Title: A role for first-person science in recreation research

Author: Schroeder, Herbert

Year: 2008

Publication: In: LeBlanc, Cherie; Vogt, Christine, comps. Proceedings of the 2007 northeastern recreation research symposium; 2007 April 15-17; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-23. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 244-249.

Abstract: Most if not all recreation researchers are also recreationists. This paper explores the possibility that recreation researchers could use their own recreation experiences as a source of insight into the phenomena they are trying to understand. Such a strategy of "first-person science" is embraced by practitioners of phenomenological psychology, experiential psychology, action research, heuristic research, and others. Phenomenological and experiential methods could be used to develop what I call experiential theories in the field of recreation and leisure research. I illustrate these ideas using the example of an experiential theory of being on vacation.