Dr Adele Doran PhD, MSc, PGCE PCET, BA (Hons)
Principal Lecturer
Summary
I am a researcher and consultant of outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. My research focuses on the experiences, barriers, motivations, and well-being of outdoor adventure participants; equality, diversity, and inclusivity in the outdoors; adventure philanthropy; adventure media and marketing; and employment and decent work within the outdoor sector.
About
I am a researcher and consultant of adventure tourism and outdoor recreation. My published work has focused on women’s experiences, barriers, and motivations, as well as the media’s representation of women in these settings. My current research interests are in adventure participants’ well-being; equality, diversity, and inclusivity in outdoor adventure activities; adventure philanthropy; and employment and decent work in the outdoor sector. I employ a range of methodologies including survey research, interviews, embodied and sensory ethnography, systematic literature reviews using bibliometric analysis, and social media research.
I advocate knowledge transfer and I have developed relationships with commercial organisations and governing bodies to collaborate on research, consult on projects, and engage them in my teaching and course development. I have experience as a principal and co-investigator on funded projects. Recent projects include evaluating responsible recreation in protected areas for Natural England; segmenting the climber market for Sport England and the British Mountaineering Council; evaluating adventure education programmes for Inspiring Learning; examining the relationship between camping and well-being for The Camping and Caravanning Club; and developing adventure-based city breaks and The Outdoor City brand for Sheffield City Council/VisitBritain as part of the Discover England Fund.
I have extensive experience of teaching at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels on tourism, outdoor recreation, management, and research modules. I am also an experienced doctorate supervisor and doctorate examiner, and External Examiner on UG and PG programmes
I am currently a Research & Innovation Lead in the Sheffield Business School. I am also a committee member of the Adventure Tourism Research Association, an organisation which seeks to bring together academics, adventure professionals and commercial operators; the Outdoor Recreation Research Group, a group of Sheffield Hallam University research experts with expertise in diverse areas of the outdoor recreation sector; and I sit on the British Mountaineering Council’s Equity Steering Committee and co-lead the Gender Equity Sub-Group. I am also an Associate Editor of the World Leisure Journal.
Teaching expertise
- Modules include Adventure Tourism, Marketing and Tourism Consultancy
- 2018: University Inspirational Teaching Award
Industry links
Department of Service Sector Management
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Subject Area
Tourism and Hospitality Management
Courses taught
PhD/DBA
MSc International Tourism Management
MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management
MSc International Tourism and Aviation Management
BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management
BSc (Hons) International Tourism (Adventure Tourism)
BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Business Management
BSc (Hons) Airline and Airport Management
Modules taught
Research Approaches and Designs (doctorate)
Research Methods
Dissertation
Tourism Consultancy Experience
International Adventure Tourism
Consumer Behaviour in Tourism
Digital Tourism Marketing
Research
Natural England: Assessing the impact of recreation activities on National Nature Reserves, and the implementation and evaluation of interventions to encourage responsible recreation (mixed methods).
Sport England and the British Mountaineering Council: Segmenting climbers based on their motivations, behaviours, and development needs, and a critical assessment of the suitability of the current coaching performance pathway from beginner to Olympian (surveys).
The Camping and Caravanning Club: Examining the benefits of camping and outdoor activities for well-being (mixed methods).
Adventure philanthropy through charity challenges.
Gender equality and decent work in the outdoor sector.
Featured Projects
New study shows camping is good for mental health and wellbeing
2019: A growth strategy for the Outdoor Recreation Research Group, Sheffield Hallam University Creating Knowledge Implementation Plan (CKIP) Strategic Investment Fund.
Relevant Projects
- 2015: Fellow - Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy (HEA), United Kingdom
- 2018: University Inspirational Teaching Award
- 2020-2021: Examining the charity challenge tourism sector, an educational research project funded by Sheffield Hallam University's Enhancement of Teaching, Learning and Student Experience and the Department of Service Sector Management's Fieldwork Funding.
Collaborators and Sponsors
- United we Climb
- The Camping and Caravanning Club
- Sheffield City Council
Publications
Key Publications
Williams, H., Pritchard, K., Miller, M., & Doran, A. (2023). Mapping embodiment across the nexus of gender, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. http://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2216400
Yana, W., Doran, A., & Michal, A. (2023). 70 years after the first ascent of Everest, the impact of mass mountaineering must be confronted.
