Genres of Heritage Authenticity - Essay Example

?Introduction Different approaches to research are used in creating the necessary reviews and responses for a variety of needs. The methodological approaches used in tourism journal articles account for the differences and alterations which are made with the approaches to tourism. When comparing various peer reviewed tourism journal articles, it is noted that there are different research paradigms and principles which are used with the concepts that are used. The epistemological, ontological and methodological worldviews create an alternative the conclusions which are made and the approaches which are associated with this. For tourism research, this becomes important as it alters the data and conclusions which are drawn with the tourist research and the ideologies and philosophies which are approached from this. The result is a variety of different results that create diversity of thought in how tourism is approached. Genres of Heritage Authenticity The first article described is based on the evaluation of authenticity on heritage environments. The heritage environments are known to shift because of the exceptional, referential and influential components which are associated with this. The sociological relationship to the sites is what partly determines the authenticity of the site as opposed to it being a space which holds multiple meanings. The epistemological approach used with this particular study included a set of definitions and philosophies from past researchers. This included the defining of ethnicity, cultural attributes and the meaning behind the heritage sites and what this was inclusive of. This is combined with the artifacts that are in the region, including cultural activities and the different elements that define the authenticity of a specific site. The epistemological ideologies combine with ontological approaches which are based on the definitions of a heritage site and the categorization that the author creates from the research. The theories combine with the understanding of the current study, which examines the Greek area of Mount Athos to define the different theories of heritage and how this changes with the approaches taken. The methodological views expand on this to define the genres of authenticity into different categories, specifically which relate to the needs with tourism and the influences which are created. From observation of the different heritage sites, conclusions are drawn which relate back to the theory and which divide the heritage sites by levels of authenticity (Konstantinos, 2011). Forecasting Tourist Arrivals The second methodological approach is with the article on “Forecasting Tourist Arrivals.” This study looked into how to move toward the short – term implications of future tourism demand as well as how this led to macroeconomic shocks. The philosophy was one which defined that tourist demand had a large impact on the macroeconomy and which was based on the scope, duration and magnitude of the particular implication. The epistemological basis of this particular study was based on looking at the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) and looking at the literature which focused on how the demands and arrivals dramatically affected the macroeconomy. The concepts of price competitiveness, tourism demand and the knowledge of how to indicate future arrivals were all considered with this approach. The ontological approach combined with this by looking at how the short – term predictions for tourism was directly affected by how one responded to the macroeconomy and the shifts which were made. Models were combined with this, including ARIMA, MAE and RMSE, which defined the average number of changes and predictions as a part of the tourism. The methodology looked at the consumer price indexes and consumer confidence indicators with tourism in Greece while comparing this to the macroeconomy and unemployment trends. The impulse response function combined with this to create an understanding to the tourism arrivals which was able to predict the future trends for the future and to show how this would impact the economy. The methodology compared detailed statistics and analysis of each area of the economy and tourism to find these results (Gounopoulos, Petmezas, Santamaria, 2011). Unplanned Tourist Attraction Visits The third article which creates a specific approach to the methodology and philosophies is based on the unplanned tourist attraction visits. This article examines the intention – behavior discrepancy and prospect theory that relates to tourists and the attraction visits which they take. The attractions visited, length of stay, amount of planning and indirect effects of the visits were all associated with this. There was also an examination of unplanned stops and how this was affected by tourists. The epistemological approach is based on the intention behavior discrepancy and prospect theory as the main development. These two theories came from past literature reviews and the approaches which these were based on with representations to tourism. This combined with the ontological approach, which was inclusive of references to tourist attraction systems, defining characteristics of travel and outcomes which were associated with tourism. The methodology was then approached with a survey packet and questionnaire to gather information about tourism. The measurement was based on records and the questionnaires which were given over a given period of time. The results then indicated that an average of 44% of areas were unplanned visits with a model which followed these characteristics based on the observations, including a definition of characteristics which determined these behaviors (Hwang, Fesenmaier, 2011). Local Encounters with Globe Trotters The last article which was observed was “Local Encounters with Globe Trotters.” In this article, there was an observation of the tourist – development nexus and the focuses on tourism in various localities. The implications were based on social and spatial development and the interplay which was associated with this. The conclusion of the article included the understanding that many developments for tourism were overlooked, all which could help in the alleviation with