Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Extraordinary experiences'

Tourists are now visiting some of the most remote and amazing places on Earth, travelling to �frontiers� on journeys that are psychological and emotional as well as geographical or physical. These extraordinary journeys to the Poles, the peaks of the highest mountains in the world, harsh deserts and even outer space test both physical and mental endurance and can be characterised as �unique� even in the current era. Travelling largely without the aid of a commercial tour operator or guide, the frontier traveller usually invests a great deal of time and resources in their travel experience, often with the assistance of sponsorship, and generally takes part in an extensive and arduous preparation period in their quest for the extraordinary. While the search for new and unique tourism destinations and experiences appears to be relentless in this post-modern era, the frontier traveller appears to be searching for the �authentic� beyond the �tourist bubble,� both in relation to self and setting. These frontier �trailblazers� are already being followed by guided adventure tourists and some of the former are supplementing their incomes and funding their own travel by leading tours or guiding others to the frontier. Studying the extraordinary experiences of the frontier traveller could therefore provide us with a glimpse of the future of travel, although likely to occur in a more structured and less risky guise. Uncovering the motivations for this form of travel will also assist with future marketing of these experiences, including elements of the marketing mix such as product development and promotion. This thesis examines the motivations behind frontier travel and considers the implications of the findings for tourism marketing. Unstructured, long interviews with 37 individuals were used to uncover the motivations behind these experiences, supplemented by content analysis of narratives produced by frontier travellers, encompassing 50 autobiographies, two online diaries and online interviews with two individuals. The interview participants were largely selected through purposive sampling, in that they were screened as fitting the criteria of a past or potential frontier traveller before being interviewed. They were predominantly born and living in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and 29 of the 37 individuals were male. Ages of participants ranged from 24 to 60 years of age. Interviews continued until saturation of categories of motivation had been reached. Texts were mainly located through searches of bookshops and libraries, including the author�s personal library. A qualitative methodological approach was chosen in order to provide rich data and allow the researcher to enter the world of the frontier traveller. An interpretive paradigm based on a constructivist paradigm underpinned this study, with an ontological stance based on multiple realities and an epistemological position where participants and myself as the researcher created understandings. The methodology outlined above was consistent with this position and was designed to identify different constructions of the data and seek consensus, where possible. The literature on motivations provides a complex plethora of theories and models, many of which contradict each other, so a principal objective of this study was to work from first principles, grounding a theory of motivations pertaining to frontier travel experiences in the data, rather than seeking to test out a pre-existing model or theory. Overall, the research findings show that motivations for frontier travel can be analysed under the broad heading of �adventure,� which is composed of a variety of sub-motives such as achievement and competence, challenge, thrill-seeking and sensation, ego, dreams or fantasies, self-actualisation, cognizance (exploration/discovery), freedom/escape motives (autonomy), isolation and solitude, spirituality, camaraderie and communitas, authenticity, prestige (external rewards), pro-social motives and a love of nature and wilderness. Risk or danger is an element of these experiences and feeds into many of the motivations identified in this study. A theory of motivations behind frontier travel experiences has been developed, covering intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, as well as achievement-motivated behaviour. Pre-travel influences and inspirations such as literature, cinema, visual stimuli, childhood games, heroes and mentors, family influences and educative influences are also considered with respect to their effect on motivational behaviour. An exploratory typology was then developed for frontier travellers, based on common motivations, which might be used to segment the market. Four basic types have been identified and labelled or categorised as �Seekers of Truth,� �Enlightened Explorers,� �Concerned Elitists,� and �Freedom Seekers.� Key motivations behind specific frontier travel experiences have also been identified. Each frontier traveller will exhibit some, but not all, of the motivations highlighted in this study. Segmenting the market on the basis of motivations may therefore be a difficult, if not impossible task. However, marketers could use the information unearthed during this study in the marketing mix to develop new products aimed at satisfying some of the key motivations and use the findings as themes to be highlighted in promotional literature such as brochures and websites. This thesis also argues that the study of travel motivations in the future would be better served by considering motivations behind market niches such as frontier travel, rather than attempting to develop a comprehensive theory of motivations covering the whole travel industry.

