Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Troy Morgan

Publication Date

6-9-2016

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between grit and student-athlete academic and sport performance. An exploratory study was conducted using a case study methodology, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research. The Grit Short Scale (Duckworth, 2007) was employed on student-athletes at an NCAA Division II university in the American Southwest Rocky Mountain Region. Results included a positive correlation between student-athlete grit level and informant grit report, indicating that student-athlete consistently rated their grit higher than their coach rated their grit. Also, in this case study, grit does not account for more predictive value of college academic performance than traditional factors of academic success of college student-athletes. Lastly, through triangulation, two major themes emerged around how head coaches view grit and sport performance: 1) grit increases individual development and sport performance, and 2) team culture is enhanced by increased individual grit.

Keywords

Sport Performance, Psychosocial Aspects of Sport, Athlete Development, Sport Management

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)

Seidler, Todd

Second Committee Member

Lemberger-Truelove, Matthew

Third Committee Member

Colles, Colleen

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