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This study examines psychological determinants of the suppressed demand for recreational tourism. Its broad aim is to develop existing theoretical perspectives in order to throw light upon free choice non-holidaymaking. Part one uses structured interviews, and a supporting attitude survey, to contrast the perceptions and environmental circumstances of more and less vociferous participants. Specifically the interviewees' disclose perceived non-holidaymaking determinants and opportunity costs. Part two utilises questionnaires with personality items and non-parametric hypothesis testing, critically evaluating Nickerson and Ellis' (1991) postulated yet unsubstantiated predisposition to non-participation (introversion, low arousal seeking tendency and external locus of control). A cognitive mapping procedure then reveals evaluative criteria relevant to the holiday/no holiday decision. The explorative analysis demonstrates that suppressed demand has a non-permanent composition. Also the perceived opportunity costs of holidaymaking are invariably connected with homemaking expenditures (eg decorating and DIY). People moreover differentially prioritise holidaymaking 'per se'. Regarding the personality affects on non-participation, the analysis finds no evidence to support Nickerson and Ellis' assertions about introversion and low arousal seeking. On the other hand, an external locus of control does to dispose to non-holidaymaking (p=<p.05). The cognitive mapping experiment illustrates that homemaking expenditures are generally prioritised over and above holidaymaking. Although, more adventurous travellers perceive that these expenditures are of relatively more equal importance. These findings are combined in a synthesis of an emotive generic holiday decision model; emphasising transient effects, a generic resource allocation bias, and the normative-affective influences of omnipresent constraints. It is proferred that this model provides a previously lacking foothold that will support further advancements in holiday decision making research.

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Sport and tourism have received considerable attention in the research literature, but until recently as separate spheres of activity. However, an international review of sports-tourism literature conducted by Jackson and Glyptis (1992) revealed much evidence of a significant interrelationship, and identified the need for more empirical work. This research contributes to the more detailed and systematic quantification of the significance of sport as a tourism generator, which cannot be effectively established from existing tourism statistics, and towards the more effective analysis of the volume of sports-related tourism, and associated behaviour. The research provides a number of detailed primary case studies of what are now increasingly typical, yet under-researched, styles of sports-related tourism behaviour. The first study focuses on research with Butlins Holiday Worlds and provides evidence of sports-related tourism behaviour in a traditional holiday setting. Activity holidays represent another growing area of sports-related tourism. Twr-Y-Felin is one of the largest outdoor activity holiday organisations in Wales, in terms of volume and diversity of courses offered. This second case study reviews the holiday motivations, activity styles, holiday patterns etc. of a large sample of sports activity holiday takers. Analysis of the 1994 World Athletics Cup, the third case study, provides significant data on sports spectator behaviour, including the significance of the event in generating tourist trips, associated activity whilst travelling for sports spectating, distances travelled, length of stay, spending patterns etc. The final case study focuses on the most dedicated and committed of sports tourists; those representing their Country in international sport. A detailed case study of international athletes examines the generation of tourism through elite level sports participation, competition and training. The thesis proposes that sports-related tourism behaviour can be conceived as a continuum from, at one extreme, incidental and sporadic sports activity whilst on holiday, to tourism behaviour driven exclusively by the needs of, and interest in particular sports activities. This research has synthesised the findings from the four case studies and draws overall conclusions regarding sports tourism behaviour. In attempting to more clearly conceptualise this field and broaden understanding, this work highlights the various behavioural types and also identifies where other research contributions can be made.

In the most recent survey, Performance Directors and Sports Scientists highlighted talent identification to be the top priority for research within Great Britain (Burwitz, 1999). However, the identification of talent is only the first stage of a continuous process of development through which sporting excellence may be realised. The contribution of talent identification to the attainment of excellence in Women's Artistic Gymnastics has yet to be conclusively determined. Moreover, as a result of the lack of longitudinal research in this area, the impact of growth and maturation upon the development of talent characteristics in the young female gymnastics not fully understood. A longitudinal study was conducted to examine the identification and development of talent within a mixed ability sample of 48 young female gymnasts. Potentially prognostic talent characteristics from social-demographic physical, perceptual-motor and psychological dimensions of performance were assessedin an 'initial' measurement session (September 1996). The 'future' performance of the gymnasts was assessed 17 months later (February 1998) using a composite index of competitive performance and technical skill acquisition. The performance of gymnasts was classified as successful or unsuccessful according to this index. The relationship between the 'initial' talent characteristics and 'future' gymnastic performance was examined using principal components analysis and logistic regression. Using a similar approach, the extent to which a reduced battery of talent characteristics was able to distinguish between the gymnasts and a group of 15 untrained control subjects was determined. Finally, to provide an insight into the longitudinal development of the talent characteristics, the initial test battery was administered to the gymnasts on two further occasions separated by a measurement interval of six months. The results indicated that the profile of the young female gymnast is multidimensional. It is recommended that information should be analysed within each dimension of performance before being combined to produce a multidimensional profile. The physical characteristics were found to be the most prognostic indicators of talent and were recommended for inclusion in both the initial identification and subsequent monitoring processes. Support was also provided for the predictive validity of perceptualmotor characteristics, however, the contribution of these characteristics may be enhanced by further improvements in measurement reliability. Recommendations were drawn from the social-demographic and psychological dimensions concerning the most effective organisation of the training environment. The results from each dimension were combined to produce guidelines for the initial identification and subsequent development of talent within young female gymnasts.

The rise of unemployment in industrialised countries since the mid-1970s, and its likely persistence into the foreseeable future, have stimulated general debate about the future roles of work and leisure. Several writers have claimed that in future leisure may, in part at least, form a 'solution' to the problems of societies in which there is a shortage of paid work. There is, however, substantial evidence that in a contemporary Britain leisure is of limited use as an immediate solution to the problems of unemployed people: when they become unemployed their leisure is more likely to reduce than increase in scale and quality and very few are able to develop a lifestyle in which leisure fulfils the role previously occupied by work. Despite this, since the early 1980s there has been a growth in public sector schemes providing special opportunities for unemployed people to take part in sport and recreation and the view persists that leisure has a special role in the lifestyles of unemployed people. This thesis assesses the response to a local authority scheme for the unemployed, established as an experiment by Leicester City Council in partnership with the Sports Council. The research examines the scale and pattern of attendance at the scheme and identifies wide variations in the participation patterns of users, few of whom became regular participants. The lifestyles of a sub-group of 'committed' frequent users were examined in more detail to identify the distinctive characteristics of those for whom the scheme had apparently become a regular feature in their lives. All of the sub-group of committed users had developed a generally 'active' lifestyle, untypical of that usually associated with the unemployed. Participation in the sports scheme was only one aspect of this. Most were also involved in more purposeful activities such as educational courses and voluntary work, these activities being more important to them and more of a 'work substitute'. The findings indicate that only a minority of unemployed people are likely to participate frequently in active forms of recreation and that those who do are also likely to be active in other ways. For those who do take part in recreation activities, such activities fulfil the 'normal' role of leisure: they do not provide a substitute for work or become an adequate basis for an alternative lifestyle in which the centrality of work is replaced by the centrality of leisure.

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