The sociological aspects of the leisure patterns of university students : an exploratory study

Wakeham, Barbara B. (1973) The sociological aspects of the leisure patterns of university students : an exploratory study. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the salient factors associated with and contributing to the formation of leisure patterns of University students. The prime objectives of this study were: (1) to find out how students themselves define leisure, (2) how aware they are of leisure facilities, goods, services and activities, (3) how much time they have or give for it, (4) kinds of activities they engage in that indicate type or types of leisure patterns they have, (5) what factors, including background, experience, attitudes, personality, environment, social interaction, and types of social participation might account for or predispose them toward a particular leisure pattern. -- Since (1) and (2) constitute subjective or social psychological factors, (3) an objective fact of a situation in a community, (4) an objective observation, and (5) social status factors, personal attributes and subjective issues, a method of research is implied which must provide some resultant, complex model which accounts for a vast amount of data in appropriate proportions. It was decided, therefore, that the study must take statistical form at a descriptive level and that the practical objective must be to determine the patterns and relationships that these variables indicate. -- A questionnaire was sent out to students chosen on a proportional stratified random basis from information obtained from the Registrar's office. The information from the questionnaire was coded and recorded on computer cards. Ten leisure patterns were developed. Students were assigned to a particular leisure pattern based on predominance and frequency of certain leisure activities. A comparative analysis by percentage distribution of the factors or variables used in the study was done in terms of each of the patterns with respect to the percentage distribution of any variables in the whole sample population. The study dealt with 290 students or 4% of the total student population on campus of Memorial University in 1971 which was 7,629 students. This sample population was a good representation of the university students in general. -- Results from the study showed that students define leisure in different terms. Students define leisure not as a whole but as one or more of its dimensions, which were operationalized for the study. The most frequent definition of leisure was “free, time , while others considered leisure as recreation or relaxation. Some of the students defined leisure in terms of freedom of choice and expression. Others defined leisure as enjoyment or satisfaction. The majority of the students defined leisure in terms of two or three of these dimensions. For example, Leisure is free time in which to relax or enjoy myself or do the things I want to do. -- The ten leisure patterns which emerged from the study were labelled on the basis of particular orientation each of the patterns exhibited toward leisure. These patterns were as follows: -- Pattern 1, Indirect Social Contact Pattern -- Pattern 2, Social Reality Pattern -- Pattern 3, Cultural Approach Pattern -- Pattern 4, Intellectual Projective Pattern -- Pattern 5, Recreation-Oriented Pattern -- Pattern 6, Social Physical Pattern -- Pattern 7, Diversity Pattern -- Pattern 8, Pragmatic Pattern -- Pattern 9, Practical Social Pattern -- Pattern 10, Latent-Physical Pattern -- Seven areas of investigation were included in the study which were: (1) social background information, (2) general background information, (3) overt factors which might inhibit or enhance participation in leisure (4)attitudes of the youth culture, (5) social group factors, (6) personality factor', and (7) attitudes towards people, situations, or environment. Each of the variables in these areas were found to be differentially related to one or more of the patterns. Hypotheses were then developed from these differential relationships of patterns and variables. -- A study of theoretical frameworks for leisure in sociological literature revealed many disagreements and inconsistencies. The results of this investigation led to a reformulation of the concept of leisure on empirical grounds. A model of leisure was then developed to represent, an overview of the results of the study as well as the area of leisure itself.

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