The methodological and practical issues of conducting tourism research into aboriginal communities : the Manyallaluk experience

An understanding of the complexities and challenges associated with conducting research in new environments is important in informing future research. This paper provides a personal account of the methodological and practical issues encountered when researching the socioculturall impacts of tourism within an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, Australia. The study involved a process of naturalistic inquiry using qualitative data collection methods including semi-structured interviews with fourteen respondents. During the rechearch process the researcher had to overcome methodological issues related to language barriers, the recruitment of responents, different cultural norms, and interpretation of data. It is hoped that consideration of these issues when researching Aboriginal communities will benefit future researchers, Aboriginal participants and all stakeholders involved in the research process as well as promoting research into the growing area of Aboriginal tourism.