Students as Researchers: Learning about Tourists of the Future

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a class project that engaged undergraduate students as researchers to learn about the concepts and practices involved in conducting and sharing research regarding hospitality and tourism. The class project focused on helping students learn how to conduct qualitative research, specifically interviews, and to understand the tourism-related aspirations, behaviors, and future travel intentions of their peers. Results of the project were shared with community partners involved in tourism promotion in the local area, as a service learning project. In this paper, the project is described and implications for teaching, research, and service are offered. Suggested practices for working with students as researchers are also provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Learning
• researchers
• students
• teaching