This thesis is a study of Transcendent Exceptional Human Experiences (TEHEs), with a particular focus on language. Three concepts effectively characterise the experiences of interest: a loss of time and space, connection with nature, the Universe or something Higher and a deep emotional affect. In considering the relevance of these experiences for sociology, it is argued that language is a social activity and TEHE accounts are therefore also social. However, this raises a paradox: whilst these experiences are often claimed to be ineffable, language is all we have with which to study them. Previous approaches to TEHEs in social science generally looked for explanations and tended to overlook this social aspect. Interviews were collected and analysed using a set of methodological principles informed by Conversation Analysis and Discursive Psychology, but also by feminist and transpersonal research. These principles identify the important and relevant aspects from the influential methodologies and where possible, address perceived limitations, incompatibilities and criticisms of these approaches. The analysis reveals the structure of the TEHE accounts and establishes the presence of some normative patterns. Reported thought is analysed as a discursive device. It is argued that reported thought works to negotiate epistemic authority and experiential responsibility (the agency of TEHEs and the rationality of the speaker faced with an extraordinary experience). Respondents’ spontaneous accounts of self-transformation are also analysed and show how potentially sensitive issues concerning the discursive construction of identity, consistency and change are managed in talk. This research contributes to discursive psychology and linguistic analyses concerning reported thought and agency. It also contributes to discursive work regarding identity, whilst making links with consciousness studies and (tentatively with) sociology of spirituality. Finally, this thesis emphasises the importance of an empathic and respectful approach to TEHEs and identifies various pragmatic, intellectual and personal tensions faced during research.

Le marketing expérientiel s’est construit autour d’une promesse : être en capacité de créer et d’offrir à ses clients des expériences extraordinaires. Ce cadre théorique, qui a plus de trente ans, s’inscrit dans une vision traditionnelle du marketing ; l’entreprise doit créer de la valeur pour ses clients et dans le paradigme expérientiel, cette création passe par la mise en place d’un contexte expérientiel visant à ré-enchanter la consommation. Ce constat a soulevé plusieurs interrogations chez l’auteur : d’une part l’entreprise peut-elle créer des expériences ? et d’autre part qu’entendons-nous par « ré-enchantement » ? Ce sont ces interrogations qui ont nourri la réflexion de départ de cette thèse. Cette réflexion a conduit à la formulation d’une problématique et des questions de recherche autour de l’expérience ordinaire vécue par le consommateur.En marketing plusieurs auteurs ont identifié les principaux aspects qui ressortent des expériences ordinaires des consommateurs. Néanmoins, ces recherches ne permettent pas de saisir ce qu’elles représentent du point de vue du consommateur. Pourtant, dans une optique managériale, identifier « l’ordinaire » du point de vue du consommateur permettrait aux entreprises de comprendre où se situe la valeur que celui-ci perçoit de l’expérience qu’il a qualifié d’ordinaire. Ainsi, cela permettrait aux entreprises de mettre en place des dispositifs ciblés pour améliorer l’ordinaire de leurs clients à travers la mise en œuvre d’un marketing du quotidien. Grâce à la mise en œuvre d’une méthodologie qualitative (entretiens compréhensifs et photo-élicitation), cette thèse s’interroge sur la compréhension du vécu des consommateurs dans des expériences qu’ils qualifient aux-même d’ordinaires. C’est à travers l’articulation des travaux scientifiques et de l’apport original de la littérature que cette recherche fournit une analyse de cet univers ordinaire à travers la consommation. S’interroger sur ce qui est constitutif de ce type d’expérience permet de proposer une grille de lecture de celle-ci en donnant des clés de compréhension du sens que les consommateurs lui donne
Experiential marketing is built around a promise: to be able to create and offer its customers extraordinary experiences. This theoretical framework, which is over thirty years old, is part of a traditional vision of marketing; the company must create value for its customers and in the experiential paradigm, this creation involves the setting up of an experiential context aiming at re-enchanting the consumption.This observation has raised several questions for the author: on the one hand can the company create experiments? and on the other hand what do we mean by "re-enchantment"? These are the questions that nourished the initial reflection of this thesis. This reflection led to the formulation of a problem and research questions around the ordinary experience lived by the consumer.In marketing several authors have identified the main aspects that emerge from the ordinary experiences of consumers. Nevertheless, this research does not capture what they represent from the point of view of the consumer. However, from a managerial perspective, identifying the "ordinary" from the consumer's point of view will enable companies to understand where the value they perceive from the experience they have described as ordinary is. Thus, this would allow companies to set up measures devices to improve the ordinary of their customers through the implementation of a daily marketing. Thanks to a qualitative methodology (interviews and photo-analysis), this research examines the understanding of consumers' experiences through experiences they describe as ordinary. With the help of scientific works and the original contribution of literature that this thesis provides an analysis of this ordinary universe through consumption. Searching what constitutes this type of experience makes it possible to interpretative framework which will help understand the meaning that consumers attach to it

