The first element of a tourism research methodology is the working definition of the scope and objective of the research. A research project that lacks this element will be unfocused and sloppy and will not be respected by other scholars. The researcher must justify the project as original and valuable in an academic context by providing a literature review, which summarizes the material available on the subject and demonstrates a need for the current research project.
All data collection falls into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data collection refers to the practice of obtaining large amounts of statistical information. A tourism research methodology should outline the methods by which such data will be collected. Common quantitative methods for tourism research include surveys, questionnaires and fixed-question interviews that are administered to tourism participants. Quantitative observational methods may also be used, such as in observing and recording the impacts of tourism on local biospheres.
Qualitative data are more content-based than qualitative data. They do not lend itself well to statistical reports. Qualitative data balance out the impersonal nature of facts and statistics with personal information provided by individuals associated with the research project. The methodology outlines how to gather such data. Typical for tourism research is participant observation, life story collection and open interviews. The methodology must also indicate which groups should be approached and why they are relevant to the study of tourism.
A tourism research methodology must outline the limitations of the research, such as time constraints and language barriers. It must also address the ethical considerations, such as avoiding certain approaches that would manipulate or belittle tourism participants, or even put them in danger.
All of the data on tourism in the world does no good without a method of analyzing it. Tourism data can be analyzed either subjectively or objectively. A subjective analysis is usually applied to quantitative data, such as cultural impacts of tourists on tourism providers or tourists' perceptions of a location. An objective analysis examines the data via the scientific method and in light of other studies that are indicated by the methodology. It is most common for quantitative data, especially concerning economic or ecological impacts of tourism.