identify
research priorities for the next decade
The leisure industry has provoked serious study. However, there is little evidence that
research has had an impact on the industry.
Do the managers of leisure services such as resorts, parks, restaurants,
golf courses and galleries routinely read leisure research or in other ways
seek to keep current with research findings?
To what extent do leisure managers incorporate research into their
decision- making? To what extent do
managers and academic researchers collaborate?
Researchers in the
Department of Recreation and Tourism Management at Malaspina University-College
are currently undertaking a Delphi study with experts in leisure and tourism to
develop a list of research priorities for the next decade. The research team has assembled a panel of
84 experts from across the country and beyond to participate in the study
including researchers and practitioners from the broad area of leisure, which
includes tourism, recreation, parks, arts and culture and sport.
The expert panelists will
identify top research priorities, barriers to, and strategies for information
dissemination and partnership development between researchers and
practitioners. After the data is collected from the Delphi study, strategic
planning around the identified research priorities will result in a planning
document to ensure ongoing communications and coordination of research with
practitioners and academics to the year 2014.
The research questions explored in the study include:
1) What are the top research priorities, issues and challenges
facing the leisure field as identified by academics and practitioners;
2) What are the blocks to partnership building;
3) How can researchers and practitioners become better partners
to address collective issues effectively; and
4) What is the best model and approach to ensure ongoing
communications and coordination of research by practitioners and academics.
This project will utilize
the opportunity of the Canadian Congress of Leisure Research (CCLR) Symposium
hosted by the Tourism and Recreation Department, Malaspina University College
May 17-20, 2005 to initiate a collaborative process that will address the
research questions posed and permanently link leisure research and practitioner
communities. For more information on
the study, please contact Dr. Nicole L. Vaugeois at Vaugeois@mala.bc.ca or at (250) 753-3245
Local 2772, or to learn more about the upcoming CCLR Congress visit: http://web.mala.bc.ca/cclr11