Many leisure researchers have examined the recreation specialization construct with the belief that recreationists progress along a specialization continuum, from low to high, the longer they participate in an activity. Building on other researchers' conclusions that recreationists do not necessarily progress over time, this study sought to better understand whether people truly desire to progress. Competition, sociability, and skill development variables were proposed as measures that would more accurately describe an intermediate career trajectory of specialization. This intermediate career trajectory of specialization was called flatlining, because recreationists progress to their desired level of specialization and then maintain a flat, or non-progressing, style of involvement on the specialization continuum. Behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables were also used to measure recreation specialization. A three-level self-classification measure was used to predict group membership, and this classification was used to evaluate both groups of variables. The behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables did a very good job of predicting level of specialization. The competition, sociability, and skill development variables did a good job of predicting the high and low levels of specialization, but did a very poor job of predicting the flatlining level of specialization. Motivations to participate were also studied. This study's failure to accurately predict the flatlining career trajectory highlights the need for further research on the phenomenon.

This study examined the Texas Renaissance Festival as perceived and experienced by (serious) visitors for whom this was a form of regular, repeated and highly meaningful participation. Specifically, the focus was to gain understanding of the notion of serious leisure as defined by Stebbins, in the context of festivals, and to understand the meanings associated with festival participation. Following a qualitative (constructivism paradigm) research frame, the data were collected through participant observation and 37 in-depth interviews for highly committed tourists to the Texas Renaissance Festival. The collected data were analyzed through Grounded Theory techniques specified by Glaser (1978). In regard to the characteristics of participation, the results indicated that their continuous participation in the Texas Renaissance Festival displays qualities of serious leisure: 1) identification; 2) long-term career; 3) unique ethos; 4) significant personal effort; 5) perseverance; and 6) durable personal benefits. As they become more seriously involved in the festival participation, they tend to be a part of a well-integrated subculture of which prominent values include personal freedom, hedonism, and anti-materialism. The experiences constructed through the serious festival participation were reminiscent of tourism existential authenticity specified by Wang (1999) as two levels: intrapersonal authenticity (gaining one’s true self) and interpersonal authenticity (gaining true human relationship). A search of such authentic experiences at the festival seems to be partly driven by the perceived alienation in everyday life. When these aspects were examined from an interpretive and meaning-based approach, attending the festival in a serious manner is not just a simple matter of escaping from the reality (e.g., alienation) of everyday life, but is an active quest for an “alternative” to their lives at home as many indicated. Thus, the serious participation in a tourism activity such as the Texas Renaissance Festival could be best understood as a dynamic process of attaining existential state of Being in response to diverse sociocultural conditions. Several significant theoretical propositions were made based on the results derived from this study. Additionally, marketing and management implications associated with staging tourism events and festivals were discussed.

Many leisure researchers have examined the recreation specialization construct with the belief that recreationists progress along a specialization continuum, from low to high, the longer they participate in an activity. Building on other researchers' conclusions that recreationists do not necessarily progress over time, this study sought to better understand whether people truly desire to progress. Competition, sociability, and skill development variables were proposed as measures that would more accurately describe an intermediate career trajectory of specialization. This intermediate career trajectory of specialization was called flatlining, because recreationists progress to their desired level of specialization and then maintain a flat, or non-progressing, style of involvement on the specialization continuum. Behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables were also used to measure recreation specialization. A three-level self-classification measure was used to predict group membership, and this classification was used to evaluate both groups of variables. The behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables did a very good job of predicting level of specialization. The competition, sociability, and skill development variables did a good job of predicting the high and low levels of specialization, but did a very poor job of predicting the flatlining level of specialization. Motivations to participate were also studied. This study's failure to accurately predict the flatlining career trajectory highlights the need for further research on the phenomenon.

