Strengths and weaknesses of using mixed methods to detect the sustainable practices of backpackers: A reflexive account

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. As the situated, contingent and context-specific nature of much tourism research necessitates ongoing methodological reflection, this paper is primarily about methods. In my doctoral research project I used a mix of four common social research methods - interviews, participant observation, questionnaires and content analysis, combined with practice theory to understand the environmental, social and economic sustainability practices of backpackers. In this paper I use a reflexive stance to critically assess the ability of these mixed methods to detect sustainable practices. Participant observation was able to locate practices in context but transitory practices remained difficult to detect. Interviews encouraged people to speak candidly about their practices but were unable to detect those practices people did not discuss. Questionnaires assessed how often practices were performed but could not locate them in context. Content analysis comprehensively detected practices as they were captured in print, but identifying discrete practices was difficult. When mixed, these methods were able to detect practices conducted consciously, involuntarily and those induced by circumstance.