HOA 734 – Research Methods for the Hospitality Industry (2 credits)

FALL 2023 Class Syllabus

Course Information
INSTRUCTOR: Renata F. Guzzo, PhD
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE : (702) 895-5870
OFFICE: HOS371
OFFICE HOURS: Monday/Wednesday 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm; Tuesdays 4:30 – 5:30pm. In-person or virtually. Please send an
email to schedule your virtual appointment if needed.

CLASS LOCATION AND TIMES: This course will be offered over a 5-week session in a hybrid format: meet on campus for
2h45min and asynchronously for 2h45min per week.
On campus: HOS 136, Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:15pm
WEBCAMPUS: https://webcampus.unlv.edu

Course Description
Introduces the research methods and data analytics used in the hospitality industry and academia. Students will develop
information literacy skills and learn how to read academic articles, to formulate research questions, and to identify the
appropriate data analytic tools to answer research questions and solve industry problems.

Prerequisites
• Admission to the Master’s in Hotel Administration (HOA).

Course Objectives
• Perform effective information searches, and evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of the documents and
internet sources identified.
• Identify literature that provides the needed background, credibility, and suitability to support the need for the
degree project.
• Design applied qualitative and quantitative focused research projects using self-generated industry-based
research problems or problems reported by industry executives.
• Utilize basic statistical methods to identify patterns in industry-focused qualitative and quantitative data.
• Write a scholarly paper that includes a purpose statement that will be used in the final cumulative degree
project final.

College of Hospitality Program Outcomes

• Examine research methods including scientific method, literature review, sampling, statistics, research design
and analytical technique.

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Course Materials
Required Textbook: Mayo, F. B. (2013). Planning an Applied Research Project in Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports. John
Wiley & Sons.

Hardware requirement: To facilitate learning, students MUST have the following: a desktop/ laptop computer and
reasonable internet access. If the students have financial difficulties, please contact UNLV library for the laptop loaner
program.

Teaching and Learning Philosophy:

“There is a relationship between the joy essential to teaching activity and hope. Hope is something shared between
teachers and students. The hope that we can learn together, teach together, be curiously impatient together, produce
something together, and resist together the obstacles that prevent the flowering of our joy” Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of
Freedom.

I truly believe that a professor’s role is not to transfer information but rather to be a facilitator for students' own learning
and personal growth. I do that through active participation, encouraging discussions and critical thinking. My main goal is
to expand curiosity, sharing the global ethical values perpetuated by this college and university.

This course will be taught in a respectful atmosphere of participation and interaction. Every student is expected to study
suggested materials and actively engage in class and discussions. I also expect that you uphold a high level of
professionalism, including academic integrity (https://www.unlv.edu/studentconduct/misconduct/policy), attend class
and complete your assignments professionally, and practice business etiquette (e.g., punctuality, attentiveness, integrity,
honesty).

Ultimately, a respectful and approachable posture is part of my teaching style, extended to my willingness to help students
succeed. I believe that every person possesses unique capabilities that can be shared and appreciated. I find great joy in
teaching, researching, and in being part of this industry, which embraces passion and solidarity. I hope that each one of
you can also find this joy.

Grading and Assessment

Graded course activities: online and in-person assignments
Points Description
100 Reading quizzes (5@ 20pts each)
50 Discussion posts (5@ 10pts each)
40 In-class assignments (4@ 10pts each)
100 Homework assignments (2@ 50pts each)
60 Final project – rough draft
100 Final project – final draft
100 Final presentation
550 Total Points Possible

Detailed description of graded course activities

1. Reading Quizzes (5@ 20 pts each): There will be online quizzes following the book chapter each week. These will
be completed online before our class period. Quizzes consist of multiple choice and/or true/false questions.
Each quiz must be completed by the date listed on Canvas. You have two attempts for each quiz. The highest
score will be kept. See class schedule for due dates.

