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A research update of adventure therapy
(1992-1995): Challenge activities and ropes
courses, Wilderness expeditions, and residential
camping programs
Gillis, H.L. and Thomsen, D.
Coalition for Education in the Outdoor Research
Symposium Proceedings, (3rd, Bradford Woods,
Indiana, January 12-14, 1996).
Purpose:
Review of adventure therapy research with
recommendations for future research
Sample:
Review of adventure therapy research with
recommendations for future research
Methods/Instruments:
Two studies related to residential camping
were included:
- Caram (1994): subjects were at-risk
elementary school students. Program description
rather than research; perceptions of educators,
parents and community connected longevity
of program to leadership of executive
director.
- Larsen (1992): subjects were schizophrenics;
results indicate greater preference by
schizophrenics for highly enclosed and
complex outdoor environments.
Results:
Collection of adventure therapy research
results into one document that will highlight
accomplishments and effectiveness.
- Recommendations for future research
included:
- Meta-analysis addressing the efficacy
of adventure therapy across populations,
problems and contexts.
- Survey that will highlight similarities
and differences in activity based, expedition,
and residential camping adventure therapy.
- Standardize adventure therapy research
abstracts so that the same information
will be available for each study.
- Explore questions about competence of
adventure therapy leaders, including how
this competence is achieved and recognized.
- Conduct a retrospective and prospective
survey with a large sample. The survey
should elicit behavioral and global improvement
information, as well as information about
the effectiveness of adventure therapy.
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