The Value of Money and Leisure and College Student's Choice of Major

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the potential differences in the value of leisure and money among students majoring in recreation and leisure services, education, or business administration. Data was collected during fall semester 2002 in courses within the three disciplines. A self-administered survey instrument consisting of the Money Ethic Scale (MES) (Tang, 1992, 1995), Leisure Ethic Scale (LES) (Crandall & Slivken, 1978, 1980), and select demographic variables were utilized. Although few meaningful differences were found overall, the recreation and leisure services students valued leisure more than the other two groups. This group and the teacher education group were less likely to value money than the business administration group. Moreover, the relationships found between leisure and money ethic for each of the three student groups were relatively insignificant suggesting little to no relationship between leisure and money across the sample population. Implications for practitioners and academicians are addressed.