The Computer: Helping or The Computer: Helping or Hurting Facilitating Hurting Facilitating

Leisure?Leisure?

byby

Marie-Claude Du Cap, MRM ’02Marie-Claude Du Cap, MRM ’02

Acadia UniversityAcadia University

PurposePurpose• PurposePurpose

• This research focused on 1This research focused on 1stst year students living in year students living in residence and their perceptions of the impact of 24/7 residence and their perceptions of the impact of 24/7 access on their leisure satisfaction and lifestyle. access on their leisure satisfaction and lifestyle.

• Provided an understanding of leisure motivations, Provided an understanding of leisure motivations, constraints, satisfactions, and choices of the students. constraints, satisfactions, and choices of the students.

• Helped to identify participants’ leisure activities and Helped to identify participants’ leisure activities and how Acadia University’s (AU) 24/7 access impacts how Acadia University’s (AU) 24/7 access impacts their leisure satisfaction and lifestyle.their leisure satisfaction and lifestyle.

Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study

• Little research has been done about the impact on the Little research has been done about the impact on the leisure satisfaction of computer users. leisure satisfaction of computer users.

• The omnipresence of both the computer and the The omnipresence of both the computer and the Internet in the lives of the Acadia University students Internet in the lives of the Acadia University students raises some questions raises some questions

• When developing and implementing the AA program, When developing and implementing the AA program, AU sought to “enhance its teaching and learning AU sought to “enhance its teaching and learning environment” (AU, 2001). environment” (AU, 2001).

Significance of the studySignificance of the study

• A closer look of the literature on the impacts of the A closer look of the literature on the impacts of the computer and the Internet on both the leisure computer and the Internet on both the leisure environment and health of the users, questions are environment and health of the users, questions are raised as to how the AA technology impacts the raised as to how the AA technology impacts the students’ leisure lifestyle and leisure satisfaction.students’ leisure lifestyle and leisure satisfaction.

• It is during youth that individuals develop their adult It is during youth that individuals develop their adult identity and leisure ways. identity and leisure ways.

MethodologyMethodology

RecruitmentRecruitment

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• Snowball techniqueSnowball technique

ParticipantsParticipants

• 9 first-year students who graduated from high-9 first-year students who graduated from high-school the previous year and living in the Chase school the previous year and living in the Chase Court or Crowell Tower residences.Court or Crowell Tower residences.

The study consisted of three phasesThe study consisted of three phases

• initial interviewinitial interview

• time-budget studytime-budget study

• final interviewfinal interview

MethodologyMethodology

Data AnalysisData Analysis

• Content of each transcript was coded by the Content of each transcript was coded by the researcher and an independent data coder.researcher and an independent data coder.

• Identification of 25 predominant themes.Identification of 25 predominant themes.

• Three sections: Three sections: (1) Leisure in the Participants’ Lives, (1) Leisure in the Participants’ Lives, (2) The Computer in the Participants’ Lives(2) The Computer in the Participants’ Lives(3) The Impact of the Participants’ Social Environment (3) The Impact of the Participants’ Social Environment

on on their Use of the Computer for Leisure Purposestheir Use of the Computer for Leisure Purposes

FindingsFindings

Participants do not have a wide leisure repertoireParticipants do not have a wide leisure repertoire

• Participants do not appear to have a wide range of Participants do not appear to have a wide range of leisure activities.leisure activities.

• Not interested in noveltyNot interested in novelty

• Computer could be a barrier to leisure diversityComputer could be a barrier to leisure diversity

• Lack of leisure diversity could impact leisure interestLack of leisure diversity could impact leisure interest

FindingsFindingsParticipants’ boredomParticipants’ boredom

• Do not see much to do at AU and in WolfvilleDo not see much to do at AU and in Wolfville

• Lack of informationLack of information

• Lack of leisure diversity could impact their passivityLack of leisure diversity could impact their passivity

• Computer is an easy time fillerComputer is an easy time filler

• Being alone on the computer could contribute to Being alone on the computer could contribute to boredomboredom

FindingsFindings

Participants need to be present in their virtual Participants need to be present in their virtual community (VC)community (VC)

• Mostly used for communication and socialisation purposesMostly used for communication and socialisation purposes

• Multi-taskingMulti-tasking

• Direct and indirect use of the computerDirect and indirect use of the computer

• Computer could be a barrier to optimal leisureComputer could be a barrier to optimal leisure

• Only at AUOnly at AU

ConclusionConclusionComputer holds potential to enhance leisureComputer holds potential to enhance leisure

• SocialisationSocialisation

• CommunicationCommunication

• Can assist in leisure organisation and leisure planningCan assist in leisure organisation and leisure planning

ConclusionConclusionParticipants do not perceive an impact of Participants do not perceive an impact of

the computer on their leisure satisfaction the computer on their leisure satisfaction and leisure lifestyleand leisure lifestyle

• Not aware of the potential of leisure (benefits)Not aware of the potential of leisure (benefits)

• Loss of the benefits of the accompanying Loss of the benefits of the accompanying activities.activities.

ConclusionConclusion

Participants could be more satisfied in their leisureParticipants could be more satisfied in their leisure

• Do not actively consider their needs (momentary feelings)Do not actively consider their needs (momentary feelings)

• Not proactive in pursuing leisure satisfactionNot proactive in pursuing leisure satisfaction

• Decision of using the computer is not the most satisfying Decision of using the computer is not the most satisfying oneone

• Not aware of leisure benefitsNot aware of leisure benefits

• Lack a leisure lifestyleLack a leisure lifestyle

ConclusionConclusion

Impact of the studyImpact of the study

• Development of an awareness of computer use Development of an awareness of computer use and its impactsand its impacts

• More conscious of their leisure decisionsMore conscious of their leisure decisions

• Possible role for leisure services providersPossible role for leisure services providers