"The problem of this study is to determine whether the hobbies of the fourth and fifth grade boys of the public schools in Denton, Texas, are contributing to their social needs. It is believed that the intangible attributes of living, which can be mearsured neither by rule nor square, make for the well-rounded, happy, social, individual, whether he be adult or child. The degree to which an individual is adjusted socially ranges from the completely anti-social type to the fully-integrated type. The reasons for this gradation are numerous. They include the influence of the home, the school, and the playmates, as well as other factors in the general environment of the child. The purpose of this investigation is to discover whether the hobbies of the boys under consideration are potential and actual forces for integration and socialization."--leaf 1.

Cheung Yuk Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-137). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / List of Figures and Note --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Overview / Literature Review / Methodology / Chapter Chapter 2 --- "Background study: Meanings of life, work, and railway hobby in Japan" --- p.25 / Introduction / Meanings of life in Japan: Past and present / The possibility of finding an authentic ikigai: Hobby in Japan / General background of railway hobby and hobbyists in Japan / Conclusion: Justifying railway hobby as a legitimate ikigai / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Making sense of self: Relationship between work and hobby among different salaried men --- p.44 / Introduction / The loss of vocation: The impossibility to find an ideal job for railway hobbyists / The burden of prestige: Elite salarymen who must always focus on their work / Seeking a place for self: Different ways to maintain identity as hobbyists / Working alone: An ideal workplace for hobbyists? / Conclusion: Towards a common mentality of railway hobbyists / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Hobby as ikigai outside and inside of company --- p.65 / Introduction / Dealing with institutional rules: Crafting one's own time without violating rules / Power via peer support: Getting accepted among colleagues and superiors / Finding a place of self and for ikigai in everyday life / "Conclusion: Asserting a space for self in a ""groupist"" world of work" / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Negotiating ikigai as hobby within the family --- p.90 / Introduction / Difficulties and possibilities for hobbyists to find partners / Negotiating between wife and trains: From ideals to realities / Problems and issues in family life: From unification to separation / Conclusion: Searching for a self beyond the private sphere of family / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.111 / A lifelong journey for the hobby / Meanings of hobby among hobbyists / A possible trend in the future: Enjoying oneself alone / Appendix --- p.122 / Bibliography --- p.124