Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Capstone Project
Project Type
Qualitative Study
Degree Name
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Program
Occupational Therapy
Program Chair
Gina Tucker -Roghi
Faculty Advisor
Karen McCarthy, PhD, OTR/L
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to expand the knowledge of barriers to play for graduate students. The research question asked, what are the barriers to play experienced by graduate students? Play is a complex term that is unique to the individual. Although subjective, existing literature gives suggestions as to what play can mean or feel like to the individual participating. Brown (2009), notes that the definition of play should be experienced rather than defined as it is distinctive to each individual. Van Vleet and Feeney (2015) describe play as being the purpose of amusement, fun or to have energetic, spontaneous, and highly interactive qualities. The methodology used to answer the research question was a qualitative descriptive approach. This methodology generated a focused summary and understanding of the experiences that shaped participants' views (Stanley & Nayer, 2014). This study was open to any full-time graduate students of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. The researchers recruited 9 participants from Dominican University of California Occupational Therapy Program. The sampling method we used was purposive sampling as participants were chosen to have characteristics that met our inclusion criteria. Data was collected through an initial survey, focus groups, self-reported play reflection, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Two major themes were found, the first being Experienced Play with sub-themes of play is a spectrum, play context, spontaneity, and feeling of play. The second major theme is Barriers to Play with the sub-themes of money, time, responsibilities, energy/mental capacity, and societal norms/expectations. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on adult play, addresses a gap in literature from the research surrounding play for graduate students, and emphasizes the significance of play in the context of higher education and the broader spectrum of adult life.