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att få en djupare förståelse för vad företagen anser behövs för att upplevelser ska bli lyckade och minnesvärda. Vi vill även ta reda på vad företagen tycker utmärker en extraordinär upplevelse. Metod: Till vår uppsats har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ metod som består av semistrukturerade intervjuer, mejlintervjuer och en telefonintervju. Totalt har sex intervjuer utförts med sex olika upplevelseföretag. Slutsatser: Personal och deras bemötande är viktigt för att upplevelsen ska bli lyckad. Platsen där upplevelsen utövas har också stor betydelse och den kan utformas på ett sätt som mer eller mindre kan påverka besökarnas känslor. Upplevelserummet har en stor påverkan på helhetsintrycket. En minnesvärd upplevelse behöver involvera besökarnas känslor. Besökarna behöver känna sig delaktiga i upplevelsen och sinnena bör stimuleras för att upplevelsen ska bli minnesvärd. En extraordinär upplevelse verkar behöva innehålla de beståndsdelar som lyckade och minnesvärda upplevelser har. Den bör även vara utvecklande på ett personligt plan.
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to gain a deeper understanding of what companies think is needed for experiences to become successful and memorable. We would also want to know what companies think distinguishes an extraordinary experience. Methodology: For this essay we have used a qualitative method that consists of semistructured interviews, e-mail interviews and one telephone interview. In total, six interviews were conducted with six different experience companies. Conclusions: Staff and their attitude is important for the experience to be successful. The place is also very important and it can be designed in a way that more or less can affect visitors' emotions. The experience room has a large impact on the overall impression. A memorable experience need to involve visitors' emotions. Visitors need to feel part of the experience and the senses should be stimulated for the experience to be memorable. An extraordinary experience must contain the elements of a successful and a memorable experience. It should also be developing on a personal level.

Through a critical examination of the works of Tom Robbins, this thesis interrogates the historical evolution and appropriation of the magic(al) realist tradition. In so doing, it situates Robbins’ writing within the framework of postmodernism, and explores the ontological implications inherent in Robbins’ use of magic(al) realist concepts and conventions. With a specific emphasis on the notion of cultural consciousness, this thesis analyzes the object- oriented cosmologies embodied and espoused in three of Robbins’ novels: Still Life with Woodpecker (1980), Skinny Legs and All (1990), and B is for Beer (2009). It unpacks the ideological figuration of various textual devices evident in Another Roadside Attraction (1971) and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1976) – particularly the gendered use of unreliable narrators – and, with reference to Jitterbug Perfume (1984), relates Robbins’ appropriation of the magic(al) realist tradition to the American counterculture movement of the 1960s and 70s. Employing poststructuralist, feminist, ecofeminist, and postcolonial discourses, this thesis ultimately seeks to position Robbins’ writing within the context of a radical emancipatory politics that views (and uses) literature as an ideological space in which to challenge, reinterpret, and democratize Western metanarratives.

