  Inclusive production of the f_0(980), f_2(1270) and \phi(1020) resonances has
been studied in a sample of 4.3 million hadronic Z^0 decays from the OPAL
experiment at LEP. A coupled channel analysis has been used for the f_0 in
simultaneous fits to the resonances in inclusive \pi+\pi- and K+K- mass
spectra. Fragmentation functions are reported for the three states. Total
inclusive rates are measured to be 0.141 +/- 0.007 +/- 0.011 f_0, 0.155 +/-
0.011 +/- 0.018 f_2, and 0.091 +/- 0.002 +/- 0.003 \phi mesons per hadronic Z^0
decay. The production properties of the f_0, including those in three-jet
events, are compared with those of the f_2 and \phi, and with the Lund string
model of hadron production. All measurements are consistent with the hypothesis
that the f_0 is a conventional qq(bar) scalar meson.
