Term of Award

Fall 2013

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Education Administration (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Department

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Committee Chair

Dr. Devon Jensen

Committee Member 1

Dr. Jason LaFrance

Committee Member 2

Dr. Dan Calhoun

Committee Member 3

Dr. Steven Platek

Committee Member 3 Email

splatek@gmail.com

Abstract

Recent data indicates that college student athletes are graduating at higher rates than their non-student athlete peers; however, among student athletes in general, revenue sport student athletes are well below other college sport student athletes in terms of academic performance. One variable that has shown to have a connection with academic performance among college student athletes is academic motivation. An area within academic motivational research that has not been investigated is how a revenue sport student athlete’s time commitment to their sport (competition and non-competition semester) influences their academic motivation. Additionally, the large majority of research assessing academic motivation among college student athletes analyzed academic motivation at one point in time rather than throughout a time period. Conversely, this study examined academic motivation several times within an academic year, rather than at a single point in time. The study also aimed to determine if academic motivation among NCAA Division I football players is significantly different during their competition semester compared to their non-competition semester and if academic motivation changed from month to month within each semester.

The researcher created a survey entitled the College Student‐Athlete Academic Motivation Survey (CSAAM-S) which examined academic motivation among 75 NCAA Division I football players during three months within a given semester. Using a repeated measures ANOVA, it was discovered that the football players had higher levels of academic motivation within their non-competition semester (Spring 2013) compared to their competition semester (Fall 2012). Also, differences were found in academic motivation for each month within the competition semester and the non-competition semester. Additionally, race/ethnicity, athletic standing, and scholarship type were also found to yield different levels of academic motivation among the football players.

From a practical standpoint, investigating academic motivation through moments of time rather than a single moment of time can lead to a better understanding of the concept of academic motivation. Results from the study will be noteworthy in providing more information to campus leaders and athletic department administrators in order to develop, implement, and better time academic motivational programs for NCAA Division I football players.

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