economic focuses and structure. The epistemological basis came from the analysis and past research based on local tourism and how this affected the economy. This was also based on theories related to tourist encounters and ways in which this related to the development and social capital of a given region. The ontological development combined with the research in understanding the fluctuation of demographics and movement in different regions while looking at the theories based on the outcome of tourism. From these two theoretical approaches, the methodology was formed, which was inclusive of 18 months of ethnographic research that observed social networks and relationships to tourism which were created. Surveys combined with this to create a deeper understanding between the link of cultural heritage, links to tourism and untapped resources which would have changed tourist levels. It was found that social capital, interaction with tourists and offering information were the main way in which tourists would begin to move into more tapped resources for different needs (Steel, 2011). Comparison of Epistemological Research In all four studies, there is a direct relationship to the epistemological research that defines the main theories. The similarity in all four studies was based on using the past literature and research to create specific conclusions. However, there were chosen areas of research which were more pertinent to the main hypothesis, which led to a narrow view which was created. For instance, the article on heritage authenticity looked at ethnographic information and viewpoints of localities in terms of tourism while the tourist arrivals were based on an understanding of the GDP and the relationship to statistics which were used. The gathering of information and the decision to use specific sources for the information became the most important development in all articles while creating a direct link to the given research. If the information expanded into including other formats that were not a part of the topic, then there would have been a difference with the main approach and the link to the needed research. The differences in each of the epistemological viewpoints are one which is based on the belief systems which are developed and the way that this is associated with the researchers philosophies of study. The known viewpoints with epistemological research come from personal viewpoints, distinct beliefs and assessments based on the materials which are available to the researchers. It is noted that this particular approach is one which often limits the available conclusions and the expectations for research. Suggestions indicate that group work and expansion into interdependency lead to better results, specifically because the coordination helps in developing different formats for results (Aikins, 2004). The approach to epistemology differs not only because of the personal beliefs but also is based on the psychological development that is associated with the research. The terminology, expected answers and the relationship to the hypothesis hold a specific viewpoint from the researcher. This builds a psychological belief system and response to the research. As this develops, it creates a specific approach to the research and theories which are developed as well as the understanding of how the hypothesis relates to the given research methods. It is noted that this is what shapes the direction of the research as well as how other researchers respond to their personal beliefs of what viewpoints are formed (Hofer, Pintrich, 2002). It can be seen in all the articles that there is a personal belief and psychology which is directly linked to the studies. The literature which is chosen in each of the articles differs, specifically because of the relationship to the first philosophy, belief or building of the main methodology. This combines with the chosen research and philosophies that are indicative of the tourist industry and how this is related to the epistemological approach. The importance of this in the tourism industry is one which is based first on the social sciences. This creates an approach that is based first on philosophy and observation of different regions as well as needs which a researcher believes is held in different regions. The philosophies then come from the need to build representation and practices that are a part of the main industry. Qualitative approaches and the methods in the social sciences create the main gap between the different articles. The social science development allows the opinions and philosophies to shape the surveys and the outcomes while building philosophies and research that are specific to the agenda of the researcher, rather than the facts which are associated with this (Phillimore, Goodson, 2004). The only difference noted with the articles was with the GDP measurements and the statistics which were seen with the methodology. However, this followed from the same social observations and the expectations which were associated with a specific region. Others were inclusive of observations of small areas which may have had different results if there were alterations in the researchers approach to the information. Comparison of Ontological Research The second component which was associated with the methodologies was the ontological research which was developed. All articles held similarities in taking past research and literature while comparing other pieces of information to form the philosophies for ontological viewpoints. However, there were differences with the main theories that were expected to be used. Three of the articles did not form a basic philosophy, allowing this to be based only on the previous literature and the question asked in the study. The prospect theory in the “Unplanned Tourist Attraction Visits” was the only theory which was clearly developed in all four articles. This was combined with the discrepancy theory which was used to compliment this theory and to form a basis for the research. Others were based on concepts from observations, statistics and with the basis of working with the social sciences as the main format for the ontological beliefs. The basis of the ontological development was specifically formatted because of the use of the social sciences. However, each of the research areas had complexities with developing the right attributes for the ontological research used. These were based on literature review that allowed the researchers to draw assumptions and conclusions. The observations, surveys and qualitative studies led to the same assumptions and conclusions with a smaller survey done or observations conducted in only one area. The sociological patterns and development of these areas may have been different and limited what was done with the necessary research. The framework of ontological development then creates a set of assumptions and a sociocultural tradition that is developed with overcoming and creating contradictions which one needs. The problem with this is based on the theory of Vygotsky, which states that there should be dialectic assumptions, not dialogic ones. This states that the observations should not be based on only the current assumptions but also from past literature and reviews. This relates to any study which draws conclusions from the methodology but often does not refer or link to the current study because of the sociological patterns that are expected to change (Wegerif, 2008). All four articles show this particular weakness with the literature review and philosophies remaining separate from the conclusion, which links only to the current study. The only conclusions which drew from the research of literature were from the “Genres of Heritage Authenticity.” However, this was because the current study spun from the past literature and was able to create the correct observations and conclusions. The complexity which occurs with the current research and with the ontological viewpoints comes from the realistic viewpoints which are then questioned. The social sciences have a specific question of validity because of the fluctuations in observation which may occur. The observations which occur and the conclusions may have viewpoints based on the location, timing, observations of the current researcher and personal beliefs related to the current study. The gap which occurs between past literature and current studies leads to a lack of validity and reliability, especially with the use of qualitative research and philosophies which are used. Methodologies are often based on positivism as opposed to constructivism without creating a realistic relationship between the different components of the research (Healy, Perry, 2000). The current research studies all create the question of validity and reliability created. All four instances look at only one region of tourism over a specific period of time while taking a survey of a limited number of individuals. The validity is then linked only to one area and the dynamics within the region. The tourism relates specifically to sociological behaviors and cultures, making this a main downfall of the ontological philosophies and the lack of realism that may be created in each. The philosophies in each article would need to expand into other regions while comparing different philosophies and methods for a better approach to the current studies. Comparison of Methodological Worldviews The last component is the methodological viewpoints which are taken in each article. All of the articles use a qualitative study that combines with past literature to show the hypothesis which is created. The “Unplanned Tourist Visits” is the only article which combines this with a quantitative study, specifically by gathering statistics with the GDP, number of tourists, amount of unemployment and the statistical characteristics between each. However, the hypothesis and the link to literature as well as the philosophies of this researcher link to the decision to gather the given information for the study. The other methodologies are based on observation over a given time, surveys and questionnaires that are given to a set of tourists. Observing where tourists decide to go and looking at how the patterns and behaviors are reflected in this are the main methodologies that help to reach the specific conclusions. Patterned behaviors in each of the articles are the primary way in which information is gathered in terms of the philosophies which are created. The advantage of the qualitative research study is one which is based on the needed observations in social sciences. However, the patterns are noted to be directly reflective of the socio-cultural impact of one region. The cultural meanings which are associated with this are created with the interface which occurs between geography and tourism which is created. Each geographical location, cultural affiliation and social analysis relates directly to others with links and engagements that are supposed to happen. However, the methodologies don’t often account for the multidisciplinary approaches that are used while general themes continue to persist with the tourist attractions and patterns that are related to this. The disadvantage that is taken is then based on the need to expand research into other geographies, cultural locations, engagements and patterns that occur with various tourist attractions (Squire, 1994). The methodologies which are required are based on time series, econometric and other formats for qualitative studies. Expanding to include more than the traditional formats for methodologies is one that can then begin to develop more innovations with conducting and gathering research, all which can expand the geography, culture and the social patterns that are taking place in each region (Song, 2008). Conclusion The concepts within tourism are developed specifically with the understanding of the social sciences, patterns and behaviors which take place. When comparing the different methodologies of research, it is noted that the tourist studies and approaches taken are specific to the hypothesis, philosophies and viewpoints of researchers. This is associated specifically with the epistemological, ontological and methodological approaches taken by each. The result is limited viewpoints that are based on the social and cultural associations as well as the philosophies which determine the outcome of the studies and create observations from limited perspectives from the research which is gathered. 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