Recreation Students Research Articles

“Journal Writing is Something We Have to Learn on Our Own” — The Results of A Focus Group Discussion With Recreation Students

Reflective journals have become an increasingly popular tool used by numerous instructors in many academic fields, including recreation and leisure studies. Previous research and narrative reports of journal writing have indicated there are several positive and negative aspects of journal writing for students. However, many aspects of journal writing remain poorly understood. In this paper, we describe the results of a focus group discussion centered on journal writing held with nine students who were enrolled in a post-secondary recreation program. By and large, the students who participated in this focus group enjoyed and valued their journaling experiences. They were, however, cautious about certain aspects of the journaling process and offered numerous suggestions for improving the ‘journaling experience.’ Five themes were explored in this focus group, including: 1) general journaling behaviors, 2) barriers to journaling, 3) evaluation of journals, 4) gender differences in journaling, as well as 5) self-perceptions of journaling. This paper concludes with 10 recommendations to be considered by recreation and leisure studies instructors who use journaling as an instructional technique.

Gemeinsheft and Gesellschaft: Empowering Parks and Recreation Students to Engender Common-Unity in Place-Based and Nonplace Communities

This paper is about the experience of “common-unity” among people who are members of place and non-place communities. We review the concept of “community” and then propose a theory of constraints and affordances to “common-unity” among members of both types of communities. The theory stresses the central role of community value and self-efficacy beliefs about community. Based on the theory, we then propose methods that teachers may use to develop common-unity within a learning environment and within a locality (place)-based community.

Undergraduate Student Preference for Client Age Groups: Why the Young Avoid the Old

The purpose of this study was to determine Therapeutic Recreation students' expressed desire to work with older adults, as well as environmental, and educational reasons for their attitudes. A survey was developed to access students' basic demographic characteristics, work preference in age and disability groupings, factors that may influence work preferences, and attitude towards current educational opportunities. Surveys were completed by a total of 172 students in six universities across the country. Data were analyzed to identify underlying relationships among preferences for older age clients through chi-square, discriminant analysis and regression analysis. Although a number of bivariate relationships were found, the best discriminating variables were found to be comfort with older adults and teacher support for students' decision. In addition, comfort was more likely to be reported among students who were older and perceived greater competence in working with older adults. Results from this study are compared to other previous interdisciplinary studies. Educators are presented with suggestions for changing current classroom practices that could have the potential of positively impacting students' attitudes towards working with older adults.

Methods for Conducting Complex Service-Learning Projects in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Curricula

Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students in recreation and leisure studies classes can complete structured projects designed to promote learning and community benefits. While service-learning projects are very beneficial, orchestrating these complex learning opportunities with relatively inexperienced students presents numerous difficulties for both instructors and students. A collection of techniques, tools and tips based on principles of self-directed classroom and organizational development theories was developed through a reflection-in-action process. Applications of these techniques to the operation of the student-run Annual Cortland Recreation Conference at the State University of New York(SUNY) College at Cortland and the Haunted Forest at East Carolina University (ECU) are discussed. Sufficient detail and references are included so other faculty can adapt these techniques for use in their own classrooms. Use of these techniques creates a positive learning environment that empowers students to become an independent, high performing team, in a relatively short time span. Ideas for reciprocity and reflection, two key components of service-learning, are discussed.

Professional Preparation of Allied Health Practitioners and Special Educators Using a Collaborative Transdisciplinary Approach

This article presents a curriculum model that emphasizes the development of transdisciplinary teaming skills for therapeutic recreation students and students from other related services professions. While health care professionals are often required to work in teams, professional preparation programs provide limited instruction and few experiences that prepare graduates for truly collaborative models of service delivery (Golightly, 1987; Orelove, 1994; Rainforth, York & Macdonald, 1992; Strawderman & Lindsey, 1995; Pew Health Professions Commission, 1991, 1993, 1995). Recent developments in health care reform are emphasizing the need for professionals in allied health to work in a more integrated and collaborative style than ever before. The need for disciplines to be more integrated in their approach to treatment is becoming the benchmark for qualified professionals. The Project TEAM (Transdisciplinary Education and Mentoring) model presented here provides students in communication disorders, early childhood/special education, occupational therapy, and therapeutic recreation with discipline-specific knowledge and skills, as well as a core of cross disciplinary courses and experiences, that prepares them to work effectively as transdisciplinary team members.

Environmental Concern: A comparative analysis between students in Recreation and Park Management and other departments

Dunlap and Van Liere (1978) indicated that a paradigmatic change has evolved in which the general populace has shown a genuine level of concern as they have realized that ecological problems faced by the world today are the results of societal values, attitudes and beliefs. Based on this idea, Dunlap and associates offered the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, which is a general set of beliefs or attitudes towards the environment. To verify this change in thinking, this study employed the NEP scale among a sample of undergraduate students in the United States. The analysis revealed a support and a sympathetic attitude towards the environment, although this support was not overwhelming. Also, students seemed to express the importance towards environmental issues but lacked awareness. Finally, this study showed that Recreation and Park Management students show more favorable attitudes, give more importance to and are more aware of environmental issues than students from Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, and Science, Technology and Society departments, respectively.

Recreation Students' Attitude toward Intramural Sports

This study explored the attitude toward intramural sports of students who were taking recreation classes, (2) scores for athletic team members taking recreation classes compared to students taking recreation classes who were non-athletic team members, and (3) scores for students taking recreation classes who were non-participants in intramural sports compared to those students taking recreation classes who participated in intramural sports. Fifty-five respondents were male and 45 were female; 38 were athletic team members and 62 were non-athletic team members. Of the respondents, 56 were non-participants in intramural sports programs and 44 had participated in intramural sports. Scores for the Intramural Attitude Scale were calculated and recorded in three different tables. The results of this study indicated there were no significant difference in scores of students taking recreation classes from the Intramural Attitude Scale between males and females, members of athletic teams and non-members of athletic teams, and participants and non-participants in intramural sports recreation classes. Scores from the Intramural Attitude Scale were analyzed and compared based on (1) scores of males taking recreation classes compared to females

Increasing Diversity among Students in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies Curricula: A Case Study

Much has been written about increasing the cultural competence of students in recreation, parks, and leisure studies curricula. Little has been written, however, about how these programs can increase the actual number of individuals from underrepresented groups. This article discusses the reasons for problems in recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in higher education. Data specific to recreation, parks and leisure studies curricula are also presented. Additionally, the paper outlines the conceptual background and actual components of a case example that successfully increased the number of African American students in a therapeutic recreation program by 23% over four years. Finally, this article will offer specific recommendations and strategies gleaned from the case example as well as from the literature for ways to improve the contextual conditions of a department or institution in order to not only recruit but also retain students from underrepresented populations.

Community Sports and Recreation Students' Knowledge and Stereotypes of Aging

Objective: The purpose of this study was to find out how much knowledge South Korean University students would demonstrate with regard to older adults and to the normal processes of aging. Methods: Participants (n=145) majoring in community sports and recreation from the four different universities responded to the questionnaires based on the American National Institute on Aging's (NIA) quiz assessing aging and demographic trends, diet and medications, physical health, and mental health. Results: The students responded relatively high percentage of correct answers in the areas of aging and demographic trends, diet and medication, and physical health. With regard to their knowledge of aging and intelligence, depression, and personality, the students showed incorrect responses. Discussion: The results indicate that there exists a need to provide the students with formal aging class to expand their scopes of knowledge and increase their understanding to better serve aging society.

A Statistical Profile of Doctoral Students in Recreation, Park, Tourism and Leisure Studies

Numerous research studies have produced statistical profiles of higher education on a national basis. However, these national databases are insufficient to provide thorough information on any specific field. In 1991, Crompton studied the statistical profile of doctoral students in the fields of recreation, park, tourism, and leisure studies, and since then, there has been little, if any follow-up research on doctoral student profiling. The focus of this study was to identify the statistical profile of doctoral students in Fall 1997, and contrast this profile with the baseline data collected by Crompton (1991). Data were collected from 15 out of the 17 universities where offering doctoral degrees in recreation, park, tourism, and leisure studies by using a mailed questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the stipends paid to the doctoral students, the tuition status, and the type of Master's degree held by doctoral students between fall 1989 and fall 1997. No significant differences were found in the number of doctoral students enrolled in the five specialty areas (administration, tourism, leisure behavior, therapeutic recreation, and outdoor recreation), gender distribution, and nationality distribution between fall 1989 and fall 1997.

A Statistical Profile of Doctoral Students in Recreation, Park, Tourism and Leisure Studies

Numerous research studies have produced statistical profiles of higher education on a national basis. However, these national databases are insufficient to provide thorough information on any specific field. In 1991, Crompton studied the statistical profile of doctoral students in the fields of recreation, park, tourism, and leisure studies, and since then, there has been little, if any follow-up research on doctoral student profiling. The focus of this study was to identify the statistical profile of doctoral students in Fall 1997, and contrast this profile with the baseline data collected by Crompton (1991). Data were collected from 15 out of the 17 universities where offering doctoral degrees in recreation, park, tourism, and leisure studies by using a mailed questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the stipends paid to the doctoral students, the tuition status, and the type of Master's degree held by doctoral students between fall 1989 and fall 1997. No significant differences were found in the number of doctoral students enrolled in the five specialty areas (administration, tourism, leisure behavior, therapeutic recreation, and outdoor recreation), gender distribution, and nationality distribution between fall 1989 and fall 1997.

The Core Body of Knowledge as Perceived by Therapeutic Recreation Students vs. Leisure Services Management Students

The purposes of this study were to determine if the core body of knowledge associated with leisure services represents a systemic culture pattern for leisure studies students, and to determine if therapeutic recreation (TR) students and leisure services management (LSM) students represent subcultures within the broader recreation culture pattern. Data were collected over the course of 3 semesters from 81 students enrolled at an NRPA accredited degree program. A pile-sort technique was used to determine the structure of the cultural domain for each student. Consensus Analysis was used to determine the amount of agreement regarding the structure of the domain and Correspondence Analysis was used to map the similarity among the students in multidimensional space. The concepts did not represent a systemic culture pattern for the leisure studies students as a group nor for the TR students. The concepts represent a weak culture pattern for the management students. Educational implications and future research needs are discussed.

The Influence of Francis W. Parker on Doris Humphrey's Teaching Methodology

Modern dance pioneer Doris Humphrey (1895–1958) is remembered today primarily for her dances and her theory of choreography, but her contributions to the dance extend far beyond the development of repertory and composition. She was a beautiful and accomplished performer, velvety and strong. She was a gifted educator, who influenced recreational students as well as professional dancers and teachers. She was also a brilliant technical innovator who, using the natural movements of the human body as the basis of her technique, developed a unique language of movement with which to communicate her experiences as an artist living in twentieth-century America.Based on principles of movement, Humphrey's technique is less idiosyncratic than the technique of other modern dancers. Systematic in its practice, if not in its curriculum, the technique was never codified into a syllabus of repeatable exercises. The way in which it was taught by Humphrey and others is distinctive, and is as important an aspect of the technique as the movement principles upon which it was founded. Humphrey's teaching methodology grew from a progressive philosophical perspective towards education to which she had been exposed during her years as a student at the Francis W. Parker School. This paper will examine the Parker approach and trace its influence on Humphrey's emerging technique and teaching methodology.

The Tom and Ruth Rivers Scholarship Program

The Tom and Ruth Rivers Scholarship Program provides opportunities for “seniors” and graduate students in Recreation, Leisure Studies/Services, Resources college programs to attend international meetings, conferences or conventions. From attendance at such an activity, it is hoped that students will gain a broader perspective of world leisure and recreation trends, issues, philosophies and problems. It is expected that the students will share their experiences, upon their return, with fellow students, colleagues and professors.

Outdoor Recreation in America

A textbook for students in recreation and leisure management and reference for managers in outdoor recreation. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the development, regulation and management of outdoor recreation in America. It looks at how natural resources being used as a base for recreation can be successfully managed and considers the challenges of outdoor recreation in the twenty first century, such as resources, planning, the environment and the role of outdoor recreation in education.

Opportunities for Recreation Students in the Travel and Tourism Industry

(1975). Opportunities for Recreation Students in the Travel and Tourism Industry. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 46, No. 9, pp. 38-38.

What Do Recreation Students Know and Think about Community

What Do Recreation Students Know and Think about Community