Food, Authenticity and Travel: A Study of Students Traveling to China for the First Time

dc.contributor.advisor Dunlap, Rudy en_US
dc.contributor.author Barnhart, Hannah en_US
dc.contributor.committeemember Gray, Joey en_US
dc.contributor.committeemember Leggett, William en_US
dc.contributor.department Health & Human Performance en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2014-06-02T18:55:10Z
dc.date.available 2014-06-02T18:55:10Z
dc.date.issued 2013-12-14 en_US
dc.description.abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze and recognize how the first time traveler's perception of authenticity, based on the local cuisine and encounters with staged authenticity, affect their overall perception of the experience itself. The research question was what role does food play in participants' construction of an authentic travel experience during their first trip to China? Qualitative methods of pre-and post-trip focus groups coupled with participant observation were used. The study found that participants' view of authenticity changed throughout the study. This change occurred through relationships participants established with the local population, allowing them to experience back regions of authenticity through personal experience. This research is important for college and university study abroad programs to help students take away more from their traveling experiences. en_US
dc.description.degree M.S. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/3605
dc.publisher Middle Tennessee State University en_US
dc.subject Authenticity en_US
dc.subject China en_US
dc.subject Food en_US
dc.subject Student en_US
dc.subject Study abroad en_US
dc.subject Tourism en_US
dc.subject.umi Recreation and tourism en_US
dc.subject.umi Education en_US
dc.subject.umi Cultural anthropology en_US
dc.thesis.degreegrantor Middle Tennessee State University en_US
dc.thesis.degreelevel Masters en_US
dc.title Food, Authenticity and Travel: A Study of Students Traveling to China for the First Time en_US
dc.type Thesis en_US
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