The esports industry is a topic that has only recently become of interest to the researchers. In general, there is limited literature about the esports industry and its employment, and when it comes to professional players, it is even more scarce. However, esports is a growing phenomenon, and the professional players involved in that phenomenon require attention. This qualitative study analysed and explained the perceptions of professional esports players about their employment, which was done with the help of the serious leisure concept as well as its characteristics. The interpretive phenomenological approach was used, together with 10 semistructured interviews. In total, 6 individuals including 4 professional esports players and 2 commentators were interviewed. It was found that the line that separates serious leisure from a career for professional esports players is blurred, with many characteristics of serious leisure remaining a part of the players’ employment. These findings add to the literature by opening a window to the understanding of the complexity of careers that develop from hobby and serious leisure pursuits. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the understanding of the employment of professional esports players and the industry as a whole, which can be used to further research the financial stability of esports careers.

O problema central desta tese está na carreira de corredores participantes em um grupo de corridas no sul do Brasil o que levou à reflexão sobre como ela se relaciona com seu envelhecimento. Fez-se uma tentativa por explicar esse elemento aproximando-o da proposta conceitual de lazer de Robert A. Stebbins (2008) dentro de um contexto ainda pouco conhecido e explorado. Foram propostos os seguintes objetivos específicos para a exploração: 1. aproximar a perspectiva de lazer de Stebbins (2008) ao contexto estudado, com ênfase no conceito de carreira; 2. identificar as características das práticas de lazer dos corredores do grupo de corridas; 3. analisar as inter-relações entre as práticas de lazer dos corredores e suas carreiras com o seu envelhecimento. Para a compreensão do lazer no grupo de corredores, foram feitas observações diretas e participantes, incluindo conversas informais com os atores do meio social e mantendo-se seus registros em diário de campo. Adicionalmente, foram feitas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com o objetivo de captar informações que não eram alcançáveis pelas observações. Para a construção dos dados, as entrevistas foram transcritas e codificadas e, cruzadas com as informações obtidas nas observações, sendo possível identificar temas relevantes para os corredores. Com a concatenação de tais temas, foi possível conceber um modelo teórico que explica e evidencia os possíveis delineamentos das carreiras dos corredores dentro de um contexto que engloba seus elementos mais amplos, como os processos que envolvem a constituição de grupos de corridas e configuram o lazer e envelhecimento dos corredores; elementos que se relacionam com a forma de interpretação e interação dos corredores com o contexto em que experimentam o lazer, como a relativização de valores e o humor; e, finalmente, elementos que são parte inerente do lazer que elegeram por realizar, como a aprendizagem das habilidades necessárias ao desenvolvimento das atividades. Como forma de aproximar o modelo à educação, há uma síntese propositiva de elementos educacionais que bem poderiam ser aprofundados por futuras pesquisas e discutidos em relação ao envelhecimento e carreira dos corredores do grupo. / The core problem in this thesis is on the career of runner who participates in a running group in Southern Brazil which led to reflection about how it relates to their aging. It was done an attempting to explain this element in an unexplored and almost unknown field as part of serious leisure perspective, the theoretical framework proposed by Robert A. Stebbins (2008). As specific objectives it was proposed: 1. to get the group activities close to the serious leisure perspective, emphasizing on career; 2. to identify the features of runners leisure in the running group; 3. to analyze the interrelations among leisure practices of runners, their careers and aging. Aiming to comprehend the leisure of the running group, direct and participant observations were held, including informal talking with social actors, and they were recorded in a field notebook. Additionally, semi structured interviews were held intending to catch information not reachable just through observations. To data construction, the interview were transcribed and coded and crossed with information obtained in observations, being it possible to identify relevant themes on runners’ careers. Concatenating these themes, it was possible to develop a theoretical model to explain the runners’ career and its possible designs in a context which includes its broader elements, as the processes of constitution of the running group which configures leisure and aging of runners; elements related to the way runners interpret and interact with the context they experience their leisure, as the values relativization and humour; and, finally, elements which are inherent part of the kind of leisure they chose to do, as learning required abilities and skills. As a way of put close the model and education it was done a propositional synthesis of educational issues which could be detailed in future investigations and discussed in their relation to aging and career in the running group.

