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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the qualify of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form atthe back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA .313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Order Number 00-12,166 The use of leisure and its relation to social stratification Clarke, Alfred Carpenter, Ph.D. Ohio State University, 1955 UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 THE USE OF LEISURE AND ITS RELATION TO SOCIAL STRATIFICATION DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy In the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By ALFRED CARPENTER CLARKE, A.B., M.A. The Ohio State University 1955 Approved hy: 7 Adviser Department of '.ologp'azicL Anthropology ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research, like any other, is a social product to which many persons, in one way or another, have contributed. The obligations incurred are too numerous to be fully acknowledged, although the footnotes point to part of this Indebtedness. The writer wishes to express his gratitude and sincere appreciation to Dr. John P. Cuber for his guidance in the development of this study. Valuable assistance in working out methodological aspects of the project was given by Dr. Raymond P. Sletto, and is hereby gratefully acknowledged. An expression of appreciation is due Dr. Florence G. Robbins, who read the dissertation and offered valuable suggestions. These acknowledgements would be altogether incomplete without an expression of deep appreciation to the writer’s wife, whose unbounded patience and able assistance with the arduous burdens of bringing the manuscript to completion have been sincerely appreciated. A.C.C. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE PROBLEM AND ITS THEORETICAL IMPLICATIONS 1 Previous related studies ............. 3 The scope of the study ................... k II. THE STUDY DESIGN, METHOD AND TECHNIQUE 9 Design of the study ....................... 9 The questionnaire and its rationale .......... 12 The sample and its logic ................... 13 Pattern of questionnaire returns ............ 15 Social characteristics of the sample ........ 17 Classification and statistical treatment of the data ............................. 22 III. LEISURE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENTIAL PRESTIGE LEVELS 2k Spectator sports . ....................... 2k Other spectator activities ................. 29 Organizational activities ................... 37 Home and family centered leisure activities . kO Rank order of leisure activities ............ 5k IV. FORMS OF LEISURE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD LEISURE USE 56 Spectator activities ....................... 56 Commercialized leisure ..................... 58 Active vs. passive leisure ................. Diversity of leisure activities .............. Craftsmanship ... ....................... 62 Amount of enjoyment derived from leisure-time activities ............................... 65 Attitudes toward others use of leisure time . 66 Use of an extra two hours a d a y .......... 68 V. OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY AND LEISURE USE 71 The frame of reference ..................... 72 Procedure ................................... 73 VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 83 Summary of research procedure .......... 83 Summary of major findings . ............... 8k Discussion . ............................... 88 ill LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Distribution of Initial Sample by Occupational Prestige Level 14 2. Questionnaire Returns by Occupational Prestige Level 15 3. Questionnaire Returns by Prestige Levels IV and V 16 4. Age Distribution of Respondents by Occupational Prestige, in Percentages 18 5. Marital Status of Respondents by Occupational Prestige, In Percentages 19 6. Educational Level.of Respondents, by Occupational Prestige, in Percentages 19 7. Income Distribution of Respondents by Occu pational Prestige, In Percentages 20 8. Religious Preference of Respondents by Occu pational Prestige, in Percentages 21 9. Place of Residence Where Respondents Lived Most of Their Lives, by Occupational Prestige, in Percentages 21 10. Attending a Football Game - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 25 11. Attending a Baseball Game - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, In Percentages 25 12. Attending a Wrestling or Boxing Match - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 26 13. Attending an Auto Theater - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, In Percentages 30 '14-. Playing Golf - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 33 15. Bowling - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 35 v LIST OP TABLES (Continued) TABLE PAGE 16. Hunting - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 36 17. Pishing - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 36 18. Watching Television - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 41 19. Percentage of Respondents in Five Occu pational Prestige Levels Indicating Children Living at Home ^5 20. Out-of-Town Weekend Visiting, Including Overnight - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 47 21. Studying - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 51 2 2 . Reading Books for Pleasure - Frequency of Activity by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 52 23. Frequency of Participation in,Home and Family Centered Leisure Activities in Relation to the Activity Occupying Most of the Respondent's Leisure Time - by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 53 24. Rank Order of Leisure Activities According to Frequency of Participation of Respondents in High and Low Prestige Categories 55 25. Percentage of Leisure Time Devoted to Spectator Type Activities, by Prestige Levels 57 26. Percentage of Leisure Time Consumed by Commercialized Recreation, by Prestige Levels 58 27. Percentage of Leisure Time Devoted to Active and Passive Types of Activities, by Prestige Levels 60 28. Percentage of Leisure Time Devoted to Active and Passive Types of Activities in Relation to the Most Enjoyable Spare-Time Activity, by Prestige Levels 60 vl LIST OF TABLES (Continued) TABLE PAGE 29. Diversity of Leisure Activities by Prestige Levels 62 30. Percentage of Leisure Time Devoted to Craftsmanlike Activities, by Prestige Levels 64* 31. Response to the Question, "What would you do with an extra two hours in your day?" by Prestige Levels, in Percentages 68 3 2 . Comparison of the Occupational Prestige Level of Sons in Relation to the Occupational Level of Their Fathers 72 3 3 . Comparison of Upward Mobile, Non-mobile and Downward Mobile Respondents for Selected Activities, in Percentages 74 34. Membership in Four or More Organizations - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Father's Occupation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 76 35. Organizational Attendance; Thirty or More Times per Year - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers' Occupation in Relation to Prestige Levels of Sons 76 3 6 . Attending Meetings Connected With Church Activities Five or More Times per Year - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers' Occupation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 76 37. Playing Bridge Once a Month or Oftener - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers’ Occupation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 77 3 8 . Reading Books for Pleasure, Once a Week or Oftener by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers’ Occu pation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 77 vil LIST OF TABLES (Continued) TABLE PAGE 39. Studying Daily - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers' Occupation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 78 4*0. Watching Television Dally - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Father's Occupation In Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 78 41. Playing With Children Daily - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers' Occupation In Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 78 1+2 . Fishing, Once a Month or Oftener During Season - by Sons in Occupations Higher, Similar to, or Lower than Fathers' Occu pation in Relation to Prestige Level of Sons 79 43. Leisure Activities in Relation to Prestige Levels by Direction of Relationship and Degree of Significance 85 viii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Attending a Football