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http://dx.doi.org/10.5392/IJoC.2014.10.4.018

Exploring the Meaning of College Students' Leisure Activity: Means-end Chain Analysis of Social Network Game Playing  

Han, Ju Hyoung (sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management Program Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University)
Publication Information
International Journal of Contents / v.10, no.4, 2014 , pp. 18-22 More about this Journal
Abstract
Social network games (SNGs), a rapidly growing online game genre, are built and played on social network sites. SNGs provide an online world for enjoying leisure time and interpersonal communication, and an increasing numbers of college students are involved in such game-playing as a leisure time activity. Despite the popularity, relatively few studies have been conducted to investigate the nature of game players, especially the meaning of such leisure time behavior by college students. This paper's aim was to explore a subjective meaning structure of online social network game play. The means-end chain model was used to link attributes of SNGs to the underlying values of game playing as a leisure activity. The results revealed two emerging end-values: the need for bridging and a sense of belonging. This study sheds light on the meaning of college students' leisure activities when playing social network games.
Keywords
social network games; college student leisure; means-end chain model; need for bridging; sense of belonging;
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