Rapid Situation Analysis: a hybrid, multi-methods, qualitative, participatory approach to researching tourism development phenomena

Abstract

This study develops a hybrid, bottom-up approach to field research, namely Rapid
\nSituation Analysis, and implements it in Ghana. It draws on elements from two existing
\nparticipatory methodological approaches: Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory
\nRuralAppraisal. The approachwas developed to suit the particular needs of investigating
\ncorporate social responsibility practices, sustainable development and poverty reduction
\nthrough tourism, a fragmented sector which tends to be ambiguous and unstructured and
\nlack cohesion (unlike, for example, agriculture or primary health care, both of which
\nare familiar territory for Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory Rural Appraisal). The
\nRapid Situation Analysis bottom-up approach to data gathering was underpinned by
\nsupporting methods, including participant and direct observation, in-depth interviews,
\nstakeholder focus groups and informal conversations. Moreover, the multiple methods
\nwere further enriched by the collection of visual data in the form of moving and still
\nimages. These research findings were fed back to the communities at the centre of the
\nresearch.