Information activities in serious leisure as a catalyst for self-actualisation and social engagement

Abstract

PurposeThis paper reports findings from a research project about human information behaviour in the context of serious leisure. Various forms of information activities in this context have been identified and categorised to depict common patterns of information seeking, sharing, using and producing.Design/methodology/approachThe project adopted a qualitative approach in an interpretive paradigm using a thematic analysis method. Data-collection technique was semi-structured interview and 20 volunteers were recruited via a maximum variation sampling strategy. The collected data was transcribed and thematically analysed to identify the main concepts and categories.FindingsThe participants have been experiencing six qualities of serious leisure during their long-term engagement with their hobbies or voluntary jobs and their experiences can be fully mapped onto the serious leisure perspective. The findings also confirmed serious leisure is a unique context in terms of the diversity of information activities embedded into a wide range of individual and collective actions in this context. Information seeking and sharing in serious leisure is not only a source of personal satisfaction for the participants, it also can provide them with a sense of purpose in a meaningful journey towards self-actualization and social inclusion.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalisability of the findings needs to be examined in wider populations. Nonetheless, the existing findings can be useful for follow-up research in the area.Practical implicationsThis study will be useful in both policy and practice levels. In the policy level, it will be beneficial for cultural policy makers to gain a better understanding about the nature of leisure activities. In the practice level, it will be helpful for serious leisure participants to understand the value of information seeking and sharing in their leisure endeavours. Also, information professionals can use it to enhance the quality of their services for the serious leisure participants who are usually among devoted patrons of libraries, museums, archives and galleries.Social implicationsLearning about serious leisure can provide new insights on people preferences in terms of choosing different entertaining and recreational pursuits – such as indoor and outdoor hobbies – in their free time.Originality/valueThe informational aspects of serious leisure is an emerging and evolving ground of research. This paper provides empirical evidence on this topic from a specific context in the regional areas in Australia.

6.- ja 7. -luokkalaisten informaatiokäyttäytyminen harrastuneisuudessa

“…Kuten monet tutkijat ovat huomanneet, vapaa-ajan toiminta on informaatiokäyttäytymisen kannalta oleellinen tutkimusalue (katso esimerkiksi Cox & Blake, 2011;Elsweiler, Wilson & Lunn, 2011;Hartel, Cox & Griffin, 2016;Mansourian, 2020Mansourian, , 2021. Mansourian (2020) korostaa, että vakava vapaa-ajantoiminta on tuottoisa tutkimusalue informaatiotutkimukselle, koska se sisältää useita aiemmin mainittuja informaatiokäyttäytymisen osa-alueita.…”

“I found what I needed, which was a supportive community”: an ethnographic study of shared information practices in an online cosplay community

“…Hartel (2003) and Stebbins' (1992Stebbins' ( , 2009 pioneering work in studying serious leisure through the lens of information science opened new avenues for information researchers who had previously focused almost exclusively on scholarly and professional contexts. The study of serious leisure has continued to be an area of increasing interest in LIS research, with Ocepek (2018) looking at "everyday experts" (401) and Mansourian (2021) observing that serious leisure can provide a "meaningful journey towards self-actualization and social inclusion" (para. 1).…”

Exploring the impact of serious leisure on well-being and self-perceived employability: the mediating role of career adaptability amongst Chinese undergraduates

“…Engaging in leisure activities has been recognised as beneficial to WB (Clifford et al, 2022). Unlike casual leisure, SL entails lifelong dedication, self-actualisation, and resource accumulation (Mansourian, 2021;Stebbins, 1992Stebbins, , 1997Stebbins, , 2006a, offering opportunities for personal growth and adaptability, influencing WB and PE outcomes throughout one's life (Chen, 2014;Donald and Nimmi, 2023;Mansourian, 2021;Stebbins, 2006b).…”