Backgrounds of, and Factors Affecting, Highly Productive Leisure Researchers

Abstract

This study sought to better understand the factors that facilitate and constrain highly prolific leisure researchers' productivity. Results indicated these scholars were: (a) largely middle-aged male professors; (b) intrinsically motivated, perseverant, self-disciplined, and committed; (c) at universities where research was expected and graduate student mentorship was possible; (d) in supportive familial relationships, able to access research monies, and “in the loop” when it came to opportunities; and (e) time-deficient in terms of their own leisure but of the opinion that leisure often acted as a creative conduit that enhanced their research productivity. Findings are discussed in terms of what they may mean for early-career academics as well as for the broader leisure studies field.

Keywords:

• Constraint
• creativity
• leisure
• productivity
• research
• striving