Abstract
Using data from a yearlong qualitative investigation, this paper investigated the nature of recreation specialization in the social world of contract bridge. Specialization was examined in terms of players' participation within the context of two distinct subworlds: social bridge and serious bridge. Four types of players were identified: tournament players, regular duplicate players, regular social players, and occasional players. The players were differentiated in terms of intensity of identification, meaning of participation, frequency of play, game and setting preferences, orientation to competition and skill developmental, and other criteria. While tournament players were the most specialized of the four groups, the groups did not fit along a developmental sequence as generally hypothesized in recreation specialization research. In fact, many bridge players resisted becoming more specialized. Results from this study suggest that future research on recreation specialization must look more carefully at the self-defining nature of recreation participation. The process of specialization or becoming serious appears to be related to a desire to develop skills at an advanced level.
Published Version
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