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 2. Discussion posts (5@ 10 pts each): Each discussion will require two postings. Students will be required to post a
response on the assigned topic by each Friday and then read and response to a classmate posting by Sunday.
Copy and pasted materials without proper citation will receive a zero grade. If a student only posts a primary
response without a response to a classmate’s post, then the best grade that can be received is half credit (5
pts.). See class schedule for due dates.
3. In-class assignments (4@ 10 pts each): In-class assignments will be conducted throughout each time we have an
in-person class. We will have a total of 4 activities, and they will be related to the week's discussed topics. No
makeup will be allowed for missed in-class assignments unless approved by the professor in advance (in case of
illness or emergencies).
4. Homework assignments (2@ 50 pts each): Homework assignments are due after each in-person class (Sundays)
and they are related to each week’s discussed topics. Details are posted in each model on Canvas.
5. Final project (rough draft @60 pts, final draft @ 100pts, and final presentation @ 100 pts): To help you
understand how academic research can be applied to real-world problems and to prepare you to better
understand your chosen area of interest, you will be asked to write a short research paper. The paper will be
developed in parts during the course, followed by a rough draft, final submission, and presentation. See class
schedule for due dates and Canvas for more details.

Grading Scale
Letter Grade Points Letter Grade Points

A 930 to 1,000 C 700 to 769.99

A- 900 to 929.99 D+ 670 to 699.99
B+ 870 to 899.99 D 630 to 669.99
B 830 to 869.99 D- 600 to 629.99
B- 800 to 829.99 F Below 600
C+ 770 to 799.99

Course Policies
Covid-19 information
Class attendance is critical to your understanding of the material. While missing class is usually not advisable, staying at
home when sick is important to avoid spreading illness. If you are sick, please do not come to class. Instead, seek
medical attention. Contact me ASAP to let me know you are sick and will not be in class so that we can make proper
arrangements.

Late assignments
All assignments are to be turned in on or before the designated due date. Only emergency situations will be considered
a valid excuse for a make-up assignment, and the instructor must be notified in advance. Any request for excused
absence/ extensions must be submitted by email before the assignment/class time. The lecturer holds discretion in
granting extensions/make-up.

Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Promptness is expected of every student. Your tardiness is a distraction to others. I will not
repeat information or allow you to complete activities you miss because of tardiness. You will not be allowed to sign the
role sheet if you are tardy. If you are unable to attend class due to illness, you must notify the instructor before missing
class. For every class you miss, 10% will be deducted from your final grade.

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Plagiarism
You are expected to create original work. All research used in your projects, including the Internet, industry documents,
and library sources, must be referenced. Make sure to paraphrase to avoid text with more than 3 words quoted from
another source. Copying material greater than 30 words is not permitted, even with a reference. All assignments will be
submitted through TurnItIn plagiarism detection technology, which now includes AI detection. A medium to a high
similarity percentage may result in a failing grade for this class AND transcript notion.

Webcampus Usage
Webcampus will be utilized for this class. It is the student’s responsibility to read the material as well as to check
Webcampus routinely for course information. Slides and other course materials will be posted only there. Review the
Course Schedule for an overview of the schedule and the due dates for each week.

Course Communication
Email is the best way to reach me. Emails sent during the week (Monday – Friday) will be responded to within 24 hours.
Emails received over the weekend or during breaks/holidays will receive a response within 48 hours. I can be reached
by phone on Mondays, Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during designated office hours (except when the
university is closed).

Classroom expectations
Make sure that phones are either turned off or put on silent mode. Laptops may only be used for note taking – no
Internet browsing or social media usage. Using a cell phone or computer during a test or graded activity will result in
an automatic zero.

Be Prepared for Class

Students are expected to have materials related to the day’s topic read prior to class. Tests can contain information from
the textbook, guest speakers, and lecture material. It is the student’s responsibility to read the material as well as to
routinely check Webcampus.

University Policies
https://www.unlv.edu/policies/students

Course schedule
WEEK DATES TOPIC IN-CLASS/READINGS ONLINE

1 10/03 Welcome and Introduction to Chapters 1 & 2 Reading quiz 1

research Articles posted on Canvas Discussion post 1
Using academic research for your In-class assignment 1 Homework assignment 1
projects

2 10/10 The literature review and the Chapters 3, 4, & 5 Reading quiz 2
purpose statement In-class assignment 2 Discussion post 2

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 Homework assignment 2

3 10/17 Quantitative research Chapter 7 & 11 Reading quiz 3

In-class assignment 3 Discussion post 3
Review articles for your Rough draft due
chosen topic
4 10/24 Qualitative research Chapters 6 & 10 Reading quiz 4
In-class assignment 4 Discussion post 4
5 10/31 Issues related to academic research Chapters 8 & 9 Reading quiz 5
Final presentations Discussion post 5
Final project due
Notes: The instructor reserves the right to revise the syllabus as needed. All assignments are due at 11:59 pm (Pacific
time).

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