Quantitative research design

Saimaa University of Applied Sciences

Business and Culture

Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality

Exchange Programme in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sinodalova Maria, 1100431

Research methods 2011-2012

Task: Quantitative research design 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Report #3, 2011

Finland is the nearest European country to the Russia. Russian citizens could get visa to Finland in preferential terms. Such issues help to increase flow of Russian tourists to Finland. Moreover, natural, social and economical conditions became an additional bonus for visiting Finland. Imatra is very close to the Russian border city of Finland. Perhaps it was the proximity to Russia makes it quite popular among tourists.  

Quantitative techniques describe variables by assigning a number – representing an attitude, opinion or motivation- which can be statistically analyzed. Quantitative methods are based on facts that can be observed, and then analysed. To find out economic influences of tourism in the town of Imatra and to study money consumption of individual tourists in the town, we need to think about what kind of variables and indicators (ways and tools to collect data) can be used in the study. We can use of official tourism statistics from city tourist offices, which in turn are derived from other sources, such as hotels. Since, the most popular places among Russian tourists are central shopping area, Kylpyla Spa Hotel, Holiday Club Saimaa and also K-CityMarket, Prizma, we can focus in this field for our research. In accommodations there can be ready survey questions in the reception desk. After visiting a hotel, guests can be interviewed. In the central shopping area, and K-CityMarket, Prizma we can ask people to fill up a questionnaire.

In accommodations tourists can be asked about:

• General information – age, profession, marital status;
• Money consumption they usually spend, coming In Imatra;
• Purposes to visit Imatra;

In shopping areas tourists can be interviewed:

• General information (age, occupation, marital status);
• What kind of shopping they prefer – clothes or food;
• How much money they usually spend during one shopping trip to Finland.

We will rely on random sampling and structured data collection instruments that fit diverse experiences into predetermined response categories. The results are easy to summarize, compare, and generalize. Of course, it will be better to consider only adults. We need to exclude children.

The size of the sample, I think, will be from 200-300. It can allow seeing the whole situation with fair valid results.