The study was conducted to determine the current status and employment needs for therapeutic recreation personnel in selected agencies in the state of Texas. The study provided the first definitive information on therapeutic recreation manpower needs on a state-wide basis. The study determined the status of therapeutic recreation personnel and assisted in identifying projected training needs in the state of Texas. A survey was mailed to 114 Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and parks and recreation agencies. Information was requested concerning General Agency Information, Recreation Services, Current Employment, Current Therapeutic Recreation Personnel, Projected Employment and Bilingual Employees and Client information.

This investigation dealt with the relationships between three main variables: (1) a camp director's prior experience with handicapped individuals and in the field of recreation; (2) a camp director's attitudes toward handicapped persons and their integration into regular camp settings; and (3) a camp director's perception of barriers to integration. The study was carried out via a mail-out questionnaire to 149 Texas camp directors. A return rate of 51% was achieved (66 returned surveys). Questionnaires were scored, and the data were punched on computer cards for analysis. The analysis indicated high reliability of the attitude and barrier scales. Results of the correlational analyses indicated a significant relationship (p = .0001) between a camp director's attitudes and his/her perception of barriers to integration.

The National Industrial Recreation Association has recently created local Chapters to facilitate the needs of recreation professionals at the local level. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to describe characteristics of the existing Chapters and compare their operational procedures; secondly, to determine problems and assess means for overcoming these problems in the establishment of Chapters. The data collection methodology choses for this study was a questionnaire. Results were tabulated in six question areas dealing with the operational procedures of Chapters and the barriers prohibiting the establishment of new Chapters. Through participation in Chapters, recreators can fulfill many of their own needs as well as contribute to the advancement of the industrial recreation profession.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between computer experience and selected demographic variables to knowledge about computers; knowledge of computers, experience with computers and selected demographic variables and attitudes towards computers to perceived computer helplessness. The study utilized two samples. Questionnaires were hand delivered to 68 out of 81 students enrolled in recreation classes at North Texas State University and questionnaires were sent to 130 Dallas Park and Recreation professionals via their inter-department mail (115 surveys returned). The data analysis indicated that the knowledge, attitude, and helplessness scales were highly reliable. Regression analysis indicated that knowledge, experience, attitudes, sex, age, and occupation were significant predictors of helplessness.