Digital Commons Network^™

The Play Workforce In Wales – An Exploratory Demographic Study, Pete King, Justine Howard Dr

International Journal of Playwork Practice

An online survey of 211 playworkers, 90 childcare and early years workers, and 90 ‘other play’ professionals provided demographic data from 391 people involved in the play workforce in Wales. This was the first extensive survey of the Welsh play workforce since 2008 and was part of a larger Welsh play workforce study. Results of the study found the play workforce in Wales is predominately white, female with no disabilities. Differences within the play workforce exist in relation to the average age where playworkers are younger compared to childcare/early years workers and ‘other play’ professionals. There is a significant difference …

Policing For Peace: Training For A 21st Century Police Force, Kate M. Den Houter, Margaret E. Brooks

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

We review the present state of research on police training in the United States, highlighting gaps in the literature, and limitations of trainings in use by local policing agencies. We focus on training content relevant to the volatile situations that are at the center of controversy, we evaluate content areas that focus on successfully navigating real-time, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous interactions, and discuss training needs in these areas. We suggest that one common response to the issue of bias—implicit bias training—lacks evidence of efficacy. Accordingly, we recommend alternative training content to address bias and discrimination. Finally, we call attention to …

Enhancing The Representation Of Women: How Gender Diversity Signals And Acknowledgement Affect Attraction To Men-Dominated Professions, Thomas P. Depatie, Anmol Sachdeva, Comila Shahani-Denning, Rebecca Grossman, Kevin P. Nolan

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

While organizations around the world recognize the importance of gender diversity and inclusion, many struggle to reach gender parity (Sneader & Yee, 2020). Particularly, women account for less than 15% of all sworn police officers (Donohue Jr, 2020). Considering signaling theory and novel research in organizational impression management, we examined the utility of various recruitment messaging techniques for attracting women job seekers to professions dominated by men, at both a consulting firm and law enforcement agency. Women evaluating consulting firm materials perceived greater behavioral integrity and were subsequently more attracted to the organization if recruitment messages included both high gender …

Exploring The Feasibility Of Assessing Cultural Competence In Police Officers, Sydney L. Reichin, Alexander T. Jackson, Mark C. Frame, Michael Hein

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Pathology, personality, and integrity-related construct assessments have been widely used in the selection of police officers. However, the incidence of police brutality and misconduct is still concerning. The present study explored the feasibility of the assessment of cultural competence in police officers. We explored the extent to which the change to the agency’s first ever Black CEO would affect cultural competence of the officers as well as incidence of misconduct. Results showed that scores on a cultural competence factor of an in-basket simulation used for promotional assessments at a state highway patrol agency were not predictive of either supervisor-rated performance …

Using Workplace Personality To Guide Improvement Of Law Enforcement Selection, Chase A. Winterberg, Michael A. Tapia, Bradley J. Brummel

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Recurrent police-public conflict suggests misalignment in desired police behavior between police and the public. We explored differences in desired police characteristics between police and members of the American public. Although racial minorities endorsed more negative attitudes of police overall, we found no meaningful differences in desired police characteristics between police and the public or between racial minority and majority participants. Second, we combined multiple criterion-related validation studies in similar jobs via meta-analyses and synthetic validity analyses to identify personality predictors of police performance dimensions. Third, we assessed base rates and adverse impact of these personality characteristics in police. Incumbent officers …

Introduction To The Special Issue On Policing: Examining The Role Of Testing And Assessment, Dennis Doverspike, Alexandra Petruzzelli, Marc Cubrich

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Prepared in response to the weight and seriousness of social concerns with regard to the state and future of policing, this special issue was developed in order to feature research that examined a wide range of personnel and assessment decisions relating to policing. The focus was broad in scope, welcoming conceptual/theoretical papers, quantitative or qualitative reviews, empirical papers, and think pieces. To address the questions and areas identified in the initial call for papers, six articles are presented covering the themes of individual differences in personnel selection group composition and macro-level influences on policing, and practical recommendations and the future …

Children’S Views On Playtime In Schools: A Systematic Literature Review, Thomas Clements, Emma L. Harding Dr

International Journal of Playwork Practice

Background and aim(s)

Playtime in schools has been shown to have wide-ranging benefits to children and young people. However, opportunities for playtime in schools have declined over time. It is important children’s voices are heard on matters that are important to them, yet playtime is often driven by adult policy. The aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to explore children’s views on playtime to further our understanding of what is important to them, and what affects their access to playtime.

