The Application of Social Survey Methods in Analysing the Tourist Activity of Seniors

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the article is to discuss the possibilities of applying social research methods in the analysis of seniors' tourism activity. It emphasises the fact that research related to the participation of seniors in tourism is of major significance in many countries with rapidly changing population. The author mentions the methodological determinants of conducting social research that derive from two basic paradigms: quantitative and qualitative. Based on examples from the literature, the article presents the benefits and limitations of their use in conducting research on seniors' tourism activity. In the final part of the article, the author lists the methodological postulates regarding the implementation of the research among seniors as a specific segment of tourism activity.

The seasonal nature of tourist flows in relation to meteorological conditions as illustrated by the case of Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship

“…This trend is underpinned by an improving hotel infrastructure and service sector, and also by the fact that more families own a car, while the quality of access roads to tourist destinations as well their infrastructure are improving (Pawlikowska-Piechotka, 2009;Zaręba, 2012;Koźmiński et al, 2013). According to Głąbiński (2015), retirees and pensioners contribute to a large extent to a decrease of seasonality in tourist flows as they prefer to travel in autumn and spring. Also, seasonality is dependent on the type of a region and its tourist function -the metropolitan type exhibits a largely even distribution over a year, and the leisure/recreational type is marked by a temporal imbalance in the number of tourists (Liszewski, 2009).…”

“…In Poland this is determined by climate, as well as by holiday arrangements, winter and summer vacation schedules, tourist infrastructure and the frequency of weekend and holiday trips (Panasiuk, 2000;Koźmiński et al, 2013). Over the last few years, increasing activity by senior citizens has resulted in a decrease of seasonality in tourism as they are likely to go on holiday out of the summer season (Przecławski, 1997;Głąbiński, 2015). The following factors can also affect the temporary imbalance of tourist flows -ecological: lengthening of the tourist season will result in an increase in the anthropogenic impact on the environment and hence generate conflicts; economic: the development of social tourism to a large extent depends on a harmonious combination of social and economic goals; legal: lack of explicit legislative instruments on the part of local authorities regulating the principles supporting recreation; socio-demographic: subject to ongoing changes in the structure of the family, population ageing, increasing unemployment and the deteriorating standard of living of some social groups (Stasiak, 2011).…”

Silver-cheeked toadfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), causes a substantial economic losses in the Turkish Mediterranean coast: A call for decision makers

“…Because an interview is a social interaction, the interviewer may infl uence the answers of the respondent. Consistency and correct methodological approach to questionnaire interviews has been emphasized by Głąbiński (2015). Therefore, we hired and worked with a professional interviewer from fi sheries science to overcome with this problem which can bias the results of the study.…”

Analysing the tourism activity of seniors by applying the method of participant observation

“…Research on the tourism activity of seniors is widely reflected in contemporary literature with an overview of issues and methods applied presented in Poland by, among others, Alejziak (2012), Bąk (2013) and Głąbiński (2015).…”