Keywords

Moral Reasoning, Religion, Sports, Priming, Sports Psychology

Abstract

This research focuses on filling the hole in existing literature regarding religious priming and how it affects morality in sports. This study examined whether different types of moral priming influenced moral reasoning in undergraduate soccer athletes. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: an external religious prime, an internal religious prime, a secular prime, or a no-prime control group. Moral reasoning was assessed using the Moral Reasoning in Sports Scenarios Questionnaire (MRSSQ), strength of religious faith was measured using the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSRFQ), and personality traits were assessed using the Mini International Personality Item Pool (Mini-IPIP). A total of 190 undergraduate amateur and collegiate athletes from the University of Central Florida participated in the study. Overall, there were no significant differences in morality scores across the four priming conditions. However, an independent samples t-test revealed a significant overall difference between the two religious priming conditions. Strength of religious faith did not moderate the relationship between priming condition and morality scores. Exploratory analyses found that agreeableness and neuroticism were significant predictors of morality scores. These findings suggest that while Christian priming did not significantly influence overall moral reasoning, the type of religious prime and individual personality traits may play a role in moral decision-making among athletes.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Summer

Thesis Chair

Sims, Valerie

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Thesis Discipline

Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

5 years

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Psychology Commons

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