All scientific knowledge production must be based on being

able to control results (can be verified or otherwise) and
repeatable

 To reach this goals we need

agreed definitions and terminologies
agreed methods and models
agreed ways of documentation of sources

 But: Scientific results are also part of non-scientific debates, for example:

- Evolution theory

- Use of Nuclear Power

- Genetic engineering

- Global Warming

- Creationism / Intelligent Design
  (57% of US-americans believe in creation by god, 33% believe Darwin is right)

 The four different kinds of scientific methods:

  Experiment (mainly in natural sciences)

  Empirical Research (mainly in social sciences)

  Hermeneutical Research (mainly in social sciences)

  Construction (mainly in Engineering)

 In Tourism Science the first three kinds of methods are used.

 As Tourism Science is a very young discipline, it is very important to justify, discuss and explain the used methods.

 Finally: The theft of ideas and texts of other people is not an acceptable scientific method.