Whole-Family Research: Towards a Methodology in Tourism for Encompassing Generation, Gender, and Group Dynamic Perspectives

Abstract

Families traveling with children represent one of the largest markets for the tourism industry. Methodological approaches to family tourism research are underdeveloped as the study of families requires a more holistic and critical approach. This article addresses this shortcoming by introducing whole-family research—a qualitative methodology used in family research that is inclusive of the group and individual perspectives of all family members. An application of this method to domestic family holidays in New Zealand is presented and associated methodological and theoretical issues are examined. The discussion is conceptualized within the family holiday experience literature and recent developments in qualitative tourism research. It introduces a triangular family group perspective that is inclusive of sociality and three-dimensionality rather than relying on one-dimensional (individual) or two-dimensional (dyadic or gendered) perspectives. An analytical framework that transcends the complexity and multidimensionality of the current whole-family study is presented. Methodological issues considered include access to families, diversity of family forms, ethical considerations with children, inclusion of fathers, and projective techniques. Included are three examples from the findings to illustrate the merits of whole-family research: the perspectives of the fathers, children, and group dynamics. The potential of this research methodology in exploring gender, generational, and group dynamic dimensions in tourism are highlighted.