THE CAPACITY OF A SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY: A STUDY OF THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

Research communication and knowledge networking contribute to the capacity building of a scientific community. Tourism and hospitality research associations are characterized by producers and users of multidisciplinary field research, and are exemplars of an applied social scientific community. This study focuses on the role of research associations in the capacity building of an applied research community and consequently in the fostering of community growth. Following an embedded single case design, the study examines the Travel and Tourism Research Association as an instance of such a community. The research reports on community perceptions of the association in the capacity building of the membership community. Results of the study are discussed in the contexts of science communication, knowledge networks, and scientific community capacity and have practical implications for the planning and management of applied research associations.