An Analysis of Therapeutic Recreation as a Service

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Abstract
This analysis sought to determine the extent to which therapeutic recreation service (represented by formal items of communication) is indeed a service as compared to a theoretical model of delivery of service. Content analysis was employed to analyze two samples of literature currently existing in the field: a random sample of 55 citations and a current sample of 47 citations. Data analysis was descriptive with data reported in both percent and frequencies. The results of the random data indicate that formal communication is addressed primarily to the development of specialized knowledge. The information being developed was characterized by randomness and inconsistency, with frequent failure to identify a primary purpose or essential human function of therapeutic recreation service. A similar pattern was observed in the current data. In the random sample, service recipients were the physically impaired and mentally handicapped, while in the current sample they were mental-emotional and social maladjusted. In both samples research efforts were minimal and of questionable quality. The results are discussed within the general context of knowledge development formulated by Kuhn and the adoption of the delivery of service model to assist in the transition from a non-paradigm to a multiple-paradigm stage of development.

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