sampling and Selection
Sampling and Sampling size
Sampling Techniques (probability/ non-probability)
Probability - each member of the population has a specific probability of
being included in the sample.
Essentially, Probability sampling involves random selection, allowing you to
make strong statistical inferences about the whole group.
Simple random sampling - equal probability of being selected.
Stratified sampling - population divided into sub categories
Cluster - groups by geographic location.
27. Non-probability: researcher cannot determine the probability of
any one member of the population being included in the sample.
Essentially, Non-probability sampling involves non-random
selection based on convenience or other criteria, allowing you to
easily collect data.
Convenience - gathers individuals for a sample using whatever
mode is feasible given time, location, resource constraints
Snowball - researcher requires referrals
Quota - population divided into subgroups
Purposive - researcher specifically selects the cases judged to be
the most typical of the population and should be included in the
sample and are based on how relevant they are to the research
question.
28. Task: Lets look at some Sampling Examples
Simple random sampling -
Stratified sampling -
Cluster –
Convenience
Snowball -
Quota -
Purposive -
31. Cluster Sampling
Researchers divide the
population into multiple groups
(clusters) for research.
Researchers then select random
groups with a simple random
sampling technique for data
collection and data analysis.
32. Convenience Sampling
who are ‘convenient’ for the
researcher to access.
This sample method doesn’t
require a random selection of
participants based on any set
of criteria (like demographic
factors) — instead,
researchers can subjectively
select people, who are happy
to be approached and
become part of the research.
Convenience sampling is a non-
probability sampling method
where units are selected for
inclusion in the sample because
they are the easiest for the
researcher to access.
34. Quota Sampling
you take a very tailored sample
that’s in proportion to some
characteristic or trait of a
population. For example, you
could divide a population by the
state they live in, income or
education level, or sex. For
example, if your population
consists of 45% female and 55%
male, your sample should reflect
those percentages.
36. It will be up to you to provide justification for your own
sampling technique.
37. Question
A Research study on tourism policy makers at local level in
Ireland to provide nationwide baseline findings.
What sampling technique might I employ?
• Now it will be up to you to justify the sampling techniques
employed by you for the purpose of your research. You will
need to use relevant academic literature to do this.
38. AS1
• In your presentation you must:
• Identify a clear Research Focus
• Identify what your research interests are and how these research interests relate to your research idea.
• Define clearly your Research aims and objectives.
• Identify and justify the most appropriate research approach and methodology suitable to the research topic (at this stage).
• Discuss why this research is important? Why does it need to be conducted?
AS2
• Working Title
• Justification of an appropriate research topic through evaluation of the literature and disciplinary problems to develop a clear
Background to Research and Rationale for Research.
• This should then lead fluidly to the presentation of clearly defined Research Aim(s) and Objectives of the proposed research
• Demonstrate critical awareness, epistemological and theoretical considerations for your research area through the development of a
Literature Review. (Review and critical discussion of key literature related to your topic – according to key themes).
• Critical evaluation and justification of the choice of research design and specific methods you will use.
• Thoroughness in knowledge of the ethical considerations relevant to your research topic and planned research methods.
What you can do Now?
39.
40. References
• Jennings, G. (2010) Tourism Research, 2nd ed. Milton, QLD: John Wiley &
Sons.
• Picardi, C.A. & Masick, K.D. (2014) Research Methods: Designing and
conducting research with a real-world focus. London: Sage.
• Brace, I. (2018) Questionnaire Design: How to plan, structure and write survey
material for effective market research, 4th ed. Great Britain: Kogan Page
Limited.