Methodology

This SLR employed thematic synthesis to aggregate the views of children on playtime. This review includes 8 …

Female Adolescent Athletes’ Experiences Of Body Dissatisfaction Across Individual And Team Sports, Alicia Deogracias-Schleich, Lindsey C. Blom, Kayla E. Myers, Stefania Aegisdottir Ph.D., Ashley Coker-Cranney, Allison Blake, J.C. Ausmus, Miata Walker

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

There is an abundance of research explaining the physical and psychological benefits of sport and exercise. Some research suggests sport and exercise may act as a protective factor against body dissatisfaction for adolescent females (Fernández-Bustos et al., 2019; Soulliard et al. 2019). However, it is unclear if adolescent females’ experiences in specific sport settings contribute to perceptions about their bodies. Therefore, this study investigated body perception and its sociocultural influences in adolescent females in team sports versus adolescent females in individual sports. Three focus groups of team sport athletes and two focus groups of individual sport athletes, ages 14-16 years, …

Utilization And Impact Of Career Services Among Collegiate Athletes, Evan A. Davis, Shea M. Brgoch, Leeann M. Lower-Hoppe, Makena Lynch, Duncan A. Johnston, Daniel Wray, Kristy Mccray, Megan Parietti

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Career readiness is a concern within the American educational system, particularly among student-athletes that must manage intense time commitments both on and off the field. Student services have emerged in higher education to support career preparation, but the utilization and impact of these services for collegiate athletes is largely unknown. The systems-theory framework (STF) of career development identifies a multitude of internal and external factors that influence individual career development. Guided by STF, the purpose of this study was to predict the factors that influence collegiate athletes' utilization of career services and resulting perceived career skills. An online questionnaire was …

Psychological Experiences During Previous High School Sport Participation Predict College Students’ Current Psychological Health, Jonathan D. Defreese, Amanda Visek, Nikki E. Barczak-Scarboro

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Adolescent sport participation has been positively associated with psychological health outcomes. Yet, further research is needed to explore how psychosocial health benefits from sport may be maximized or minimized based on one’s psychological experiences during previous sport participation. The present study examined associations among retrospective psychological experiences of high school sport participation and markers of current college students’ psychosocial health. American college students (N = 300) self-reported retrospective high school sport experiences (i.e., burnout, engagement, and stress) and current psychosocial health outcomes (i.e., social support, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction) via an online interface. Moderated multiple regression analyses showed high …

Organizational Support Factors For Minor League Baseball Player Development, Christopher M. Mcleod, Nola Agha, Simon Rosenblum-Larson

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

This study examines organizational support in the context of minor league baseball to better understand how organizations can support athletes’ development. Exploratory results show that English and Spanish players identify salary/pay, off-season training opportunities, and nutritious food as their most important unmet development needs. English and Spanish respondents differently prioritized playing opportunities, communication with front office staff, health care, and equipment as unmet needs. Explanatory results show that organizational support factors (private problem support and second career support) explain 17% of the variation in minor league baseball players’ self-perceptions of development. The results provide guidance for Major League Baseball and …

Locus Of Control In Athletic Training, Brittany James, Lindsey E. Eberman, Kenneth E. Games, Matthew J. Rivera

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: Locus of control (LOC) is the level of control an individual feels they have over the outcomes in their life; work locus of control (WLOC) is the control someone feels over their work. Both LOC and WLOC can be internally or externally affected and influence athletic trainers’ ability to change their clinical circumstances. The purpose of this study was to explore athletic trainers’ LOC and WLOC.

Method: Cross-sectional web-based survey. Two validated surveys were used to measure locus of control and work locus of control in athletic trainers along with the collection of 8 demographic variables. Results: Of …

Confirming The Factors Of Professional Readiness In Athletic Training, Philip A. Szlosek, M Susan Guyer, Mary G. Barnum, Elizabeth M. Mullin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Background: Healthcare professionals such as athletic trainers must be prepared for autonomous practice immediately after graduation. Although certified, new athletic trainers have been shown to have clinical areas of strength and weakness. To better assess professional readiness and improve the preparedness of new athletic trainers, the factors of athletic training professional readiness must be defined. However, limited research exists defining the holistic aspects of professional readiness needed for athletic trainers. Confirming the factors of professional readiness in athletic training could enhance the professional preparation of athletic trainers and result in more highly prepared new professionals. Therefore, the objective of this …

A Survey Of The Mental Health Of Uk Olympic And Paralympic Sport Athletes., Sandra D. Leyland Dr, Alan Currie Prof, Elizabeth Board Dr, Amit D. Mistry Dr, Rod Jaques Dr, Craig Ranson Dr

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of psychological distress and well-being amongst elite athletes in the UK.