Richards, K., Doran, A., Brett, C., Wingfield, H., & Schofield, P. (2022). The Outjoyment report: a research report on the well-being and mental health benefits of camping. The Camping and Caravanning Club. https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/-/media/Files/Outjoyment-Report/The-Outjoyment-Report.pdf?rev=29e21478cb224243919b6d0fc474008c
Doran, A. (2016). Empowerment and women in adventure tourism: a negotiated journey. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 20, 57-80.
Journal articles
Allan, J., Doran, A., Jones, R., & Farrell, S. (2024). Building resilience and well-being for post-covid adolescents through outdoor adventure. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. http://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2024.2312920
Doran, A., Pomfret, G., & Adu-Ampong, E. (2022). MIND THE GAP: a systematic review of the knowledge contribution claims in adventure tourism research. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 51, 238-251. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.03.015
Low, T., Maggie, M., Doran, A., & Hardwick, L. (2020). Women’s outdoor adventure experiences on Instagram: Exploring user-generated content. Annals of leisure research. http://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2020.1815068
Doran, A., Schofield, P., & Low, T. (2020). Women's mountaineering: accessing participation benefits through constraint negotiation strategies. Leisure Studies. http://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2020.1763439
Doran, A., & Pomfret, G. (2019). Exploring efficacy in personal constraint negotiation: an ethnography of mountaineering tourists. Tourist studies. http://doi.org/10.1177/1468797619837965
Doran, A., Schofield, P., & Low, T. (2018). Women's mountaineering tourism: an empirical investigation of its theoretical constraint dimensions. Leisure Studies, 37 (4), 396-410. http://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2018.1452283
Doran, A. (2016). Empowerment and women in adventure tourism : a negotiated journey. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 20 (1), 57-80. http://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2016.1176594
Book chapters
Rantala, O., Pomfret, G., & Doran, A. (2024). Reconceptualising adventure tourism. In Pomfret, G., Doran, A., & Cater, C. (Eds.) Routledge International Handbook of Adventure Tourism. Routledge
Rantala, O., Pomfret, G., & Doran, A. (2024). Reconceptualising adventure tourism. In Pomfret, G., Doran, A., & Cater, C. (Eds.) Routledge International Handbook of Adventure Tourism. Routledge
Doran, A., & Schofield, P. (2023). Tourism and the Seasons. In Goulding, P. (Ed.) Tourism: A temporal analysis. Oxford, Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635840-5446
Doran, A., & Kim, S. (2023). Nature and Time. In Goulding, P. (Ed.) Tourism: A temporal analysis. Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635840-5447
Schofield, P., Doran, A., & Nolan, R. (2017). Assessing the walkability of urban public space with GIS technology: The hidden dimensions of security and community heritage. In The Routledge international handbook of walking. (pp. 369-378). Abingdon, Oxford: Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-International-Handbook-of-Walking/Hall-Ram-Shoval/p/book/9781138195349
Pomfret, G., & Doran, A. (2015). Gender and mountaineering tourism. In Musa, G., Thompson-Carr, A., & Higham, J. (Eds.) Mountaineering Tourism. (pp. 138-155). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315769202
Reports
Richards, K., Doran, A., Brett, C., Wingfield, H., & Schofield, P. (2022). The Outjoyment Report: a research report on the well-being and mental health benefits of camping. IMPACT REPORT. The Camping and Caravanning Club. https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/-/media/Files/Outjoyment-Report/The-Outjoyment-Report-Impact-Report-Web.pdf?rev=296c20b0a9794c39858b1feaa7e8ed61
Doran, A., & Hall, J. (2020). Researching Women in Mountaineering, UK. Unpublished.
Gregory, M., Pomfret, G., & Doran, A. (2020). The Outdoor City Adventure Breaks - Evaluation Report.
