The importance of definitions of selected concepts for leisure inquiry

Abstract

The need for definitional consistency is becoming increasingly evident for leisure research. Based on an integrative review of the literature, three primary terms are explored in this essay: time, recreation, and leisure. Work, as a related concept, is also considered but not as extensively. Psychologically perceived free time is offered as a context in which most people tend to be most likely to engage in recreational activities and to experience leisure. Recreation is proposed as the personally meaningful activity itself as well as the behavior associated with the activity. Following Neulinger's (1974, 1981, 1984) conceptualization, leisure is presented as a self enhancing affective state that is most probably, but not always, achieved through engaging in recreation (personally meaningful activities). Attention to the leisure‐self relationship is suggested as an avenue of research. Clarifying the meaning of terms is not merely a semantic exercise, but is an essential part of the scholarly study of leisure.