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Project number NdS/536437/2021/2022 “Research and Promotion of the Idea of Polishness and Regional Traditions in Thematic Villages of Eastern Poland”

The aim of the project is to study the promotion of the idea of Polishnes and regional traditions in 13 thematic villages in 3 provinces of Eastern Poland.

Project implementation period: May 2022 - May 2024

Funding amount: PLN 386,952.00

Total value of the project: PLN 386,952.00

Project financed from: state budget (Poland)

Source of funding: the program of the Minister of Education and Science (Poland) „Science for Society”

RESEARCH TASK DESCRIPTION: The research will use the method of observation and diagnostic survey:

Face-to-face in-depth interviews with 13 leaders of thematic villages and 39 entrepreneurs operating within thematic villages offering local regional products, regional handicraft workshops, village traditions and culture. A total of 52 direct in-depth interviews will be conducted.

Direct surveys conducted among residents of thematic villages (650 surveys) and other villages (650 surveys). The survey will examine the patriotic attitudes of villagers. A total of 1,300 surveys will be conducted.

Data from the surveys will be processed in Statistica 13 using parametric and non-parametric tests, discriminant analysis functions, log-linear, chi-square independence tests and a logistic regression model. The research will be supplemented by a method of analyzing and critiquing the literature on the subject.

PROJECT RESULTS:

"Tourist Guide to Thematic Villages in Eastern Poland", which will be published in open access.It will also include a pictogram-marked offer for people with disabilities and offers of tourist products including tours along the trail of thematic villages for 5 segments of tourists:

  • families with children,
  • persons with disabilities,
  • youth groups,
  • business groups,
  • senior citizens.
The guide will be distributed to at least 31 thematic villages, 50 tourist information offices, 150 travel agencies, 16 regional tourist organizations in Poland, foreign tourist organizations.

Two scientific monographs:
  • "Tradition and culture of the region and entrepreneurship in rural areas",
  • "Differences in patriotic attitudes of residents of thematic villages and other rural areas".


  • The monographs will be developed based on the results of individual face-to-face interviews with village leaders and tourism entrepreneurs, as well as the results of a face-to-face survey of residents of thematic villages and other villages. They will also describe the tradition, culture and history of the surveyed villages. The monographs will be published in open access by a MEaS-listed publisher and published on the project website. PDF files will additionally be distributed to at least 50 research centers in Poland, 50 libraries, 31 thematic villages throughout Poland and 16 regional tourism organizations.

    PROJECT TEAM

    Anna Mazurek-Kusiak, Ph.D., professor of the university- project leader

    Doctor of social sciences in the discipline of economics and finance. Employee of the Department of Tourism and Recreation at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Tourist guide of the city of Lublin and its surroundings. She has 22 years of experience as an academic lecturer. Author of scientific publications on economics, tourism, management and marketing.

    Dr. Agata Kobyłka- principal researcher

    Graduate of environmental protection, tourism and recreation, and postgraduate studies in data analysis. Since 2018, employee of the Department of Tourism and Recreation at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Vice president of the Association of Young Scientists. Author of scientific publications on tourism, nature conservation, education and management.

    Dr. Ryszarda Ewa Bernacka- researcher

    Psychologist. Employee of the Department of Psychology at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. Author of scientific publications on psychosocial functioning of nonconformists, personality nonconformism of creative people and psychology: personality, creativity, giftedness, management.

    Dr. Natalia Korcz- researcher

    Biologist and forester by education. Former employee of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Member of the Association of Young Scientists. Currently an employee of the Sobibór Forest District. She combines her passions and work around the forest, nature and environmental education. In her free time, she devotes her time to