Research competence (RC) as a key ability of students in the social sciences has thus far been conceptualized as consisting primarily of cognitive dispositions. However, owing to its highly complex and demanding nature, competence in conducting research might require additional affective and motivational dispositions. To address this deficiency in the literature, first, we conducted a qualitative interview study with academic experts ( N = 16) in which we asked them to identify challenging research situations and the affective-motivational research dispositions needed (...) to cope with them. We employed a subsequent online rating ( N = 27) to evaluate the situations and dispositions that had been identified. The resulting affective-motivational facet of RC encompasses six challenging situations that are often encountered and nine dispositions that are necessary to successfully conduct research in the social sciences and may be used to both inform and evaluate research-based learning. The interview-based approach may serve as an exemplary procedure to postulate affective-motivational facets of competence models. (shrink)

Though tourism research has become more value-laden in its scholarship and pedagogy, there is still a risk that tourism higher educationcurricula produce uncritical views of society and sustainability.I argue that research methodology courses and assignments basedon data collection can legitimize the use of sustainable tourism solutions based in generalizations and abstractions, rather than encouragethe dialogue and reflectivity needed for major change in times of crisis. They also risk promoting a self-serving agenda where researchers produce their success in the knowledge economy. (...) In light of thelimitations of the sustainability concept in time of planetary crisis,I look into the possibilities of a tourism research pedagogy in theAnthropocene by uncovering arguments for plurality and deliberationin knowledge production. Social scientists need to address questionsof ethics in times of crisis. Conjointly, the Anthropocene highlights ourplanetary attachment, where human responsibility and social actionare imminent. (shrink)