The critical review of the adventure tourism literature between the 1990s-2010s
Author
Mandrik, Gabriella
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Pages
21
Abstract
This thesis presents a critical review of adventure tourism literature from the 1990s to the 2010s, examining how the field has been conceptualized, which narratives have dominated, and what methods researchers have used. It asks how definitions and narratives have shifted over time, which conceptual and empirical issues have been overlooked, and why quantitative, largely descriptive designs have prevailed in a domain where participants actively co-create the experience. Synthesizing published studies from the period, the review contrasts early, product- and risk-focused framings (e.g., soft/hard activity typologies, remoteness, perceived risk and ensuing emotional reward) with later, broader definitions that also emphasize culture and learning. Methodologically, it assesses the prevalence of surveys, structured interviews, and psychometric tools such as the Sensation Seeking Scale, and uses illustrative cases (including work on Nepal) to show both the prominence of risk as a motivating narrative and the historically limited attention to socio-cultural impacts. The analysis highlights methodological white spots and under-researched narratives and argues for more innovative, mixed, and more predictive approaches suited to the growing complexity of adventure tourism consumption and production. Detailed findings beyond these patterns are not included in this excerpt.
Denne opgave er en kritisk gennemgang af litteraturen om adventureturisme fra 1990’erne til 2010’erne med fokus på, hvordan feltet er blevet begrebsliggjort, hvilke fortællinger der har domineret, og hvilke metoder forskere har anvendt. Studiet undersøger, hvordan definitioner og narrativer har udviklet sig over tid, hvilke konceptuelle og empiriske temaer der er blevet overset, samt hvorfor kvantitative, overvejende deskriptive designs har domineret et felt, hvor deltagernes aktive medskabelse af oplevelsen udfordrer sådanne tilgange. Gennemgangen af publicerede studier fra perioden kontrasterer tidlige, produkt- og risikofokuserede rammer (fx soft/hard-aktiviteter, fjernhed, opfattet risiko og efterfølgende følelsesmæssig belønning) med nyere, bredere definitioner, der også betoner kultur og læring. Metodisk vurderes udbredte valg som spørgeskemaer, strukturerede interviews og psykometriske skalaer (fx Sensation Seeking Scale), og illustrative eksempler (bl.a. studier af Nepal) viser både risikonarrativets dominans og en historisk begrænset opmærksomhed på socio-kulturelle påvirkninger. Analysen peger på metodiske hvidfelter og underbelyste fortællinger og argumenterer for mere innovative, blandede og også mere forudsigende tilgange, der kan indfange den stigende kompleksitet i adventureturismens forbrug og produktion. Detaljerede resultater ud over disse mønstre fremgår ikke af dette uddrag.
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Keywords
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