Colin,
The survey commences with the opening definition page.
"Have you ever visited an observatory or a dark-sky site? Have you ever participated in a stargazing night? If Yes, you are an astronomical tourist.
Astronomical tourism is a type of tourism, in which travellers are motivated by sky-observation activities and their travel/destination decisions are based on these activities.
Astronomical tours take anytime between half a day to one week with a group of people or alone."
Clearly, star parties fall within that particular definition - as asserted by them.
Thus defined, throughout the survey they ask many questions about astronomic tours.
At the end they then introduce a new term called "Astronomical Festivals" and ask if you have attended one ! Clearly it can't be an Astronomic Tour because that question has already been done to death !
Its not the least bit clear what one is - in fact I find it difficult to even think of what such a "Astronomical Festival" could even be given the broad definition of "Astronomical Tour"
In any event, I shouldn't have to think about it - it should either be self evident or clearly differentiated by an unambiguous definition.
As stated, for a PhD research survey its a poorly worded attempt that wouldn't pass a Grade 9 English test.
That is why I questioned if the person actualy has any astronomy experience at all.
I dont even agree with the assertion that by attending a stargazing night or dark sky night that I am a tourist - Im just doing my hobby
So it seems to me the whole survey is flawed from the ouset based on a false assertion.
But I still completed it to the best of my ability despite all this to try and support the process.
It would be my greatest hope that someone who knows something about amateur astronomy takes this on and rewords the entire survey starting with definitions and opening assertions.
Most of the star parties I have attended have been within 10 and 30 mins drive from my own home, most astronomic observing is done either from home or a nearby dark site - can that really be regarded as tourism ?
I guess so if you predicate this from the beginning !
The PhD thesis will be subject to peer review - so the whole processs is all about scrutiny - far better to be scrutinised at the beginning than at the end and fail !
Maybe the OP can feed this back to the PhD student.
Cheers
Rally
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atmos
An Astronomical Festival is what we would usually call a Star Party, the usage of the word "festival" makes me think that she hasn't been to one. Either that or she is from a part of the world that uses that vernacular (not Australia (IIS), America (CN) or Europe (CN+SGL).
I assume that an Astronomical Tour then would be something like the Planetarium in Science Works (Melbourne) or around Ayres Rock.
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