Date Approved

6-5-2017

Embargo Period

6-5-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Callueng, Carmelo

Keywords

self-efficacy, motivation

Subject(s)

College athletes; Academic achievement

Disciplines

Higher Education | School Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine positive academic behaviors between college student athletes and non-athletes. Over 460,000 students participate in college sports yearly (NCAA, 2016). Early research shows sports involvement has a negative impact on academic achievement; however, current research contradicts those findings. Sports has become a popular extracurricular activity, so it is important to determine the actual relationship between sports involvement and academic functioning. This study examined that relationship by comparing grade point averages, academic self-efficacy, and motivation between student athletes and student non-athletes in a northeast university. An online self-reporting survey was administered to gather the data. Independent t-test was employed to compare the means of grade point averages, self-efficacy, and motivation between student athletes and non-athletes. Key findings indicated that self-efficacy was higher in student athletes, compared to students who did not participate in sports.

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