RECREATION SPECIALIZATION IN THE SOCIAL WORLD OF CONTRACT BRIDGE

Using data from a yearlong qualitative investigation, this paper inves tigated the nature of recreation specialization in the social world of contract bridge. Specialization was examined in terms of players' par ticipation within the context of two distinct subworlds: social bridge and serious bridge. Four types of players were identified: tournament players, regular duplicate players, regular social players, and occas ional players. The players were differentiated in terms of intensity o f identification, meaning of participation, frequency of play, game an d setting preferences, orientation to competition and skill developmen tal, and other criteria. While tournament players were the most specia lized of the four groups, the groups did not fit along a developmental sequence as generally hypothesized in recreation specialization resea rch. In fact, many bridge players resisted becoming more specialized. Results from this study suggest that future research on recreation spe cialization must look more carefully at the self-defining nature of re creation participation. The process of specialization or becoming seri ous appears to be related to a desire to develop skills at an advanced level.