Metaphorical Perceptions of the Academicians Working in the Field of Recreation Regarding the Concept of “Recreation”

The purpose of this study is to reveal how the academicians working in the field of recreation conceptualize their ideas about “recreation” through metaphors. Phenomenology being among the qualitative research methods was used in this study. The research population is composed of the academicians working in the field of recreation in different universities of Turkey. Qualitative data collection method via metaphors was used. When metaphors are used to "describe", a situation, event and phenomenon are described as they exist (Yıldırım and Şimşek, 2013). Data from the study were collected by using a semi-structured metaphor form via survey online. The raw data obtained from the study were examined, incomplete or inexpedient ones were excluded and metaphors were modeled by transferring them to the Nvivo 10 program.As a result of the data obtained, the academicians working in the field of recreation use such concepts as escape, star, giant, happiness, music box, spring air, freedom, traveler, broken chain ring, octopus, life, Aladdin and the magic lamp, sun, a colorful cake with mixed fruit, work potential, a multi-purpose field or saloon, funfair, umbrella, flying carpet, human, Aegean sea, sea, rainbow, water, living, forest, fishing tackle, bridge, time, wind, chameleon, seasons, breath, science, nature and spice while describing the concept of recreation metaphorically. The data obtained after the interviews were then coded under the appropriate themes after being analyzed with the content analysis method. According to the data obtained, it has been found that it has been gathered under 5 (five) themes as "As a Value for Individual and Society", "Serving Needs", "Social Reputation", "Recreate" and "Self- realization". In conclusion, it is observed that the metaphors obtained comply with the recreation theories regarding the metaphorical perceptions of the academicians working in the field of recreation about the “recreation” concept. In order to better understand the concept of recreation, it is recommended to take evaluation results in practical activities.