Tese de Doutoramento, Ciências Económicas Empresariais, 9 de novembro de 2020.
O turismo de aventura é uma das grandes tendências atualmente (ATTA – Adventure Travel Travel Association, 2018a), através da qual turistas procuram escapar à vida quotidiana (Beames, et al., 2019). Este segmento tem crescido a taxas superiores ao mercado global do turismo (ATTA, 2013; 2018a), criando novos desafios às empresas. O mercado tem-se alterado rapidamente, trazendo novos perfis de turistas e um grande aumento da concorrência (Cloutier, 2003; Buckley, 2010a). A competitividade, mas também a tecnologia, a procura por viagens transformadoras (ATTA, 2018a), e a dificuldade em fornecer experiências a turistas com expetativas irrealistas (Lindberg & Østergaard, 2015; Lindberg & Eide, 2016) têm evidenciado a necessidade de desenvolver novos produtos e modelos de negócio. A natureza liminar e escapista das experiências extraordinárias de aventura (Arnould & Price, 1993), bem como o intenso significado pessoal que delas advém (Pomfret, 2012) parecem apropriadas para responder àquelas exigências do mercado. Contudo, o lado comercial do turismo de aventura tem sido pouco investigado (Buckley, 2006a; Cheng, et al., 2018). O presente estudo visou a verificação da existência de diferenças entre as idealizações, motivações, e preferências dos turistas de aventura, e as perceções que os profissionais de turismo de aventura têm desses fatores. Questionários aplicados a turistas e a profissionais de turismo permitiram a recolha de dados quantitativos e a aplicação de métodos estatísticos, enquanto entrevistas a profissionais do setor, bem como a observação direta e a participação em experiências de aventura originaram dados qualitativos. Como conclusão geral, é possível referir que os profissionais de turismo necessitam compreender melhor os seus clientes, mas nota-se, também, que os turistas têm expetativas irrealistas que afetam as suas experiências e como os produtos estão a ser estruturados. Porém, parece consensual que o desejo de escape dos turistas favorece a transição para um mundo liminar de aventura, onde um diferente contacto com a natureza, experiências de pico, e emoções contrastantes criam momentos de elação e grande satisfação. Utilizando a Economia da Experiência (Pine & Gilmore, 1999), e considerando a variáveis de mercantilização de Cloke e Perkins (2002), empresas de animação turística podem ter ferramentas para orquestrar experiências que perdurem na memória dos seus clientes, enquanto mantêm eficiência, segurança, e grande satisfação.
ABSTRACT: Adventure is one of the greatest trends in tourism today (ATTA - Adventure Travel Trade Association, 2018a), through which tourists seek to escape ordinary living (Beames, et al., 2019). It has been growing at higher rates than the general tourism market (ATTA, 2013; 2018a), comprising new challenges to adventure providers. The market has been changing very fast, bringing new tourists’ profiles and increases in the competition (Cloutier, 2003; Buckley, 2010a). Competitiveness, but also technology, the search for transformative travel (ATTA, 2018a), and the difficulty in providing experiences to tourists with unrealistic expectations (Lindberg & Østergaard, 2015; Lindberg & Eide, 2016) have highlighted the need to develop new products and business models. The liminal and escapist nature of extraordinary adventure experiences (Arnould & Price, 1993), as well as the intense personal meaning derived from them (Pomfret, 2012), seem appropriate for addressing those market demands. However, the business side of adventure tourism has received little research attention (Buckley, 2006a; Cheng, et al., 2018). The present study has been developed with the aim to investigate differences between adventure tourists’ idealizations, motivations, and preferences, and the perceptions of adventure providers regarding those features. Questionnaires for tourists and tourism professionals allowed the collection of quantitative data and the application of statistical methods. Qualitative data was collected through interviewing adventure tourism professionals, as well as through direct observation and participation in adventure experiences. As a general conclusion, it can be remarked that tourism professionals need to have a better understanding of their clients motivations, but it also seems that tourists have unrealistic expectations that can affect how their experiences unfold and how products are being structured. Still, it seems clear that both sides agree that tourists’ desire to escape enables a transition into a liminal world of adventure, where a different contact with nature, peak experiences, and contrasting emotions create moments of elation and deep satisfaction. Using the Experience Economy (Pine & Gilmore, 1999) framework, and considering Cloke and Perkins’ (2002) commodification variables, adventure providers might have the tools to orchestrate experiences that will endure in the memory of their customers, while keeping efficiency, safety, and high satisfaction.

