An analysis of the Diploma of the New Zealand Council for Recreation and Sport

Abstract

This study was prompted by requests from many sectors of the community for information and objective data about the history and present status of the Diploma of the New Zealand Council for Recreation and sport. It was written within an historical context and an examination was made of the Diploma's general structure and function. Frequency distributions and cross tabulations of various social and demographic variables resulted in a profile of the people who were studying for the Diploma as well as those who had graduated. Candidates' motives for enrolling in the Diploma programme were examined and compared with research previously undertaken by Boshier (1971 b, 1977). This examination permitted testing of the general hypothesis: that the Diploma of the New Zealand Council for Recreation and Sport is serving the needs of active and potentially active community recreation leaders. Three hundred and seventy Diploma candidates and graduates were surveyed. Respondents completed Boshier's Education Participation Scale (E.P.S.) and the resulting data were subjected to factor analysis and orthogonal rotation. Five factors were produced and factor scores were related through Pearson correlation to a number of profile variables. Several significant relationships emerged indicating that some basic changes in the administration of the Diploma programme could enhance its overall effectiveness in meeting needs of candidates.