Human behaviour is one of the most interesting topics to be studied, but also one of the most complex. But who would not be relieved if he would know the reason why humans sometimes behave as they do?
Especially in the field of tourism, a domain of intense human interaction, where offering services is the core activity of most businesses, it would be quite favourable to predict how potential customers or business partners do react; or if the extensive marketing spending has the desired impact.
Consequently, this work focuses on the topic of human motivation, particularly on the motivation of travelling behaviour, drawing attention to a field that is as diverse as the ways it can be approached. Tourism researchers usually refer to an established set of theories and models to describe motivated behaviour, of which Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ probably is the most renowned. But considering its year of publication, it is remarkable that there is no established contemporary approach to behavioural research.
Accordingly, the objective of this work is to develop a theoretical model relating the variety of leisure travel elements to as few as possible underlying motivations, being responsible for thriving one of the biggest industrial sectors of the world.
Research was carried out by undertaking in-depth interviews in the context of grounded theory methodologies, investigating the travel behaviour, experiences and motives of a small sample, detecting relations and dependencies, and drawing according conclusions.
Based on the analysed data a theoretical model emerged, defining the motivation for any leisure travel activities as psychological escape, an instinctive reflex to a temporary dissatisfaction caused by a variety of influences.
Table of Contents
- 1.0 Introduction
- 2.0 Literature Review I: Contextual Grounding
- 2.1 Leisure Tourism and Tourists
- 2.1.1 Leisure Tourism
- 2.1.2 Tourists and Travellers
- 2.2 Tourist motivation
- 2.2.1 Motivation
- 2.2.2 Needs-Based Motivation Theories
- 2.2.3 Values-Based Motivation Theories
- 2.2.4 'Benefits sought or realized' Motivation Theories
- 2.2.5 Expectancy Theories
- 2.2.6 Overview of Important Tourist Motivation Theories
- 2.1 Leisure Tourism and Tourists
- 3.0 Research Method
- 3.1 Choice of Research Method
- 3.2 Grounded Theory & Its Application
- 3.2.1 Data Collection
- 3.2.2 Data Analysis
- 3.2.3 Coding and Memos
- 4.0 Data Collection, Coding & Discussion
- 4.1 Codebook
- 4.2 Interviews
- 4.2.1 General Information
- 4.2.2 Interview #1
- 4.2.3 Interview #2
- 4.2.4 Interview #3
- 4.2.5 Interview #4
- 4.2.6 Interview #5
- 4.2.7 Interview #6
- 4.3 Summary of Initial Coding
- 4.4 Axial & Selective Coding
- 5.0 Literature Review II: Related Theories
- 5.1 Escapism
- 5.2 Man for Himself
- 5.3 Functionalism vs. Phenomenology
- 5.4 Reference to Literature Review I: Conceptual Grounding
- 5.5 Simmels' Autonomy
- 6.0 The Theoretical Model
- 7.0 Limitations & Further Research
- 7.1 Limitations
- 7.2 Further Research
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this work is to develop a theoretical model explaining the motivation behind leisure travel, a significant global industry. Using grounded theory methodology, the research aims to identify the underlying motivations driving travel behavior. The study focuses on in-depth interviews to uncover the experiences and motives of a small sample group.
- Understanding the motivations behind leisure travel behavior.
- Developing a theoretical model to explain these motivations.
- Applying grounded theory methodology to analyze qualitative data from interviews.
- Identifying the relationship between travel experiences and motivations.
- Exploring the concept of "psychological escape" as a core motivator for leisure travel.
Chapter Summaries
1.0 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the research, highlighting the complexity of human behavior, particularly within the tourism sector. It emphasizes the importance of understanding travel motivation for businesses and researchers, introducing the study's aim to develop a contemporary model for explaining leisure travel behavior, moving beyond existing theories like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. The chapter establishes the context and rationale for the grounded theory approach adopted in the study.
2.0 Literature Review I: Contextual Grounding: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on leisure tourism, tourists, and various motivation theories. It explores different perspectives on tourist motivation, including needs-based, values-based, benefits-sought, and expectancy theories. The review systematically analyzes prominent models and frameworks used to understand why people travel for leisure, laying the foundation for the study’s novel contribution. It contextualizes the research within the existing body of knowledge and identifies gaps in current understanding that the study aims to address.
