Re‐examining the consumptiveness concept: Some suggestions from a confirmatory factor analysis

This article re‐examines the concept of consumptiveness and its subdimensions. Consumptive elements in recreation experiences have been an important theme in human dimensions studies. Despite the fact that the consumptiveness concept is multidimensional, it has often been treated as unidimensional in the human dimensions literature. By using confirmatory factor analysis, this study evaluates previously suggested scale items and subdimensions of the concept of consumptiveness. It is concluded that much work remains to be done to establish a good consumptiveness inventory. Generally, several possible subdimensions of consumptiveness are not properly identified, nor are scale items sufficiently developed and tested. This study confirms a “General consumptiveness factor”; and further clarifies three independent and nested factors, namely “Eagerness to catch large fish,”; “Importance of catching something,”; and “Willingness to release fish.”; The “Release”; factor was positively correlated with the “Large”; factor.