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ETD Abstract Container

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An Exploration of the Nature of Wonderful Experiences

Jefferies, Kate W.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304466331

Abstract Details

2011, BS, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies.
People often say, "college is the best time of your life, enjoy it while it lasts." But what makes college life so memorable? Is it the people, the places, the classes, the work, or the experiences? The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of extraordinary experiences in familiar and novel settings. The unit of analysis in this study was one extraordinary experience. 97 total experiences were collected from 19 undergraduate students based on there experiences at a major Midwestern university and 2 seperate study abroad programs to Uganda and China in the 2009 school year. Through this research, it was found that competition and accomplishment, group idendtity, spontaneity, off-campus exploartion and walking outside were five themes that could define extraordinary experiences in familiar settings, while reflection, outdoor adventure, and cross cultural interactions defined extraordianry experiences in novel settings. It was also found that being evaluated during leisure time can actually be a beneficial and memorable experience, which runs counter to popular research. Insights gained may benefit campus life and recreation, university retention rates, as well as leisure and tourism programming.
Andrew Lepp, PhD (Advisor)
Philip Wang, PhD (Committee Member)
Donald Williams, PhD (Committee Member)
Christina McVay (Committee Chair)
41 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Individual and Family Studies; Recreation; Sub Saharan Africa Studies
extraordinary; experience; novel; familiar; social; physical; setting; Uganda; China;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jefferies, K. W. (2011). An Exploration of the Nature of Wonderful Experiences [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304466331

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jefferies, Kate. An Exploration of the Nature of Wonderful Experiences. 2011. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304466331.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jefferies, Kate. "An Exploration of the Nature of Wonderful Experiences." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304466331

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors1304466331
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.