Master's Theses

Department

Health and Human Performance

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

In college athletics, the simplest definition for success is winning. However, anyone who has been associated with athletics knows that, at times, a win feels like a loss and a loss feels like a win. Definitions of athletic success were reviewed in the study. In addition, to consider the student half of the student-athlete, a core component of academics, which is critical thinking skill, was reviewed along with the relationship between that and on-field success. The participants for this study were 21 freshmen letter-winning student-athletes at Fort Hays State University, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II institution. Critical thinking was measured using the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. The sample of freshmen student-athletes from Fort Hays State University had a mean, raw score that was significantly lower than the mean, raw score for freshmen at four-year colleges. Athletic success was measured and defined based on Podlog (2002). This included scores associated with goal achievement and enjoyment of sport. The survey showed a significant correlation with the scores for goal achievement and enjoyment of sport, and no correlation existed between critical thinking and on-field success.

Keywords

Health and Human Performance

Advisor

Steve Sedbrook

Date of Award

Fall 2007

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

Comments

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