Post-Positivism and the Pragmatics of Leisure Research

The two primary paradigms traditionally discussed in leisure research are interpretivism and positivism. This essay argues for a further discussion and acknowledgement of post-positivism as it can be applied in leisure studies. A description of post-positivism is offered along with a rationale for its use in past as well as future studies. Examples are offered regarding how a post-positivist paradigm can be pragmatic in further examining the complex meanings of leisure.

[1]  V. Brand.  Empirical Business Ethics Research and Paradigm Analysis , 2009 .

[2]  T. Kuhn,et al.  The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. , 1964 .

[3]  Canan Koca,et al.  Constraints to Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Negotiation Strategies in Turkish Women , 2009 .

[4]  Barbara E. Ainsworth,et al.  Enjoyment: a link to physical activity, leisure, and health. , 2002 .

[5]  Anne B. Ryan.  Post-Positivist Approaches to Research , 2006 .

[6]  Diana C. Parry,et al.  Contextualizing Leisure Research to Encompass Complexity in Lived Leisure Experience: The Need for Creative Analytic Practice , 2007 .

[7]  S. Dupuis.  Naked Truths: Towards a Reflexive Methodology in Leisure Research , 1999 .

[8]  E. Guba,et al.  Competing paradigms in qualitative research. , 1994 .

[9]  Alexander Clark,et al.  The qualitative-quantitative debate: moving from positivism and confrontation to post-positivism and reconciliation. , 1998, Journal of advanced nursing.

[10]  Corey W. Johnson,et al.  (Re)Theorizing Leisure, Experience and Race , 2009 .

[11]  M. Floyd,et al.  Visualizing Leisure , 2004 .

[12]  K. MacKay,et al.  Family Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual Disability: Perspectives on Life Quality and the Role of Vacations , 2007 .

[13]  Diana C. Parry,et al.  Writing Leisure: Values and Ideologies of Research , 2008 .

[14]  Ashley D. Cox,et al.  An Exploration of the Meanings of Parks in Oklahoma , 2009 .

[15]  T. Gale,et al.  Exploring Differences Between Positivistic and Post-positivistic Philosophy: an Interpretivistic Case Study of Tourist Expectations & Satisfaction , 2006 .