A Comparative Assessment of Duties Between Full-Time and Part-Time Recreation Leaders

Abstract

Recreation leaders have long been recognized as the key ingredient for influencing a participant's perceived quality of the recreation experience. Recreation leaders are in a position to work in direct contact with the agency's clients and constituencies and to play a large role in controlling public opinion of the park and recreation agency. This study provides the first comprehensive, systematically developed, and empirically tested job description for the important position of recreation leader. The study also marks the first time a comparison has been made between the job task performed by parttime versus full-time recreation leaders. Results indicate that part-time recreation leaders perform significantly fewer job tasks and regard the task they do perform as significantly less important than full-time recreation leaders. Results also indicate that supervisors assume a whole new arena of job responsibilities and part-time recreation leaders require more and closer supervision than full-time leaders. When immediate cost reduction and flexibility in meeting staffing needs is a necessity, the employment of part-time leaders may be an appropriate human resources strategy. However, if the development of a stable, knowledgeable, and more highly motivated work force is the goal, then employment of part-time leaders may not be the best alternative.