Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2016

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Health and Nutritional Sciences

First Advisor

Patty Hacker

Keywords

college athletics, student-athlete, time demands, workload

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze data on the workload of students and student-athletes to determine if there is a significant difference in the workloads of student-athletes compared with non-athletes, including undergraduate and graduate students. It was hypothesized that student-athletes would spend more time in athletic activities, but would sacrifice time in other areas. Method: This analysis of variance study collected data from 22 students at South Dakota State University using the Student Activity Log and categorized those students using a combination of three of six labels (student-athlete or non-athlete, undergraduate or graduate, and working or nonworking). Once students were categorized, they submitted data using the Student Activity Log to show how much time was spent doing various activities, which were divided into the four major groups Academic, Athletic, Work, and Social. Those hours were then analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U Test to determine significant differences in the time expenditures between student-athletes and non-athletes. Statistical Analysis: Results: There was a significant difference in the time demands between student-athletes and nonathletes in their Academic, Athletic, and Work activities. There was no significant difference in the time demands between student-athletes and non-athletes in their Social activities. When adjusted to include only undergraduate students, the Academic time spent was no longer significantly different, but the results in the other categories remained the same. Conclusions: The time demands on student-athletes is similar to that of other students on campus in academic and social categories when only undergraduates are considered, but the time spent on athletic participation replaces that of having a job among other students. When all participants are included, athletes spend more time on academics than non-athletes. More research is needed to further validate these results.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

College athletes -- Time management

Students -- Academic workload

South Dakota State University -- Students -- Time management

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-49)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

65

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright