Core competencies and affective characteristics for an undergraduate general curriculum in recreation and leisure services

This study focused on the analysis of a set of core competencies and affective characteristics for an Undergraduate General Curriculum in Recreation and Leisure Services (UGCRLS), and the identification of main factors, or curricular areas (CAs), that can constitute a general recreation curriculum. A total of 724 (54%) out of 1,334 members of the American Park and Recreation Society, a branch of NRPA, returned the questionnaire rating the importance of the core knowledge competencies (KCs), skill competencies (SCs), and affective characteristics (ACs) to be part of a UGCRLS. The statistics of the study included three analyses. First, demographic data indicated several characteristics of the sample. Second, the mean of each competency and characteristics was analyzed. It was found that the respondents considered all except one skill competency (Use principles of statistics) important to be part of a UGCRLS. Third, the three exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and three confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted. The EFAs identified the main factors, or curricular areas, per data set. The KCs had a six-CA model, the SCs had a four-CA model, and the ACs had a three-CA model. A weak fit of data was obtained in each of the three CFAs, one per data set. The three CA models were modified and retested. After the modifications, the goodness-of-fit indices still did not meet the cutoff values of good fit. Although the CFAs did not confirm that the three models should have the number of CAs and competencies or characteristics identified in the EFAs, these models provide information about the potential design of a UGCRLS and can also serve as a starting point for future studies.