3.0 Research Method: This chapter details the methodology employed in the study, justifying the choice of grounded theory as the appropriate approach. It explains the steps involved in data collection through in-depth interviews, data analysis techniques, and the coding process, including the development of a codebook and the use of memos to document research decisions and insights. This chapter ensures transparency and allows for an assessment of the study's rigor and validity. The rationale behind specific methodological choices is thoroughly explained.
4.0 Data Collection, Coding & Discussion: This chapter presents the results of data collection and analysis. It describes the interview process, including summaries of individual interviews. Furthermore, it details the coding procedures and the emergence of key themes and categories from the data. The chapter focuses on the iterative process of grounded theory, showing how initial codes were refined and integrated into a more comprehensive framework through axial and selective coding. The presentation provides a clear path from raw data to the development of theoretical concepts.
5.0 Literature Review II: Related Theories: This chapter revisits relevant theoretical frameworks to further support the findings from the empirical data. Concepts such as escapism, Simmel's notion of autonomy, and the contrast between functionalist and phenomenological approaches are examined in relation to the emerging theoretical model. This chapter integrates theoretical concepts with the empirical findings, offering a deeper understanding of the study’s key arguments and findings.
6.0 The Theoretical Model: This chapter presents the core findings of the study – the theoretical model developed to explain the motivation for leisure travel. It articulates the central argument of the research and synthesizes the findings from the literature review and empirical data analysis. This model will likely propose "psychological escape" as the primary motivator, but the precise details will be revealed in the full text.
7.0 Limitations & Further Research: This chapter discusses the limitations of the study, such as the small sample size and the potential for researcher bias. It also suggests avenues for future research, including expanding the sample, investigating specific contexts, or exploring related themes to further develop and refine the proposed theoretical model. It is a critical reflection of the research process, and an indication of the ongoing nature of academic inquiry in this area.
Keywords
Grounded theory, leisure travel, motivated behavior, psychological escape, tourism motivation, travel behavior, travel motivation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the overall purpose of this research?
This research aims to develop a theoretical model explaining the motivations behind leisure travel, a major global industry. It uses grounded theory methodology to identify the underlying motivations driving travel behavior, focusing on in-depth interviews to understand the experiences and motives of a small sample group.
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include understanding the motivations behind leisure travel behavior, developing a theoretical model to explain these motivations, applying grounded theory methodology to analyze qualitative data, identifying the relationship between travel experiences and motivations, and exploring the concept of "psychological escape" as a core motivator for leisure travel.
What methodology is used in this research?
The research employs grounded theory methodology. This involves in-depth interviews for data collection, detailed data analysis techniques, and a coding process including a codebook and memos to document research decisions and insights. The rationale behind specific methodological choices is thoroughly explained.
What are the main stages of the research process as outlined in the table of contents?
The research is structured into several key stages: an introduction, a literature review establishing the contextual and theoretical grounding, a detailed explanation of the research method, data collection, coding, and discussion, a second literature review relating the findings to existing theories, the presentation of the developed theoretical model, and finally, a discussion of limitations and suggestions for further research.
What is the scope of the literature review?
The literature review is divided into two parts. Part I provides a comprehensive overview of existing literature on leisure tourism, tourists, and various motivation theories, exploring different perspectives on tourist motivation. Part II revisits relevant theoretical frameworks (such as escapism and Simmel's notion of autonomy) to further support the findings from the empirical data.
How is data collected and analyzed?
Data is collected through in-depth interviews. The analysis involves initial coding, followed by axial and selective coding to refine and integrate initial codes into a more comprehensive framework. The chapter on data collection details the interview process, including summaries of individual interviews, and the emergence of key themes and categories from the data.
What is the main outcome of this research?
The main outcome is the development of a theoretical model explaining the motivation for leisure travel. This model, likely emphasizing "psychological escape" as a primary motivator, is presented and discussed in detail.
What are the limitations of the study, and what suggestions are made for future research?
The study acknowledges limitations such as the small sample size and potential researcher bias. Suggestions for future research include expanding the sample, investigating specific contexts, and exploring related themes to further develop and refine the proposed theoretical model.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Grounded theory, leisure travel, motivated behavior, psychological escape, tourism motivation, travel behavior, and travel motivation.
Where can I find the full text of this research?
The provided document is a preview. The full text would need to be obtained from the publishing company.
- Quote paper
- Jens Kaulbars (Author), 2009, Escape - The Real Motivation for Leisure Travel, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231143
