Mat D. Duerden

Conceptualizing Structured Experiences: Seeking Interdisciplinary Integration

Abstract While consensus exists around the importance of providing structured experiences, the industries interested in offering such experiences lack a common body of shared knowledge about how most effectively to do so. Potentially complementary research on structured experiences remains fragmented across multiple fields such as leisure, tourism, and marketing. The purpose of this paper, therefore, was first to review and then integrate this scattered literature into a structured experience framework in order to facilitate experience-related research with broader applicability for both commercial and public organizations interested in providing structured experiences.

Understanding the unique nature of the adolescent study abroad experience

Despite rising numbers of adolescents traveling abroad each year, the majority of study abroad research focuses on emerging adults. This study represents an effort to expand our understanding of the study abroad experience from the adolescent perspective. Qualitative data were drawn from interviews and focus groups with, and observations of, participants in the program. Results indicate preparing for and then sharing the experience with like-minded peers, coupled with exposure to a new culture and direct interaction with locals, facilitated a process of reflection and growth with both perceived short-term and potential long-term impacts.

Examining the impact and influence of the leisure science literature

ABSTRACT This study explored the impact and influence of the leisure sciences literature through an analysis of highly cited articles. Discriminant function analysis identified whether articles had more exclusive impact inside or outside the field. Research themes and methodologies were examined based on these classifications. Results indicate articles with the greatest impact within the leisure literature tended to be quantitative studies drawing upon survey data and non-experimental designs focused on general leisure and outdoor/forest recreation. Articles with the greatest impact outside the leisure literature were more recent and focused on place attachment, psychological motivation, or community parks and recreation and used quasi-experimental design or measurement development approaches. Based on this study’s findings, to increase the interdisciplinary relevance of the leisure science literature more theoretically framed studies employing quasi-experimental or measurement development approaches focusing on specific topics (e.g. place attachment) and populations (e.g. minorities, youth) are needed.

Self-Efficacy of Risk Taking in Outdoor Recreation as a Predictor of the Self-Efficacy of Risk Taking in Essay Writing.

During two decades of teaching, we have observed that writing students seem more emotionally honest when their writing class is accompanied by an outdoor recreation component. The ability to take perceived risks is important to both outdoor recreation and writing; thus, we postulated that confidence gained in taking risks in outdoor experiences might affect students’ confidence in taking risks in their reflective writing. In this study, we applied Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy theory to two classes of writing students, one that included outdoor experience and one that did not. We examined whether participating in outdoor activities would increase the self-efficacy of risk taking in the experimental group and whether this growth of self-efficacy in outdoor contexts would be accompanied by increased self-efficacy of risk taking in writing personal essays. Findings indicated significantly more growth of self-efficacy scores pertaining to risk taking in the writing of students in the experimental group versus those in the control group. Subscribe to JOREL

Youth time outside: a comparison of time use methodologies.

Abstract Significant public attention has been given to the perceived lack of youth time spent outside. Diverse approaches make it difficult to develop consensus around youth time-use patterns and guide efforts to get kids outside. The purpose of this study was to compare results of a 7-day time diary used to document adolescent outdoor time with results from other time-use methodologies. Seventh graders (N=43) were selected to complete week-long time-use diaries and recall surveys. Time diary estimates were compared to an online survey, a simulated two-day time diary, and a simulated experience sampling. Results suggested that differences existed between time outside recorded in time diaries and recall survey. Using two days of diary data or experience sampling was more comparable.