Dr Lee Davidson
Traditional research suggests mountaineers are
thrill seekers and risk takers, but recent
research of New Zealand mountaineers paints
quite a difference picture.

Dr Lee Davidson, Senior Lecturer from Victoria's Museum and Heritage Studies programme, says climbing contributes to a mountaineer's sense of who they are and what their lives are about.

"My interest in this research came from personally being involved in the climbing community in New Zealand, and my work in leisure studies. Past research has focussed on risk taking, as opposed to what participation means to people. Although there are people that fit that old model, I knew not everyone was like that—I'm quite a cautious person myself," she says.

"I was particularly interested in how mountaineers sustain an intense commitment to their leisure activity at a time when, as many social theorists argue, most people pursue short-lived ‘synthetic’ experiences, rather than those that require long-term investment, perseverance and significant effort."

The research shows that a climber's identity is enhanced through climbing in terms of self expression—the way in which someone climbs is said to reveal aspects of the self—and through discovering themselves when they are left to their own devices. It provides a personal test in an environment where making a mistake means you pay for it.

Dr Davidson carried out in-depth narrative interviews with more than 20 New Zealand climbers to find out how they started climbing, and how it fits into their lives now.

She says the research technique meant she came to different conclusions than she otherwise might have. "I used narrative interviews as opposed to surveys and direct questions about things like personality traits. I asked them to tell me stories about their lives."

This research was carried out to complete her PhD thesis at Monash University in Melbourne.

She won the 'best thesis in leisure studies' award last year from the Australia and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies. This award is given every two years.

She is currently writing a book on this subject and co-authoring another book about outdoor experiences in general.