An online survey was emailed to 753 athletes within the English Institute of Sport. Response rate 52.3%. 371 participants (median age 25) completed measures of psychological distress and subjective well-being alongside demographics and sport-related variables.

High or very high psychological distress was reported by 23.7%. Poor subjective well-being was reported by 18.8%. Of those reporting psychological distress, 9% also reported good subjective well-being. The odds of psychological distress and poor well-being increased if the athlete was female (OR 2.03, distress; OR 2.00, poor …

"Do You Really See Us?":Black College Athlete Perceptions Of Inclusion At Di Historically White Institutions, Shannon Jolly, Jepkorir Rose Chepyator-Thomson

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

While recent sport research has highlighted benefits of racial diversity on teams and in the workplace, few studies have examined how demographic composition is perceived by college athletes. Fewer have investigated how racially marginalized athletes experience the phenomena. Thus, the current study explores the intersection of race, gender, and athletic identity in Black college athletes at DI Historically White Institutions (HWIs), perceptions of inclusion, and its influence on sense of belonging. Employing critical race theory, two focus groups and six semi-structured interviews that incorporated vignettes were conducted with six current Black athletes at DI HWIs in the Southeastern U.S. Findings …

College Athletes’ Views On Academics: A Qualitative Assessment Of Perceptions Of Academic Success, Amanda M. Brouwer, John Johanson, Thomas Carlson

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The primary purpose of the current study was to give “voice” to college athletes regarding their views on academics. Given their perspectives, means of promoting their academic achievement were suggested. Research describing athletes’ experiences and the impact of socio-emotional stressors on academic success, especially for those not at a Division I school, is needed. Therefore, a qualitative study exploring the academic experiences of college athletes was conducted. Twelve focus groups of college athletes (N = 62) from six teams were held. Results revealed that college athletes are motivated to achieve by external factors and see grades as an external …

Effects Of A 4-Week Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Intervention On Psychological And Performance Variables In Student-Athletes: A Pilot Study, Samantha R. Weber, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Eva V. Monsma, Shawn M. Arent, Toni Torres-Mcgehee

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a 4-week biofeedback intervention on coherence, psychological, and performance variables in collegiate student-athletes. METHODS: Thirteen student-athletes were randomly assigned to the intervention (one weekly biofeedback session for 4-weeks) or control group (no sessions). Data were collected at pre and post-intervention using weekly averaged coherence scores, psychological measures for depression, arousal, stress, resiliency, and performance outcome measures. RESULTS: A 3 (Time) x 4 (Week average) repeated measures ANOVA was independently conducted to examine differences between time and weekly coherence average for coherence scores. No significant differences were found for “at rest”, pre, or post-practice coherence …

The Relationship Between Grit And Growth Mindset In Professional Athletic Training Students, Haleigh M. Gray, Ryan Moran, Danae Delfin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: The demands of athletic training students are substantial between academic and clinical responsibilities creating problems with commitment and retention. Grit and growth mindset have been associated with academic achievement and success; however, little research has assessed the presence of grit and growth mindset within athletic training students. Therefor the purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in grit and growth mindset between athletic training students and non-athletic training students majoring in general health sciences and to assess the relationship between grit and growth mindset in both athletic training students and non-athletic training students. Methods: A cross-sectional study …

Effects Of Rock Steady Boxing On Parkinsons Patients, Hannah Hall, Jennifer Walker, Erika Smith-Goodwin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
Rock Steady Boxing’s (non-profit organization) program goal is improving Parkinson’s patients’ quality of life through a non-contact, boxing-based fitness class. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Parkinson’s patients perceived improvement on proprioception from one hospital-based Rock Steady Boxing Program. The program was led by athletic trainers and physical therapists.

MAIN.OUTCOME.MEASURE
Likert scale survey was used with one fill in the blank question.

Comfort Levels Of Male Collegiate Student Athletes In Reporting Symptoms Of Eating Disorders, Maryn Herring, Erika Smith-Goodwin, Jennifer Walker

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the comfort levels of male student athletes at a Division III college in reporting symptoms of eating disorders to Athletic Trainers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
Likert scale questions with one open ended question.