Sport providers should be concerned with the participant experience, and in particular extraordinary experiences, as they have the potential to shift participant behaviors and attitudes to those desired by sport organizations. Extraordinary experiences are characterized by interpersonal interactions, separation from the usual, and feelings of self-transformation or personal growth (Arnould & Price, 1993). Due to the power, intensity, and transformative effects of these experiences, they can generate lasting shifts in beliefs and attitudes (Schouten, McAlexander & Koenig, 2007). This research project examined the relationship between the extraordinary experience and the personal transformation by examining the characteristics of the experience and impacts on participants. Texas 4000 is a community of cancer fighters who “train, fundraise, educate, and bring hope to those with cancer” for one year before their experience culminates with a 4,000 mile bike ride. University students apply to participate, and once accepted they begin planning, fundraising, volunteering and training for their ride to Alaska. Along the ride, they interact with members of the communities they pass through to spread “hope, knowledge, and charity.” Over 400 individuals have completed the ride within the last ten years. For this study, alumni participated in in-depth interviews about their experience and how it impacted their life. Participant impacts included feelings of empowerment, new perspectives and appreciations, a sense of meaning and purpose, and strong relationships that resulted in a sense of community with other riders, the organization, and the larger cancer community. Importantly, participants’ history and backgrounds influenced how participants interacted with the community and the impacts that they felt. Additionally, the extraordinary experience of the ride created enduring change in participants; the preparation for the extraordinary experience was not as impactful and merely allowed participants to develop the necessary skills to participate in the summer ride.
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碩士
南華大學
生死學研究所
99
This study aims at discussing the impact of “Extraordinary Experiences” on the anticipants to a critical time of “Spiritual Emergency,” the process and significance thus aroused. Generally, it’ s hard backing to a normal living state for individuals who have encountered with their unique “Extraordinary Experiences,” the request for the life meanings and the way of knowing the world will be the result. 　 　　The definition of “Extraordinary Experience” focuses on the multiple recognitions of our daily world and the doubts among the existential conditions in which people rely on. The abilities of extrasensory perception (ESP), the anticipants thus acquired whatever before or after their experiences, turn out to be the reason of their “Spiritual Emergencies.” To a world that is no more the same as usual, our anticipants here confront with an embarrassing situation that is hard to explain by words, owing to the fear of being misunderstood. Moreover, the researcher’s personal “Extraordinary Experience” is the origin of this study. 　 　　There are six chapters in total, aside from the Introduction section, the Hermeneutics Phenomenology will be adopted as the methodology. From the viewpoints of Transpersonal and Parapsychology, researcher here intends to figure out the whole process and the realization of and from these Experiences. The life backgrounds of our anticipants, the varies aspects of “Extraordinary Experience,” the occurrence and difficulties will be discussed in Chapter Four while we put attention on the essence of paradox, the meanings and prospect of our anticipants in Chapter Five. In Chapter Six, the classification of “ESP” and conclusions are included as well. 　 　　In order to answer the questions we have proposed about the origin and significance of the “Extraordinary Experience” and the “Spiritual Emergency” in Chapter One, five conclusions as a result are offered: Firstly, the crisis here represents the paradox of self identity recognition. Secondly, the crisis will have a synthesize influences both on the aspects of relationship and life meaning. Thirdly, individuals are expected to welcome their experiences so as to a consciousness integration. Fourthly, individuals should cultivate themselves for a better understanding and thus broaden their vision. And fifthly, the better knowing of their own condition, the sooner way of building up social relationships among people.

碩士
國立雲林科技大學
創意生活設計碩士班
99
Humans gain knowledge and life experience through meticulously perceiving, remembering, and recalling information. By using the process of Schema, a mental framework focusing on a specific theme, we are able to easily recollect a shape or form. Utilizing Schema, one can look at a design and break it down to its simplest, no-frills denomination. Through this process, the shapes of a design not only becomes meaningful but also functional, making design more in-line with and useful in daily applications. Aside from the above, the experience also leaves one with a lasting impression. By changing the perspectives in which designs are studied, they are given new meaning and convey an original experience. With it, the interaction between people and products will be a “simple yet extraordinary experience”.

