Librerías, opciones instrucciones para reconocimiento y seguimiento

Importantly, both travel companies’ operators, who conducted the survey on behalf of the researcher, hold Western degrees in Tourism and Research. Therefore, these third parties could be trusted to conduct a survey in a way expected by the Lincoln University Human Ethics Committee (Application Number: 2014-02, approved 14 February 2014, see Appendix E).

It is understood that researchers must consider ethical issues at all stages of the project. Thus, every step of this research has followed the guidelines of the Lincoln University Human Ethics Committee. In general, the research has been designed so as to minimise any possibility of physical, psychological, or legal harm to the participants. All the participants in this study were at least 18 years old or older.

With regard to the survey administration in the Russian travel companies, the following elements in the code of ethics were implemented. First of all, potential respondents were asked if they would like to participate in the survey regarding their attitudes to travelling to New Zealand. Importantly, voluntary participation and informed consent were assured. In order to achieve it, before consenting, potential participants were presented with the Research Information Sheet (see Appendices A.1 and A.2). It stated the purpose of the research and explained the right to refuse to participate or

withdraw from participation.

In order to ensure that respondents were in no way coerced into participation, it was explained that even after completing the questionnaire, or participating in the

interview, respondents would still have up to one month to consider whether they wished to be involved in the research.

To secure the progress of the research, respondents were made aware that if a withdrawal request was not received within one month, the data would be used, provided that anonymity and confidentiality, as described below, were preserved. The same guidelines and rules applied to survey participants in Russia and to interviewees in New Zealand (see Appendices A.3 and A.4).

The Research Information Sheet informed respondents about the anticipated time required to complete the survey (approximately 20 minutes), or participate in an interview (approximately 10-15 minutes). It should be noted that while there are about 150 questions in the survey, the majority of them are very straightforward. The

inclusion of a large number of questions was necessary since the study tested the multiple constructs of the TPB in the context of the Russian outbound tourism.

A trial was run to estimate the time needed to complete the survey. Four Russian- speaking people were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The test showed that it took, on average, about 5-6 seconds to answer one question. Thus, approximately ten questions can be answered in one minute, and 150 questions can be answered in 15 min.

Similarly, while the interview schedule (see Appendix D) appears to be long, it is designed for a semi-structured interview. Therefore, all questions, included in the interview schedule, were neither intended to be asked, nor were asked. The schedule covers the majority of situations to which a semi-structured interview can lead. Besides, some of the questions require just a very brief answer and are necessary in order to compare them with the survey answers.

To make sure that the estimated time for the interview was realistic, trials were conducted via Skype with three Russian people, who had previously been to New Zealand, and who are known to the researcher. Indeed, 12 minutes was the average time for an interview.

The Research Information Sheet also provided respondents with the details of the researcher and his supervisor. Additionally, it explained to participants that the findings of the research may be used for publication in a refereed journal or included in a conference presentation. All respondents were given the opportunity to seek

clarifications of the relevant issues either from the representatives of the researcher in

Russia or directly from the researcher. No deception (intentional or unintentional) was used during the research.

When conducting interviews in New Zealand, the researcher approached potential respondents at sites and times most appropriate to them. He then introduced himself and presented his student photo ID. After that, the researcher invited potential interviewees to familiarise themselves with the Research Information Sheet (see Appendices A.3 and A.4). Time and place for interviews was discussed with those who agreed to participate in the project. Additionally, participants were asked permission to record interviews.

All participants were assured of anonymity and confidentiality. For example,

respondents were encouraged to use pseudonyms and not their real names. Moreover, no identity details were collected. This means that the researcher will not and cannot identify the respondents. Confidentiality was assured by reporting data in an

aggregated form, where no person could be individually identifiable.

Further, all the data and consent forms are being securely stored in the researcher’s study room at his house. No one else has access to that room, which is locked during his absence. Moreover, the researcher has used a computer that is not shared with anybody else. Publicly available, including Lincoln University, computers have never been used by the researcher while working on this dissertation.

Finally, to meet the requirements of the Lincoln University Human Ethics Committee, all the consent forms and data, obtained during this research, will be securely kept until November 2020. At that point, they will be manually destroyed by shredding. All

digitally stored data will be permanently deleted at that time as well.