On tourism and hospitality management research: A critical realist proposal

There is a growing literature discussing the role of different research methods in Tourism and Hospitality Research and, in particular, arguing that some re-evaluation of their use is necessary if Tourism and Hospitality is to become a progressive research programme. This paper argues that the literature does not address the philosophical consistency of the use of different methods. It either falls back onto a false dual of advocating quantitative or qualitative research methods, or fails to fully explore the justification for triangulating methods. This paper argues that, based in a philosophical position known as Critical Realism, a consistent research programme involving the triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods can be established.