The relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement of seventh- and eighth-grade students in a rural county system
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine, at the middle school level, if there was a significant relationship between athletic participation, to include gender and number of sports in which a student participated, and academic achievement. If a relationship existed, the study's purpose included determining whether the relationship was positive or negative. Educators, particularly administrators, must ascertain whether there is a correlation between athletic participation and academic achievement so that they may implement strategies and programs which will encourage student success. This study included the seventh and eighth grade students of Harpeth Middle School and the seventh and eighth grade students of Sycamore Middle School, the total population of seventh and eighth graders in Cheatham County. TCAP scores were used to measure academic achievement. Through the use of a table of random numbers, the subjects of this study were randomly selected from two groups: athletes and non-athletes. Principals, guidance counselors, coaches, and cheerleading sponsors assisted in distinguishing student-athletes from non-athletes. Number coding identified the TCAP scores of HMS and SMS student athletes and non-athletes. Students' identities remained anonymous. The study examined and tested four hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. A Pearson product-moment correlation, an ANOVA, and a Two-way ANOVA analyzed the data. The results were discussed in narrative form and displayed in graphic form. of the four hypotheses, one was rejected. There is a significant positive relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement.
Subject Area
Educational administration|Recreation|School counseling
Recommended Citation
Dana Freudenthal Finch,
"The relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement of seventh- and eighth-grade students in a rural county system"
(1998).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI9913315.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI9913315