Abstract
Technological advancement provides opportunities for improvements in the methods academics use in their research. Traditional studies of advertising and interpretive material effectiveness typically use self-report surveys that are subject to subjectivity and data validity bias. Eye-tracking technology provides researchers with an alternative, objective research method to study the processes involved in visual attention to and interest in such stimuli. Psychological research on eye movements began around one hundred years ago, but the recent development of cheap and reliable eye-tracking equipment makes it more accessible to tourism researchers, both for laboratory and in-situ data collection. Application of such eye-tracking methods may enlarge our understanding of our tourists’ attention and perception as cognitive processes. This chapter provides a review of eye-tracking methods, its theoretical basis, advantages and disadvantages, data collection and analysis procedures. Gaps in knowledge and topics for future research are provided.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Afrooz A, White D, Neuman M (2014) Which visual cues are important in way-finding? Measuring the influence of travel mode on visual memory for built environments. Paper presented at the universal design 2014: three days of creativity and diversity. Proceedings of the international conference on universal design, UD 2014 Lund, Sweden, June 16–18, 2014
Aicher J, Asiimwe F, Batchuluun B, Hauschild M, Zöhrer M, Egger R (2016) Online hotel reviews: rating symbols or text… text or rating symbols? That is the question! In: Inversini A, Schegg R (eds) Information and communication technologies in tourism 2016. Springer, Bilbao, pp 369–382
Antúnez L, Giménez A, Maiche A, Ares G (2015) Influence of interpretation aids on attentional capture, visual processing, and understanding of front-of-package nutrition labels. J Nutr Educ Behav 47(4):292–299
Atalay A, Bodur H, Rasolofoarison D (2012) Shining in the center: central gaze cascade effect on product choice. J Consum Res 39(4):848–866
Bastanlar Y (2007) User behaviour in web-based interactive virtual tours. Paper presented at the 29th international conference on information technology interfaces, Cavtat, Croatia
Bebko C, Sciulli L, Bhagat P (2014) Using eye tracking to assess the impact of advertising appeals on donor behavior. J Nonprofit Publ Sect Market 26(4):354–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/10495142.2014.965073
Benbunan-Fich R (2001) Using protocol analysis to evaluate the usability of a commercial web site. Inf Manag 39(2):151–163
Berenbaum E, Latimer-Cheung A (2014) Examining the link between framed physical activity ads and behavior among women. J Sport Exerc Psychol 36(3):271–280
Bergstrom J, Schall A (2014) Eye tracking in user experience design. Morgan Kaufmann, Amsterdam
Blignaut P, Beelders T (2012) The precision of eye-trackers: a case for a new measure. Paper presented at the proceedings of the symposium on eye tracking research and applications, Santa Barbara, California
Bojko A (2009) Informative or misleading? Heatmaps deconstructed. In: Jacko JA (ed) Human-computer interaction. New trends. Springer, San Diego, CA, pp 30–39
Breuer C, Rumpf C (2012) The viewer’s reception and processing of sponsorship information in sport telecasts. J Sport Manag 26(6):521–531
Cheal M, Lyon DR (1991) Central and peripheral precuing of forced-choice discrimination. Q J Exp Psychol 43(4):859–880
Chua HF, Boland J, Nisbett R (2005) Cultural variation in eye movements during scene perception. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(35):12629–12633
Cornsweet T, Crane H (1973) Accurate two-dimensional eye tracker using first and fourth Purkinje images. J Opt Soc Am 63:921–928
Davenport TH, Beck JC (2001) The attention economy: understanding the new currency of business. Harvard Business Press, Boston, MA
Djamasbi S, Siegel M, Tullis T (2010) Generation Y, web design, and eye tracking. Int J Hum Comput Stud 68(5):307–323
Drèze X, Hussherr F (2003) Internet advertising: is anybody watching? J Interact Mark 17(4):8–23
Duchowski A (2002) A breadth-first survey of eye-tracking applications. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput 34(4):455–470
