Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

6-21-1968

Abstract

This study was primarily concerned with the relationship among ethnic groups--athletes and nonathletes--and personality differences. Six hypotheses, all stated in the null form, were used in comparing white varsity athletes and nonathletes; Negro varsity athletes and nonathletes; Negro and white varsity athletes; Negro and white nonathletes; Negro varsity athletes and white nonathletes; and white varsity athletes and Negro nonathletes. This study was done at the University of New Mexico during the academic school year, 1967-1968. Negro and white varsity athletes selected for this study were those male undergraduate students who had earned varsity letter awards at the college level and are presently enrolled and participating in varsity athletics at the University of New Mexico. Negro and white nonathletes selected for this study were those male undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico who had never lettered in a varsity sport at any educational institution. All Negro athletes and nonathletes who were willing to participate in this study were used as subjects. All white athletes were selected at random and used as subjects. All white nonathletes were selected at random from the male undergraduate population. A total of 111 subjects were used in this study. The Gordon Personal Profile was used as the research tool for measuring four defined personality traits. They were: ascendancy, responsibility, emotional stability, and sociability. This test is self-explanatory, short, concise, and highly reliable as an instrument for objectively measuring personality. Scores for each trait were recorded and the mean for each calculated. An analysis of variance technique was used to compute the mean, between and within variances, and to produce an F ratio to determine the acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses at the .05 level of confidence. The results produced seven statistically significant differences at the .05 level of confidence. Three significant differences occurred when white athletes and nonathletes were compared. In this instance, hypothesis one was rejected in ascendancy, responsibility, and emotional stability; while sociability was not rejected. This indicates that white athletes ranked higher than white nonathletes in these three traits. Another significant difference occurred when Negro varsity athletes and Negro nonathletes were compared. Hypothesis two was rejected only in the responsibility trait; while the ascendancy, emotional stability, and sociability traits yielded no significant differences. This indicates that Negro varsity athletes ranked higher than Negro nonathletes in the responsibility trait. Three other significant differences occurred when white varsity athletes and Negro nonathletes were compared. Hypothesis six was rejected in ascendancy, responsibility, and emotional stability; while sociability was not significantly rejected. These results suggested that white varsity athletes were significantly different and ranked higher in ascendancy, responsibility, and emotional stability traits when compared to Negro and white nonathletes. They also suggested that Negro varsity athletes were significantly different and ranked higher in responsibility when compared to Negro nonathletes.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Armond Harold Seidler

Second Committee Member

Don Martin Rice

Third Committee Member

Harold Eugene Kenney

Fourth Committee Member

Lloyd Robert Burley

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