Maya Inoue and Dr. Gary Burlingame, Psychology
At the beginning of this research experience, my research group and I sought to find evidence that off-site recreational therapy was effective in increasing a patient’s perceived freedom and self-efficacy. This research idea came in response to the diminishing financial support at the Utah State Mental Hospital (USM) from state legislatures who request empirical evidence that off-campus trips truly contribute significantly to full patient recovery. However, when we began to research this topic, we soon found that there were very few cases that sought evidence-based practice (EBP) in the field of recreational therapy.
Therefore, we had to create a new research design in order to carry out this research. Each group member was assigned a topic to research in depth so that we could come up with an adequate research design. Our mentor, Professor Burlingame helped us by guiding us the right direction.
I was placed in charge of researching how a patient’s perceived freedom would enhance after participating in the off-campus activities. Perceived freedom is “a state in which a person feels that what he is doing, he is doing by choice and because he wants to do it” (Neulinger, 1974,). Perceived freedom aids those with mental illness in community integration, which is the opportunity for those with mental illness to be valued for their individuality just like everyone else in the community. An increase in opportunities for those with mental illness to be incorporated and participate in community activities is expected to enhance the well being of the patients (Salzer, Kaplan, & Atay, Oct. 2006).
I also researched tests existed which were both reliable and valid to measure perceived freedom. I found that the Leisure Diagnostic Battery (LDB) Short Form A measures an individual’s level of perceived freedom one experiences in leisure (Witt & Ellis, 1989). It has high internal consistency and high reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha from seven data samples ranging from 0.83-0.94. This was consistent with the LDB Long Form A, a more established test. Also, it is reported that the LDB Short Form A has predictive validity (Witt & Ellis, 1989).
From our collective research we found the following tests that had adequate reliability and were short enough to prevent testing fatigue: LDB Short Form A, the change motivation subscale from the Assessment for Signal Clients (ASC), and the proactive coping, avoidance coping, and emotional support seeking subscales from the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI). Professor Burlingame also helped to identify which batteries and questions were essential for our study in order to decrease testing fatigue.
Professor Burlingame also showed us that our research question was attacking a much larger question than we had anticipated. Because we hypothesized that off-site recreational therapy was beneficial to the patient’s overall health, we implied that recreational therapy was beneficial to the patient’s health. After reading several articles, we found that it was imperative to address this issue. We met with several staff members of Utah State Hospital, focusing on the recreational therapy staff to address this issue. After several meetings, it was decided that along with our research, the recreational therapy staff would be evaluated with a measure created by the staff and Professor Burlingame.
I attended weekly meetings with my fellow researchers, Professor Burlingame, and several of the staff members at USM. The participants of this research were 15 male and six female adult patients from USM, from various hospital units. Therefore, staff members had to be informed what we were studying. Through these meetings, we were all updated on the progress and the procedures of the research for that week.
For the initial step of the research project, we first had to administer the informed consent to all of the participants. Participants were selected on a basis of functionality by the recreational therapists, and included only those who could participate on off-campus recreational activities. Therefore, our sample was a convenience sample.
The LDB, ASC, and the PCI were administered to each of the patients after the informed consents were collected. After, the participants went on a weekly off-campus recreational activity with recreational therapy staff. These off-campus recreational therapy activities were designed to enhance patients’ levels of self-efficacy, perceived freedom, and positive coping. The participants went on these excursions once a week for 12-weeks. Researchers went to observe the recreational therapy activities and observed the therapist patient interaction. After the 12-week period, patients again took the LDB, ASC, and the PCI and data is still being analyzed to see if there was any significant change.
Though data has not yet been analyzed, we wish to submit our findings to the Recreational Therapy Journal. Because there are only a few studies published regarding EBP and recreational therapy, I believe that our study will be beneficial to those in recreational therapy. Also, after the data is analyzed, we wish to present our findings at a recreational therapy conference.
I have gained a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience from this research project. My research group and I were able to see the progress of our initial idea into a full-scale research experience. I learned that there are a lot of steps that one must do order for a research project to succeed, from the proposal, the IRB, and also the background research. I gained invaluable research experience as I learned how to study and research a topic in depth. I am thankful for this amazing ORCA experience and I know that this experience will help me in my future academic endeavors.
References
- Neulinger, J. (1974). The psychology of leisure. Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas
- Salzer, M., Kaplan, K., & Atay, J., (Oct. 2006). State hospital census after the 1999 olmstead decision: evidence of decelerating deinstitutionalization. Psychiatric Services, 57 (10), 1501.
- Witt, P.A., & Ellis, G.D. (1989(. The Leisure Diagnostic Battery User’s Manual. State College, PA: Venture.