MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM:
DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?
Prof. Fevzi Okumus
University of Central Florida
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
9907 Universal Blvd
Orlando, Florida, 32819
Email:
Tel: (+1) 407 903 8177
Fax: (+1) 407 903 8105
Dr. Mathilda van Niekerk
University of Central Florida
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
9907 Universal Blvd
Orlando, Florida, 32819
Email:
Tel: (+1) 407 903 8052
Fax: (+1) 407 903 8105
Dr. Anil Bilgihan
The Ohio State University
Department of Consumer Sciences
1781 Neil Ave. Campbell Hall, 115B
Columbus, Ohio, 43210
Email:
Tel: (+1) 614 292 6219
Fax: (+1) 614 688 8133
MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM:
DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?
The aim of this study is to investigatefamiliarity oftourism and hospitality scholars with multidisciplinary research.A discipline is defined as a detailed knowledge area with distinct borders, a shared language between academics, prevailing worldviews and widely shared paradigms (Alvargonzalez, 2011; Leavy, 2011). Specialization in one discipline can however blind researchers to the broader context of a research problem and create tunnel vision. It can cause a lack of appreciation of other perspectives and some creative breakthroughs may require knowledge from not only one, but multiple disciplines. A single discipline can therefore seldom address complex research problems and researchers should be encouraged to engage in multidisciplinary research.
Multidisciplinary research can be defined as the collaboration that takes place between two or more disciplines on a research project. Each discipline will however maintain its own research methodology, goals, assumptions, values and methods. Autonomy of the disciplines is maintained during the research and integration is restricted to the research results (Choi & Pak, 2007, 2006; Chua & Yang, 2008; Darbellay & Stock, 2012; Leavy, 2011; Pless, 1995; Weiler & Moyle, 2012). Multidisciplinary research offers a slightly broader perspective on traditional research questions than a single discipline based research and can yield better research results. However, what multidisciplinary research really means and how it can be put into practice is not always clear (Janssen & Goldsworthy, 1996).Furthermore, despite its advantages, multidisciplinary research may have certain limitations as it lacks cross-fertilization and close partnership with other disciplines.In other words, the disciplines remain self-contained and there is often a lack of synergy among the outcomes, the outcomes aretherefore not greater than the sum of its part.
Based on an in-depth literature review of multidisciplinary research (Choi & Pak, 2007, 2006; Chua & Yang, 2008; Darbellay & Stock, 2012; Leavy, 2011; Pless, 1995; Weiler & Moyle, 2012), an online survey was developed. The survey was pilot tested with PhD students and faculty members at one of the biggest hospitality colleges in the USA. An invitation email was then sent to several academic e-mail groupsto participate in the study. A total of 445hospitality and tourism scholarsfrom 193 different countries and 182 higher education institutions participated in the study, with a total of 341 questionnairesthat were usable.
Descriptive data revealed that 62% of participants were males and 38% females with a normal distribution in age that ranged from 26 years to 65 years. Of all respondents, 35% of them indicated that they had an administrative role at their institution, while 25% were assistant professors, 22% were associate professors and 21% were full professors. Study resultsindicate that 29% of scholars have published more than 30 articles in their academic career.
According to study results, only 40% the participants could define multidisciplinary research correctly. Tourism and hospitality scholars seem to be confused between multidisciplinary research and interdisciplinary research. On the other hand, the participants believe that multidisciplinary research is of a higher quality than research produced within a single discipline.About 63% of them indicated that multidisciplinary research is advantageous and that it could open doors for funding opportunities.However, study results reveal that only25% engage insome form of multidisciplinary research. Main barriers to engage in multidisciplinary research includethat the strong identity of their own discipline, as well as the fact that they seem to feel more comfortable in using methodologies that they are familiar with. Enablers for multidisciplinary research were identified as the possible funding opportunities that exist and possibility of establishing networks with scholars from other fields.
The study findings offer theoretical and practical implications. This is perhaps one of the first studies presenting and discussing empirical findings on multidisciplinary research in the tourism and hospitality field. It offers insights on the level of hospitality and tourism scholars’ understanding ofmultidisciplinary research. This study also offers practical implications in terms of how to train hospitality and tourism scholars to undertake multidisciplinary research.
Keywords: tourism, hospitality,multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary.
REFERENCES
Alvargonzalez, D. (2011). Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, Transdisciplinarity and the Science. International studies in Philosophy of Science, 25(4): pp. 387-403.
Choi, B.C.K. & Pak, W.P.P. (2006). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 1. Definitions, objectives and evidence of effectiveness. Clin Invest Med, 29(6): pp. 351-364.
Choi, B.C.K. & Pak, W.P.P. (2007). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 2. Promotors, barriers, and strategies of enhancement. Clin Invest Med, 30(6): pp. 224-232.
Darbellay, F. & Stock, M. (2012). Tourism as complex interdisciplinary research object. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1): pp.441-458.
Janssen, W., & Goldsworthy, P. (1996). Multidisciplinary research for natural resource management: Conceptual and practical implications. Agricultural Systems, 51(3): pp. 259-279. doi:
Leavy, P. (2011). Essentials of transdisciplinary research. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press:
Pless, I.B. (1995). Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary are not synonymous. Journal of International Society for child and adolescent injury prevention, 1. pp. 65-66.
Weiler, B. & Moyle, B. (2012). Disciplines that influence tourism doctoral research: The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.Annals of Tourism Research, 39(3): pp.1425-1445.
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