Extending the social groups model: Social network analysis in recreation research

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the social groups model has received considerable attention in studies of the sociological aspects of leisure and recreation. This model is limited, however, in its ability to account for important structural and inter‐actionist features of recreation behavior. The article proposes and describes an alternative model, the social networks perspective, which grounds recreation behaviors in the extended interpersonal relations of community life. By using a social networks perspective, investigators can study both the influence of social structures on individual behavior and the intentions of individual actors in creating various arrangements of social structures. Several aspects of network analysis methods that concern recreation investigators are described, and some potential avenues for application of the social networks model in leisure and recreation research are suggested.