Dupont L, Antrop M, Van Eetvelde V (2014) Eye-tracking analysis in landscape perception research: influence of photograph properties and landscape characteristics. Landsc Res 39(4):417–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2013.773966
Eghbal-Azar K, Widlok T (2013) Potentials and limitations of Mobile eye tracking in visitor studies: evidence from field research at two museum exhibitions in Germany. Soc Sci Comput Rev 31(1):103–118
Ellert G, Schafmeister G, Mueller F, Dallwig S, Phelan S (2014) The influence of alcohol on advertising perception and recall during a sports viewing experience. Eur Sport Manag Q 14(2):153–170
Eraslan S, Yesilada Y, Harper S (2016) Eye tracking scanpath analysis on web pages: how many users? Paper presented at the proceedings of the ninth biennial ACM symposium on eye tracking research & applications, Charleston, SC
Ert E, Fleischer A (2016) Mere position effect in booking hotels online. J Travel Res 55(3):311–321. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287514559035
Fitts P, Jones R, Milton J (1950) Eye movements of aircraft pilots during instrument-landing approaches. Aerosp Eng Rev 9(2):24–29
Gena C, De Carolis B, Kuflik T, Nunnari F (2016) Advanced visual interfaces for cultural heritage. Paper presented at the proceedings of the international working conference on advanced visual interfaces, Bari, Italy
Goldberg J, Helfman J (2010) Comparing information graphics: a critical look at eye tracking. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 3rd BELIV’10 workshop: beyond time and errors: novel evaluation methods for information visualization, Atlanta, Georgia
Goldberg J, Kotval X (1998) Eye movement-based evaluation of the computer interface. In: Kumar SK (ed) Advances in occupational ergonomics and safety. IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp 529–532
Goldberg J, Kotval X (1999) Computer interface evaluation using eye movements: methods and constructs. Int J Ind Ergon 24(6):631–645
Goldberg J, Wichansky A (2002) Eye tracking in usability evaluation: a practitioner’s guide. In: Hyona J, Radach R, Deubel H (eds) The mind’s eye: cognitive and applied aspects of our eye movement research. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 493–516
Goldberg J, Stimson M, Lewenstein M, Scott N, Wichansky A (2002) Eye tracking in web search tasks: design implications. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 2002 symposium on eye tracking research & applications, New Orleans, LA
Govers R, Go F, Kumar K (2007) Promoting tourism destination image. J Travel Res 46(1):15–23
Grant L, Bowling A (2015) Gambling attitudes and beliefs predict attentional bias in non-problem gamblers. J Gambl Stud 31(4):1487–1503
Green B, Murray N, Warner S (2011) Understanding website useability: an eye–tracking study of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games website. Int J Sport Manag Mark 10(3):257–271
Hao J-X, Tang R, Yu Y, Li N, Law R (2015) Visual appeal of hotel websites: an exploratory eye tracking study on Chinese generation Y. In: Tussyadiah I, Inversini A (eds) Information and communication technologies in tourism 2015. Springer, Lugano, pp 607–620
Hellmann A, Yeow C, De Mello L (2017) The influence of textual presentation order and graphical presentation on the judgements of non-professional investors. Account Bus Res 47(4):455–470
Henderson J, Hollingworth A (1999) High-level scene perception. Annu Rev Psychol 50(1):243–271
Hernandez-Mendez J, Munoz-Leiva F (2015) What type of online advertising is most effective for eTourism 2.0? An eye tracking study based on the characteristics of tourists. Comput Hum Behav 50:618–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.017
Holmqvist K, Nyström M, Mulvey F (2012) Eye tracker data quality: what it is and how to measure it. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the symposium on eye tracking research and applications, Santa Barbara, CA
Hui S, Fader P, Bradlow E (2009) Path data in marketing: an integrative framework and prospectus for model building. Mark Sci 28(2):320–335
Jacob R, Karn K (2003) Eye tracking in human-computer interaction and usability research: ready to deliver the promises. Mind 2(3):4
