Bridging the gap: grounded theory method, theory development, and sustainable tourism research

ABSTRACT

Advancing knowledge on sustainability phenomena can be optimized when theoretical developments and practical applications work in concert rather than in isolation. Bridging the theory–practice gap is particularly important to sustainable tourism, which has risen exponentially in relevance both in practice and research. However, tourism research has been criticized for a lack of endemic theory unique to the field. Grounded theory method (GTM) is an established methodology for generating new theory in substantive areas, and has been utilized to examine various tourism phenomena. Through both methodological and theory development assessments, this study first examines how GTM has been used in tourism research in general. Suggestions for ameliorating the theory development outcomes of GTM research in sustainable tourism are then offered for both researchers and reviewers to help bridge the gap between sustainable tourism research, practice, and theory.

缩小差距：扎根理论方法，理论发展，和可持续性旅游研究

关于可持续发展的现象的先进知识当理论发展和实际应用联系起来而不是孤立时，可以最大优化。弥合理论-实践的差距对可持续旅游是特别重要的，这在实践和研究中的相关度都成倍上升。然而，旅游研究一直被批评缺乏独特的风土人情理论。扎根理论方法（GTM）是用于在实质性领域中产生新理论的方法论，这已经被用来检验各种旅游现象。通过方法和理论发展的评估，该研究首先探讨了GTM如何已在一般旅游研究中使用。为改善GTM研究在可持续旅游的理论发展成果的建议可以提供给研究人员和评审者来帮助弥合可持续旅游业的研究，实践和理论之间的差距。

KEYWORDS:

• Grounded theory method
• qualitative research
• sustainable tourism
• theory development

关键词:

• 扎根理论方法
• 定性研究
• 可持续性旅游
• 理论发展

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Washington State University Carson College of Business: Summer Research Grant.

Notes on contributors

T. S. Stumpf

T.S. Stumpf is an assistant professor of management at Humboldt State University. His research focuses on tourism and hospitality management in Pacific Islands, and tourism research methods.

Jennifer Sandstrom

Jennifer Sandstrom is a clinical professor of hospitality business management at Washington State University, and her interests include hospitality operations and culture.

Nancy Swanger

Nancy Swanger is the W. Terry Umbreit distinguished professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management. Her interests include hospitality operations and the hospitality curriculum.