The purpose of this Master thesis is to examine and describe dog breeders’ information activities. Questions posed in this study are:• What are the information needs of dog breeders?• How does the dog breeder seek and use information?• How can the relationship between serious leisure and information activities be described?The theoretical framework consists of the sociologist Robert A Stebbins’ theory about serious leisure. The study is based on a qualitative methodology. Nine dog breeders of nine different breeds have been interviewed and the interviews have been transcribed and analyzed. The analysis has been conducted with a model for information use and its effects, formulated by Lars Höglund. When analyzing the information sources an additional model has been used; also formulated by Lars Höglund, and Olle Persson. The results show that the main information needs of dog breeders concern health, pedigree, mentality, hunting ability and the history of the breed. Information sources preferred are the Internet and personal contacts. Magazines and books are also used but not as frequently as the other two sources. Another finding is that the breeders do not use the public library as often as they did before the arrival of the Internet. The nine breeders organize their information about their breeding activities in a similar way, using files and folders. The connection between dog breeding as serious leisure and information activities appears to be very strong. The information activities are to be seen as one of the prerequisites for dog breeding. The results also indicate that the Swedish Kennel Club that organizes the breeders plays a very important role as information mediator.

This study is an exploratory look at the social world of indoor rock climbers, specifically, those at Texas A&M University. A specific genre of rock climbing originally created to allow outdoor rock climbers a place to train in the winter, indoor climbing has now found a foothold in areas devoid of any natural rock and has begun to develop a leisure social world of its own providing benefit to the climbers, including social world members. This study explored this social world of indoor rock climbing using a naturalistic model of inquiry and qualitative methodology, specifically Grounded Theory (Spradley, 1979; Strauss & Corbin, 2008). This research borrows from the literature on social world theory, serious leisure as well as specialization. This study confirmed indoor rock climbing to be a form of serious leisure for some participants. Furthermore, it found the social world of indoor rock climbing at Texas A&M provides a deep sense of belonging to some members who were found to coalesce at a mesostructural level into a confederacy of peers (R. A. Stebbins, 1993). Bouldering was found to be an avenue for social world entry for men but the female experience in social world entry was found to be different. The most prominent finding of the study was that the facility itself provides a place of belonging for social world members, even diverse and different groups which, outside of the social world, may be expected to come into conflict. Lastly, it was found that the social world has the ability to mediate conflict or negative experiences arising from competition and feelings of risk and fear. This exploratory study is expected to provide a framework for which to conduct further, more in depth studies into phenomena affecting the lives and experiences of indoor rock climbers. Furthermore this study has practical significance in assisting climbing wall managers to better understand the culture that surrounds and utilizes the facilities they operate. A review of the current literature on rock climbing, research questions that guided the study and methodologies, as well as the study results and conclusions are discussed in this paper.

Amningshjälpen is a Swedish non-profit association where women, called helpmothers, provide breastfeeding peer-support. Purpose: The aim of this bachelor thesis is to examine how and where helpmothers experience information needs and seek information on breastfeeding, and what obstacles they face doing this. Method: The method used is qualitative email-interview where four helpmothers answered a number of questions via email comparable to questions in a semi-structured interview. Theoretical framework: This thesis rests upon the serious leisure perspective and the theory of cognitive authority, particularly institutional authority and the theory that cognitive authority is created in communication between people. Earlier research: Earlier research shows that seeking leisure-related information is an ongoing process. Participants use a variety of sources and the most common are other people and the internet. Result and discussion: The results show that the helpmothers information behaviour is similar to that of earlier studies in serious leisure. Their information seeking is an ongoing process that cannot easily be separated from information seeking in daily life. This could be an explanation to why they don’t experience many information needs. They use a variety of sources, including databases, books and homepages. The most common sources are other people: laypersons, health care professionals and other helpmothers. When seeking information helpmothers want the information to be unbiased and based on science, they also encourage each other to look for such information. This way they are both part of and affected by the process of making science as an institution a cognitive authority in society.

