Some News

Got a notification from QMU that they have recieved my application. This combined with my Mother's recieval of her Mother's Day card has given me faith in royal mail.

I've also heard back from one of the guys who was connected with the Global Nomad project.

"Dear Mr Darby,
Thanks for your note. I find your project innovative and interesting, 
though  do not see how the quantitative BP data fit in. In fact, the routes 
you describe, and which exhibit a highly post-modern character, are probably 
not specific for BPs. 
There is a strand in tourism studies looking at tourism as performance (Ed 
Bruner, B. Kirschenbaum) with whom you might be familiar.
Re the BP Research Group: I am not a member of that group, but you might 
approach Greg Richards, who will be able to respond to your question."

I've already e-mailed Greg. "innovative and interesting" is a bit encouraging though. The only bit of info I've heard from people so far, and I know how to apply it to Qualitative research.

Got another reply from an academic connected with backpacking:

suggestions: 1) get at backpacker experience rather than survey  2) you don't site the relevant backpacking literature which is extensive (people at Leeds could help you here 3) just because you are a backpacker be careful not to impose your ideas on the data.

I totally agree with the experience, as it is necessary, however, I think to give it structure, some form of quantative research is necessary. I am really wholly ignorant on backpacker literature so will e-mail Leeds. And finally, this enters the question of ethics in my proposal, something I've been umming over for a bit now; how involved do I get in the interviews?