Social Psychology - A Functional Approach to Recreation

Abstract

The function of attitudes and/or behavior in most empirical studies is not fully understood. This study was undertaken to isolate some variables that are important in the f3rmulation of perspective and to use these variables to form homogeneous groups so that patterns among the variables may be used in future studies to better understand attitudes and/or behavior. The study was conducted in State College, Pennsylvania, and the subject content of the study was a public forested area known as State Game Lands 176. Both user and general populations of the State College area were sampled to obtain a diversity of results about the functional nature of attitudes and/or behavior. Results indicated that there were differences among individuals with regard to the larger context. These results are suggestive of research to relate attitudes and/or behavior to these functional dimensions to better understand the relationships among these variables.

Exploring a Functional Approach to Attitudinal Brand Loyalty

“…The Functional Theory of Attitudes (Katz, 1960) identifies four generic functions of attitudes that explain the purpose of attitudes towards an object and ultimately explain behaviour. This theory has been developed and tested in a number of different behavioural situations; for example, Groves et al (1977), recreation; Locander and Spivey (1978), tennis; Korgaonkar et al (1985), shopping; Allen et al (2002), cars and sunglasses purchase behaviour; and Hullet (2006), HIV testing. Allen et al (2002), whilst providing 'cautious support for the functional approach to the value-attribute-behaviour system' (p. 129), does suggest however, that, 'one construct neglected was behaviour ' (p. 130).…”