The Web 2.0 environment has altered North American society immeasurably as producers and consumers have merged into one, the prosumer. This new type of individual is visible in the blogosphere, in particular when examining travel blogs. The creators of travel blogs spend a considerable amount of their leisure and work creating and maintaining these travelogues, but little research has queried them about these efforts. The online contributions travel bloggers make potentially places their leisure choices within the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP), more specifically within the sub-category of serious leisure. By engaging travel bloggers through a qualitative based questionnaire about their travel blogs, this research identified motivations and benefits of blogging. Recommendations for further research about online pursuits and serious leisure are suggested and the ways prosumers are linked to and have formed relationships with the mainstream travel industry are discussed. This research provides insight into travel bloggers’ perceptions of their contributions to the Web 2.0 environment, to the Serious Leisure Perspective, and to the travel industry.

O problema central desta tese está na carreira de corredores participantes em um grupo de corridas no sul do Brasil o que levou à reflexão sobre como ela se relaciona com seu envelhecimento. Fez-se uma tentativa por explicar esse elemento aproximando-o da proposta conceitual de lazer de Robert A. Stebbins (2008) dentro de um contexto ainda pouco conhecido e explorado. Foram propostos os seguintes objetivos específicos para a exploração: 1. aproximar a perspectiva de lazer de Stebbins (2008) ao contexto estudado, com ênfase no conceito de carreira; 2. identificar as características das práticas de lazer dos corredores do grupo de corridas; 3. analisar as inter-relações entre as práticas de lazer dos corredores e suas carreiras com o seu envelhecimento. Para a compreensão do lazer no grupo de corredores, foram feitas observações diretas e participantes, incluindo conversas informais com os atores do meio social e mantendo-se seus registros em diário de campo. Adicionalmente, foram feitas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com o objetivo de captar informações que não eram alcançáveis pelas observações. Para a construção dos dados, as entrevistas foram transcritas e codificadas e, cruzadas com as informações obtidas nas observações, sendo possível identificar temas relevantes para os corredores. Com a concatenação de tais temas, foi possível conceber um modelo teórico que explica e evidencia os possíveis delineamentos das carreiras dos corredores dentro de um contexto que engloba seus elementos mais amplos, como os processos que envolvem a constituição de grupos de corridas e configuram o lazer e envelhecimento dos corredores; elementos que se relacionam com a forma de interpretação e interação dos corredores com o contexto em que experimentam o lazer, como a relativização de valores e o humor; e, finalmente, elementos que são parte inerente do lazer que elegeram por realizar, como a aprendizagem das habilidades necessárias ao desenvolvimento das atividades. Como forma de aproximar o modelo à educação, há uma síntese propositiva de elementos educacionais que bem poderiam ser aprofundados por futuras pesquisas e discutidos em relação ao envelhecimento e carreira dos corredores do grupo. / The core problem in this thesis is on the career of runner who participates in a running group in Southern Brazil which led to reflection about how it relates to their aging. It was done an attempting to explain this element in an unexplored and almost unknown field as part of serious leisure perspective, the theoretical framework proposed by Robert A. Stebbins (2008). As specific objectives it was proposed: 1. to get the group activities close to the serious leisure perspective, emphasizing on career; 2. to identify the features of runners leisure in the running group; 3. to analyze the interrelations among leisure practices of runners, their careers and aging. Aiming to comprehend the leisure of the running group, direct and participant observations were held, including informal talking with social actors, and they were recorded in a field notebook. Additionally, semi structured interviews were held intending to catch information not reachable just through observations. To data construction, the interview were transcribed and coded and crossed with information obtained in observations, being it possible to identify relevant themes on runners’ careers. Concatenating these themes, it was possible to develop a theoretical model to explain the runners’ career and its possible designs in a context which includes its broader elements, as the processes of constitution of the running group which configures leisure and aging of runners; elements related to the way runners interpret and interact with the context they experience their leisure, as the values relativization and humour; and, finally, elements which are inherent part of the kind of leisure they chose to do, as learning required abilities and skills. As a way of put close the model and education it was done a propositional synthesis of educational issues which could be detailed in future investigations and discussed in their relation to aging and career in the running group.