Johansen S, Hansen J (2006) Do we need eye trackers to tell where people look? Paper presented at the CHI’06 Extended abstracts on human factors in computing systems, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Kiefer P, Giannopoulos I, Kremer D, Schlieder C, Raubal M (2014) Starting to get bored: An outdoor eye tracking study of tourists exploring a city panorama. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the symposium on eye tracking research and applications, Safety Harbor, FL
Kuhl BA, Chun MM (2014) Memory and attention. In: Nobre AC, Kastner S (eds) The Oxford handbook of attention. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 806–836
Lai M-L, Tsai M-J, Yang F-Y, Hsu C-Y, Liu T-C, Lee SW-Y, Tsai C-C (2013) A review of using eye-tracking technology in exploring learning from 2000 to 2012. Educ Res Rev 10:90–115
Land MF (1999) Motion and vision: why animals move their eyes. J Comp Physiol A 185(4):341–352
Lee WJ, Gretzel U (2012) Designing persuasive destination websites: a mental imagery processing perspective. Tour Manag 33(5):1270–1280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.10.012
Li S, Scott N, Walters GA (2015) Current and potential methods for measuring emotion in tourism experiences: a review. Curr Issue Tour 18(9):805–827
Li Q, Huang ZJ, Christianson K (2016a) Visual attention toward tourism photographs with text: an eye-tracking study. Tour Manag 54:243–258
Li S, Walters G, Packer J, Scott N (2016b) Using skin conductance and facial electromyography to measure emotional responses to tourism advertising. Curr Issue Tour 21(15):1–23
Lorigo L, Haridasan M, Brynjarsdóttir H, Xia L, Joachims T, Gay G et al (2008) Eye tracking and online search: lessons learned and challenges ahead. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol 59(7):1041–1052
Ma J, Campos A, Li S, Gardiner S, Scott N (2016) Attention, emotion and hedonic service experiences: managing and delivering Services in the Asian Century. Worldwide Hosp Tour Themes 8(1):53–60
Marchiori E, Cantoni L (2015) Studying online contents navigation: a comparison between eye-tracking technique and self-reported investigation. In: Tussyadiah I, Inversini A (eds) Information and communication technologies in tourism 2015. Springer, Lugano, pp 349–359
Mariussen A, Von Ibenfeldt C, Vespestad MK (2014) The typology and role of online information sources in destination image formation: an eye-tracking study. Int J Digit Account Res 14(20):141–164
Mele M, Federici S (2012) Gaze and eye-tracking solutions for psychological research. Cogn Process 13(1):261–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-012-0499-z
Naspetti S, Pierdicca R, Mandolesi S, Paolanti M, Frontoni E, Zanoli R (2016) Automatic analysis of eye-tracking data for augmented reality applications: a prospective outlook. Paper presented at the third international conference on augmented reality, virtual reality and computer graphics: (AVR), Lecce, Italy
Nelson D, Graham D, Harnack L (2014) An objective measure of nutrition facts panel usage and nutrient quality of food choice. J Nutr Educ Behav 46(6):589–594
Noone B, Robson S (2014) Using eye tracking to obtain a deeper understanding of what drives online hotel choice. Cornell Hosp Rep 14(18):6–16
Noone B, Robson S (2016) Understanding consumers’ inferences from Price and nonprice information in the online lodging purchase decision. Serv Sci 8(2):108–123
Orquin J, Loose S (2013) Attention and choice: a review on eye movements in decision making. Acta Psychol 144(1):190–206
Pan B, Hembrooke H, Gay G, Granka L, Feusner M, Newman J (2004) The determinants of web page viewing behavior: an eye-tracking study. Paper presented at the proceedings of the 2004 symposium on eye tracking research & applications, New York
Pan B, Zhang L, Smith K (2011) A mixed-method study of user behavior and usability on an online travel agency. Inf Technol Tour 13(4):353–364
Pan B, Zhang L, Law R (2013) The complex matter of online hotel choice. Cornell Hosp Q 54(1):74–83
Posner M (1980) Orienting of attention. Q J Exp Psychol 32(1):3–25
Potocka I (2013) The lakescape in the eyes of a tourist. Quaestiones Geographicae 32(3):85–97
