Examining factors influencing sport choice(s) of African-American athletes in Euro-American sports
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Abstract
Objectives: The purpose ofthis investigation was to understand the perspectives and origins ofbehavioral choices, specifically the beliefs, attitudes and cultural influences that impacted sport choice behaviors, participation motives and the ways in which the African-American athletes, who participated in sports played predominantly by Euro-Americans, interpreted the meaning of their sport experiences and choices. This was done by examining the athletes, specifically focusing on how their early sport experiences, relationships with parents, peers and coaches and cultural background impacted beliefs, attitudes and perceptions potentially acted as behavior determinants. Method: Eight (8) African-American collegiate athletes were interviewed about their past and current attitudes and beliefs about how they came to participate in their chosen sport(s) and why they continued to participate in the sport over the course of five or more years. The participants responded to a semi-structured interview and data were analyzed using Extended Case Method (Burawoy, 1998).
Conclusion: Implications include the importance for role modeling; the prevalence ofproactive acculturation processes based on cultural and ethnicity; access to Euro-American sport through familial relationships; and coaching/parenting/peer support are required for emotional and physical safety as a deterrent to racism and discrimination.
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Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University