Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate barriers to play experienced by graduate students through focus groups and interviews. This will further our knowledge of the occupational needs for graduate students, so barriers may be addressed in the future.
This research uses a qualitative descriptive approach to generate a focused summary of experiences that shape participants' views (Stanley & Nayer, 2014). The research will analyze the experiences of graduate students and barriers they encounter during play. Qualitative descriptive methodology requires some level of interpretation (Stanley & Nayer, 2014). This approach can be used to answer our current question and identify themes relating to barriers to play. The sample will consist of students enrolled in a full time in-person Masters program. Participants will be recruited by reaching out to professors, sharing fliers in GroupMe and social media posts, as well as reaching out to the head(s) of graduate school programs. Those interested in participating will fill out a Google form requesting preliminary information. Data will be collected during focus groups and interviews through recording, supplemented with field notes, and then transcribed. Through focus groups, participants self-reporting play, and individual interviews, we will gather rich personal descriptions of play, barriers to play, and analyze the content for themes. Participants will define play from their own experiences, identifying types of play that are important to them. Data will be analyzed utilizing reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021). Researchers will practice reflexivity through journaling and team discussion to reflect on their biases.
This IRB approved study is currently underway and scheduled to conclude by August of 2023. The results will be documented in a final paper and poster presentation.
Although previous researchers like Blanche (1998) have contributed to the understanding of play as an occupation, including barriers, there has been no occupational science focusing on barriers to adult play in graduate students. This gap in research could be key in examining the occupation 25 of play and its role in graduate student’s quality of life. Blanche (1998) touches on the idea that there can be barriers to play such as “societal pressures”, however, research is not focused on a specific group of people. This study brings the research a step further by focusing on barriers that graduate students have during the process of engaging in their chosen play activities.
This research uses a qualitative descriptive approach to generate a focused summary of experiences that shape participants' views (Stanley & Nayer, 2014). The research will analyze the experiences of graduate students and barriers they encounter during play. Qualitative descriptive methodology requires some level of interpretation (Stanley & Nayer, 2014). This approach can be used to answer our current question and identify themes relating to barriers to play. The sample will consist of students enrolled in a full time in-person Masters program. Participants will be recruited by reaching out to professors, sharing fliers in GroupMe and social media posts, as well as reaching out to the head(s) of graduate school programs. Those interested in participating will fill out a Google form requesting preliminary information. Data will be collected during focus groups and interviews through recording, supplemented with field notes, and then transcribed. Through focus groups, participants self-reporting play, and individual interviews, we will gather rich personal descriptions of play, barriers to play, and analyze the content for themes. Participants will define play from their own experiences, identifying types of play that are important to them. Data will be analyzed utilizing reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021). Researchers will practice reflexivity through journaling and team discussion to reflect on their biases.
This IRB approved study is currently underway and scheduled to conclude by August of 2023. The results will be documented in a final paper and poster presentation.
Although previous researchers like Blanche (1998) have contributed to the understanding of play as an occupation, including barriers, there has been no occupational science focusing on barriers to adult play in graduate students. This gap in research could be key in examining the occupation 25 of play and its role in graduate student’s quality of life. Blanche (1998) touches on the idea that there can be barriers to play such as “societal pressures”, however, research is not focused on a specific group of people. This study brings the research a step further by focusing on barriers that graduate students have during the process of engaging in their chosen play activities.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| State | Published - Oct 19 2023 |
| Event | Annual Research Conference of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA - St. Louis, United States Duration: Oct 19 2023 → Oct 21 2023 Conference number: 22nd |
Conference
| Conference | Annual Research Conference of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | SSO:USA |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | St. Louis |
| Period | 10/19/23 → 10/21/23 |
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research or authorship of this submission.
Keywords
- play
- deprivation
- barriers
Disciplines
- Occupational Therapy