Rayner K (1998) Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. Psychol Bull 124(3):372–422
Rayner K, Castelhano MS (2008) Eye movements during reading, scene perception, visual search, and while looking at print advertisements. In: Wedel M, Pieters R (eds) Visual Marketing: From Attention to Action, vol 1. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 9–42. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203809617
Rayner K, Rotello C, Stewart A, Keir J, Duffy S (2001) Integrating text and pictorial information: eye movements when looking at print advertisements. J Exp Psychol Appl 7(3):219–226
Ro T, Friggel A, Lavie N (2007) Attentional biases for faces and body parts. Vis Cogn 15(3):322–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/13506280600590434
Rosa P (2015) What do your eyes say? Bridging eye movements to consumer behavior. Int J Psychol Res 8(2):91–104
Salvucci D, Goldberg J (2000) Identifying fixations and saccades in eye-tracking protocols. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 2000 symposium on eye tracking research & applications, Florida, USA
Samant S, Seo H-S (2016) Effects of label understanding level on consumers’ visual attention toward sustainability and process-related label claims found on chicken meat products. Food Qual Prefer 50:48–56
Sang Å, Tveit M, Pihel J, Hägerhäll C (2016) Identifying cues for monitoring stewardship in Swedish pasture landscapes. Land Use Policy 53:20–26
Schlosser A (2003) Experiencing products in the virtual world: the role of goal and imagery in influencing attitudes versus purchase intentions. J Consum Res 30(2):184–198
Schütz A, Braun D, Gegenfurtner K (2011) Eye movements and perception: a selective review. J Vis 11(5):1–30
Schwarz N (1999) Self-reports: how the questions shape the answers. Am Psychol 54(2):93
Scott N, Green C, Fairley S (2016) Investigation of the use of eye-tracking to examine tourism advertising effectiveness. Curr Issue Tour 19(7):634–642
Scott N, Zhang R, Le D, Moyle B (2019) A review of eye-tracking research in tourism. Curr Issue Tour 22:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1367367
Sivaji A, Tzuaan S, Yang L, Bin Ali Russin M (2014) Hotel photo gallery and Malaysian travelers: preliminary findings. Paper presented at the user science and engineering (i-USEr), 2014 3rd international conference Shah Alam, Malaysia
Steciuk H, Zwierko T (2015) Gaze behavior in basketball shooting: preliminary investigations. Trends Sport Sci 22(2):89–94
Tatler BW (2009) Current understanding of eye guidance. Vis Cogn 17(6–7):777–789. https://doi.org/10.1080/13506280902869213
Tzuaan S, Sivaji A, Yong L, Zanegenh M, Shan L (2014) Measuring Malaysian M-commerce user behaviour. Paper presented at the computer and information sciences (ICCOINS), 2014 international conference (ICCOINS), Kuala Lumpur
Wang Y, Sparks B (2016) An eye-tracking study of tourism photo stimuli: image characteristics and ethnicity. J Travel Res 55(5):588–602. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287514564598
Wedel M, Pieters R (2008) A review of eye-tracking research in marketing. Rev Mark Res 4(2008):123–147
Wolfson J, Graham D, Bleich S (2017) Attention to physical activity–equivalent calorie information on nutrition facts labels: an eye-tracking investigation. J Nutr Educ Behav 49(1):35–42
Xie K, Lee Y-J (2015) Hotels at our fingertips: understanding consumer conversion from search, click-through, to book. Click-through, to book (May 22, 2015)
Yang S (2012) Eye movements on restaurant menus: a revisitation on gaze motion and consumer scanpaths. Int J Hosp Manag 31(3):1021–1029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2011.12.008
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Le, D., Hadinejad, A., Moyle, B., Ma, J., Scott, N. (2020). A Review of Eye-Tracking Methods in Tourism Research. In: Rainoldi, M., Jooss, M. (eds) Eye Tracking in Tourism. Tourism on the Verge. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49709-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49709-5_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-49708-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-49709-5
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)