Term of Award
Summer 2016
Degree Name
Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Health and Kinesiology
Committee Chair
Daniel Czech
Committee Member 1
Brandonn Harris
Committee Member 2
Samuel Todd
Abstract
Motivation, athletic identity, and commitment are constructs that have previously been addressed and researched in regards to their impact upon athletes. Each of these constructs has previously been addressed alongside one other construct but all three have not been addressed. In addition to this, research is lacking information regarding collegiate club sport athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the thoughts of club level athletes and Division I Varsity level athletes as they relate to motivation, athletic identity and commitment to sport. The participants included 12 athletes, 6 at the club level and 6 at the Varsity level. For the club level athletes, themes emerged for motivation which included (1) relationships with teammates, and (2) sport improvement. The themes for commitment were (1) personal commitment, (2) love of the sport, (3) emotional connection, and (4) major part of life. There was also a singular theme found for athletic identity with club sport athletes which was (1) sport as a part of the individual. For varsity athletes the themes that were found for motivation were (1) sense of accomplishment, (2) personal drive, (3) sport improvement, and (4) others as motivators. The themes for commitment were (1) time commitment, (2) parental influence, and (3) scholarship. There was also only one theme for athletic identity found for Varsity which was (1) importance of the athlete role. From these themes, research may be conducted to further investigate Varsity and club level athletes in regards to what motivates them, why they remain committed to their sport, and how much they identify with the athlete role. This information may be beneficial for coaches, captains, and other leadership figures in relation to athletics at these levels.
Recommended Citation
Karoblis, Emily C., "Motivation, Athletic Identity, and Commitment to Sport in Division I Varsity Athletes and Collegiate Club Level Athletes: A Qualitative Analysis" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1468.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1468
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