Disasters occur within the routines of everyday life and have a disruptive and destructive impact on human lives. To understand how older individuals make sense of a disaster, nine older adults in Kaitaia, New Zealand were interviewed about their experience of a flood they experienced in July 2007. These interviews were conducted with four residents living in a rest home and five pensioners living independently who were evacuated from their homes. The two groups differed in the levels of support and assistance received before, during, and after the disaster. The rest home residents experienced little disruption and did not require relocation; the pensioners experienced major disruption and relocation. Thematic analysis was used to describe how these older adults’ accounted for their experiences of the flood. The narratives were influenced by the participants’ identity as either dependent rest home residents or pensioners living independently in the community. The analysis revealed that their accounts of the disaster were incorporated and integrated into the personal and social context of each person’s life story. Narrative themes that emerged from the analysis for the pensioner group were: coping with limited assistance, the importance of treasured possessions, and social support and community. The pensioner themes reflected their vulnerability to a disaster and the challenges they faced during the post disaster recovery phase. Themes for the rest home residents were ageing and dependency, and the importance of protection, care, and trust. These themes reflected the dependent world of the rest home residents and the security of being cared for.

Bibliography: leaves 390-409.
vii, 409, 14, 12 leaves, [3] leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Concerned with how fifty people diagnosed with schizophrenia invested their world with meaning, utilizing the resources which were available to them in their daily lives. "Extraordinariness" which has its basis in personal experience, is elaborated and multiplied by the social conditions and institutional structures of people's everyday lives. As a consequence of their placement within a field of deinstitutionalized psychiatric services, participants continually traversed the border between their own extraordinary experiences (which highlighted their distinctiveness) and those experiences which were taken for granted by themselves as well as others (and which allowed them to lay an equal claim to ordinariness). In this context, schizophrenia serves as a particularly apt case study in the limits and possibilities of intersubjectivity which is explored as the capacity to render experience meaningful to both self and others.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Anthropology and Psychiatry, 1999

碩士
國立暨南國際大學
教育政策與行政學系
105
The study aimed to explore how an experienced elementary-school principal, Educational General, practices his authentic leadership and understand how his life experiences influence his authentic leadership practicing. Life history research was conducted, and interview, document analysis and observation were used to collect data. The major findings are as follows: 1.The practice of educational General’s authentic leadership: (1)He holds stable educational core value and reflects himself at all times. (2)He is self-disciplined and highly self-controlled, and has moral courage as well. (3)He keeps authentic leadership with school stakeholders through caring and serving others. (4)He has positive psychological capital, including hope, positive, and resilience. (5)He develops authentic followers actively. 2.The important life experiences in the development of Educational General’s authentic leadership. (1)Preparing for Leadership: He flunked in high school entrance exam. He was a leader of a harmonica club. He had multiple roles when he was a teacher. His uncle took possession of their estates. (2)Leading: He established a new elementary school. He quarreled with the leader of teachers’ association at his school after 921 earthquake. He helped students with severe disabilities return to public elementary school. (3)Giving back: He started to develop authentic followers. He entered and studied in a national university as doctor in central Taiwan. Based on the above conclusions, some suggestions are provided to new principals, school leaders, principal preparation administrations, and researchers.

The following diploma thesis deals with the analysis of two short stories by Adalbert Stifter from his collection Colorful stones - Rock Crystal and Granit. They were deliberately chosen, because in both stories children are the main protagonists. In these short stories there is always a boy and a girl, while the boy is always the one more experienced, and he protects the girl and brings her to safety. She follows him and obeys his instructions. Although the text contains many descriptions, it does not act statically because the heroes are on the run from danger, which gives the action dynamics. The text, the story, the language and the plot of the short stories as well as their common elements are analyzed. Furthermore, the theoretical concept, which is formulated in the preface to this collection, and whose major concepts are big and small, is confronted with the realization in these short stories. KEYWORDS Life, experience, ordinary, extraordinary, child, behaving, love, danger, nature, landscape, death