Impact of sport participation on academic achievement

Abstract

This thesis examined the relationship between high school sport participation and academic achievement. It was hypothesized that a positive relationship would exist; the more a student participated the higher their grade point average (GPA) would have been. It was also predicted that female and White students would display the largest benefit in their GPAs from participating. Multiple regression and analysis of variance were conducted utilizing data from Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth (12th Grade Survey), 2008, a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors. Results indicated that a significant positive correlation exists between sport participation and GPA. This relationship remained significant even after accounting for other relevant factors, such as socioeconomic status and/or self-esteem. Female and White students did record the highest GP As, but participation was not a contributing factor. Overall, there appears to be some academic benefit for participating in school athletics; students may be learning a set of skills or attitudes through sport that transfer into other areas of their lives.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2010

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Gay, David A.

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Degree Program

Sociology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022582

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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