Chapter 1 Theory, Concepts and Models
DOI: 10.23912/9781911635352-4615 | ISBN: 9781911635352 |
Published: December 2020 | Component type: chapter |
Published in: Tourism Theories, Concepts and Models | Parent DOI: 10.23912/9781911635352-4280 |
Abstract
Recently, a number of academics have begun to think about theory in tourism in much more detail. As a relatively young field, there have been many complaints that tourism lacks distinct theory that has held back its development. However, Stergiou and Airey (2018:165) note tourism theory does not exist independently of reality; rather it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of and explain the so-called real world in the form of data or other phenomena. We as academics seem focussed on producing theory and developing new ideas as ‘theory’. Yet, most of us know very little about what theory is and what constitutes good theory. A key challenge, and one that must be addressed right from the outset, is the meaning of theory, in general terms and specifically how it applies to tourism. ‘Theory’ is one of most misused terms today, for it is often construed as an expression of an unproven and often unprovable opinion. In reality, fact and theory go hand in hand for each is necessary for the other to be true (Cooper and Schindler. 2014).
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Contributors
- Bob McKercher, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Author) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7451-1266
- Bruce Prideaux, Central Queensland University, Australia (Author) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3577-1951
For the source title:
- Bob McKercher, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Author) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7451-1266
- Bruce Prideaux, Central Queensland University, Australia (Author) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3577-1951
Cite as
McKercher & Prideaux, 2020
McKercher, B. & Prideaux, B. (2020) "Chapter 1 Theory, Concepts and Models" In: McKercher, B. & Prideaux, B. (ed) . Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers http://dx.doi.org/10.23912/9781911635352-4615
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