Toward Person by Situation Research in Therapeutic Recreation

Authors

  • Gary D Ellis
  • J Thomas Yessick

Keywords:

Intrinsic Motivation, Selfas Entertainment, Perceived Freedom, Personality, Individual Differences, Research Design, Validity

Abstract

This paper addresses two related topics. Part 1 describes the need for increased attention to personality and other "individual differences" in research on the efficacy of therapeutic recreation interventions. The conceptual basis for such designs is introduced and evidence of the usefulness of individual characteristics in understanding reactions to therapeutic recreation interventions is provided.. Part 2 involves an examination of the validity of three "leisure personality" measures that may prove to be useful in studies that include individual differences in their design.. Specifically, measures of intrinsic motivation orientation, self as entertainer, and perceived freedom in leisure are shown to converge on a central concept and to discriminate between that concept and a measure of social desirability.

Published

1989-01-01

Issue

Section

Regular Papers