Research Methodology in Therapeutic Recreation

Authors

  • Roger C. Mannell

Keywords:

research methodology, therapeutic recreation, social science, content analysis, statistics, controlled inquiry

Abstract

A content analysis of the research published in  the Therapeutic Recreation Journal· and the Journal of Leisurability examined the prevalent research methodologies in the field of therapeutic recreation.. As in other areas of leisure studies, survey methodology was found to predominate; however, the number of studies classified as experimental or quasi-experimental comprised a high 28.8 percent. The methodological preferences of researchers appear to have changed little since the inception of the journals, statistical analyses remain primarily descriptive, and even experimentally classified studies require better control procedures through the use of control groups and random assignment. The difficulties of becoming methodologically competent in a field such as therapeutic recreation, and the need to develop programmatic research as well as methods for studying qualitative outcomes are also discussed.

Issue

Section

Research Papers