Journal article
Semantics of Play and Work Among Children
Loisir et société, Vol.14(1), pp.19-34
01/01/1991
DOI: 10.1080/07053436.1991.10715369
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to determine the semantic meanings of play and work using Noble's association theory based methodology. The words given by subjects in response to the presentation of either play or work as a stimulus word were understood to represent the meaning of play or work. Subjects were 423 grade school and high school children recruited from a Midwestern (U. S.) university community. Subjects were randomly assigned a stimulus word (play or work) and asked to write down other words they associated with the stimulus word in one minute. Play was best defined as an enjoyable, voluntary activity. Further, words supplied by the subjects fit the basic theme of Huizinga's definition of play. The results of this study also urge consideration of fun as the intrinsic property of play. Work was generally regarded as obligatory activity, requiring considerable effort, and leading to a negative affect. Age and gender differences in the meanings of play and work emerged along dimensions of social company, intrinsic/extrinsic reward, and type of activity regarded as obligatory. Age and gender differences may be best explained by the subjects' different life contexts.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Semantics of Play and Work Among Children
- Creators
- Kenneth E. Mobily - University of IowaSonya M. Malcolm - Department of Leisure Studies , The University of Iowa United StatesRonald L. Bedford - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Loisir et société, Vol.14(1), pp.19-34
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- DOI
- 10.1080/07053436.1991.10715369
- ISSN
- 0705-3436
- eISSN
- 1705-0154
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/1991
- Academic Unit
- Health and Human Physiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984267250402771
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