Theses / Dissertations
Wingfield, H.L. (2023). A critical analysis of the relationship between cycling tourism and wellbeing. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Doran, A., & Ali, A. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00526
Doran, A. (2019). Women's mountaineering tourism experiences: The constraint negotiation process and benefits of participation. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Pomfret, G. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00203
Presentations
Doran, A., & Richards, K. (2022). The Outjoyment Report: A study into the well-being and mental health benefits of camping in the great outdoors. Presented at: Adventure Mind, Kingswood Outdoor Centre, Dearne Valley
Doran, A., & Richards, K. (2022). The Outjoyment Report: A study into the well-being and mental health benefits of camping in the great outdoors. Presented at: The Motorhome and Caravan Show, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Doran, A. (2022). BMC Equity Webinar Series: Women in the Outdoors. Presented at: BMC Equity Webinar Series, Online
Doran, A. (2022). Women in Adventure.
Doran, A. (2021). Women's outdoor adventure experiences on Instagram: Exploring user-generated content. Presented at: Tourism in the Digital Era, Online
Doran, A., Low, T., & Miller, M. (2019). #womeninadventure: Exploring women’s representation on Instagram. Presented at: International Adventure Conference, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Doran, A., & Low, T. (2019). Accessing benefits from mountaineering tourism: Female negotiation strategies. Presented at: International Adventure Conference, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Doran, A. (2018). Women's mountaineering tourism: An empirical investigation of its theoretical constraint dimensions. Presented at: International Adventure Conference - Climates of Change: Rethinking the Outdoor Experience, Segovia, La Granja and Valsain, Spain
Doran, A. (2017). Women's mountaineering tourism: An empirical investigation of its theoretical constraint dimensions. Presented at: Sustainable Tourism Development Conference - Issues, Challenges and Debates, Kathmandu, Nepal
Doran, A. (2017). Women's mountaineering tourism: an empirical investigation of its theoretical constraint dimensions.
Doran, A. (2016). Using phenomenology-based ethnography to examine mountaineering tourism experiences: A critical analysis. Presented at: Sheffield Business School Doctoral Conference, Sheffield Hallam University
Doran, A. (2014). Empowerment and women in adventure tourism: A negotiated journey. Presented at: International Adventure Conference - Adventures in empty lands: The difference and value of wild places, Sogndal, Norway
Pomfret, G., & Doran, A. (2014). The role of gender in mountaineering tourism. Presented at: Adventure Tourism Research Association Seminar, Sheffield Hallam University
Doran, A. (2012). A review of the current literature on female adventure tourists. Presented at: PhD Colloquium, Sheffield, UK
Doran, A. (2012). A review of the current literature on female adventure tourists. Presented at: Meanings, Markets and Magic. International Adventure Conference 2012 Fort William, Scotland, UK, University of the Highlands and Islands, Fort William, Scotland, UK
Other activities
Associate Editor of the World Leisure Journal
Member of the British Mountaineering Council’s Equity Steering Committee and Gender Equity Sub-Group Lead
Steering Committee Member of the Adventure Tourism Research Association
External Examiner for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David BA (Hons) Outdoor Adventure Education and MA Outdoor Education programmes
External Examiner for Northumbria University BA (Hons) Business and BA (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism Management programmes
Previously I was the External Examiner for the London Metropolitan University BA (Hons) Tourism and Travel Management programme
Postgraduate supervision
Current
Emily Pitts (PhD): Social capital and career progression in mountain leadership
Athena Barbas-Marcroft (PhD): Consumer decision-making in air travel: critical factors and the influence of environmental sustainability
James Westgarth (DBA): Heuristics and biases: A predictive framework for business travel managers
Nafisa Suliman (DBA): Impact of value chain governance of a tourism cluster on its stakeholders: a case study from Oman
Brintha Ketheswaran (PhD): Entrepreneurial ecosystems in Northern Sri Lanka's war-torn region: a gendered perspective
Nayla Shamas (DBA): Investigating the skills gaps for SME's in Pakistan
Completed
Harriet Wingfield (PhD): An investigation of the relationship between cycling tourists and wellbeing
If you are interested in undertaking a doctorate in any aspect of outdoor recreation, adventure tourism, tourism, for example, consumer behaviour, decent work/employment, gender, marketing, sustainability, leadership, management and operations, please get in touch. I am happy to discuss any ideas you have.