Mens' And Womens' Diii Soccer Athletes Anxiety Levels Due To Balancing Academic And Team Responsibilities, Kathleen Monnig, Jennifer Walker, Erika Smith-Goodwin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate anxiety levels due to balancing academic and team responsibilities in one Division III womens’ and mens’ soccer teams.

MAIN.OUTCOME.MEASURE
5-point,6-point Likert scale.

Effects Of Tiktok On The Mental Health Of Men's And Women's Soccer Teams At One Institution, Hayley Suchland, Erika Smith-Goodwin, Eric Dick

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the social media platform, TikTok, on the mental health of Division III Men’s and Women’s soccer players at one institution.

MAIN.OUTCOME.MEASUREMENT
Likert scale survey.

A 12-Year Retrospective Analysis Of Vo2max Values In College-Aged Student Athletes, Michelle Wilson, Scott Swanson

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
To examine VO₂max values in a cohort of exercise physiology students over a 12-year time period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
Student’s VO₂max values were examined for the effects of gender (males vs. females) and athletic status (athlete vs. non-athlete). Significance was set at p

Comparing Empirically Keyed And Random Forest Scoring Models In Biodata Assessments, Mathijs Affourtit, Kristin S. Allen, Craig M. Reddock, Paul M. Fursman

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Effective pre-hire assessments impact organizational outcomes. Recent developments in machine learning provide an opportunity for practitioners to improve upon existing scoring methods. This study compares the effectiveness of an empirically keyed scoring model with a machine learning, random forest model approach in a biodata assessment. Data was collected across two organizations. The data from the first sample (N=1,410), was used to train the model using sample sizes of 100, 300, 500, and 1,000 cases, whereas data from the second organization (N=524) was used as an external benchmark only. When using a random forest model, predictive validity …

The Attention To Detail Test: Measurement Precision And Validity Evidence For A Performance-Based Assessment Of Attention To Detail, Brent A. Stevenor, Michael John Zickar, Fletcher Wimbush, Weston Beck

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

We report on the dimensionality, measurement precision, and validity of the Attention to Detail Test (ADT) designed to be a performance-based assessment of people’s ability to pay attention to detail. Within the framework of item response theory, we found that a 3PL bifactor model produced the most accurate item parameter estimates. In a predictive validity study, we found that the ADT predicted supervisor ratings of subsequent overall job performance and performance on detail-oriented tasks. In a construct-related study, scores on the ADT correlated most strongly with the personality facet of perfectionism. The test also correlated with intelligence and self-reported ACT …

On The Continued Misinterpretation Of Stereotype Threat As Accounting For Black-White Differences On Cognitive Tests, Dana H. Tomeh, Paul R. Sackett

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Steele and Aronson (1995) showed that stereotype threat affects the test performance of stereotyped groups. A careful reading shows that threat affects test performance but does not eliminate Black–White mean score gaps. Sackett et al. (2004) reviewed characterization of this research in scholarly articles, textbooks, and popular press, and found that many mistakenly inferred that removing stereotype threats eliminated the Black– White performance gap. We examined whether the rate of mischaracterization of Steele and Aronson had decreased in the 15 years since Sackett et al. highlighted the common misinterpretation. We found that the misinterpretation rate dropped from 90.9% to 62.8% …

Is Same-Gender Mentorship Important For Division Iii Female College Athletes?: An Application Of The Mentor Role Theory, Nicholas Swim, Ehren R. Green, Mary A. Hums, Glenna G. Bower, Khirey B. Walker

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

In the last twenty years, opportunities for women in intercollegiate athletics have grown exponentially. Unfortunately, women still represent a small number of head coaches in intercollegiate athletics, creating a disparity in numbers between female college athletes and female head coaches. This disparity has led to an imbalance for female college athletes searching for female role models and mentors. This study investigated the mentoring experiences of NCAA Division III female college athletes based on their lived experiences with both male and female head coaches. Using Mentor Role Theory (MRT), a set of qualitative responses were collected and analyzed. The participants highlighted …

“It’S Just A Lot They Are Asking From Us”: College Athlete Experiences Of Division Iii To Division Ii Reclassification, Alexandra R. Mitchell, Martin Barrett

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of college athletes who were directly impacted by their institution’s pursuit of gaining membership to a different NCAA division (i.e., divisional reclassification). More specifically, this study sought to understand specific changes that accompany the Division III to Division II transition, which include: 1) divisional philosophy, 2) financial aid, 3) level of competition, 4) athletically related activities, and 5) academic standards. Conceptually, this study was guided by the stress appraisal and coping process. The Brief COPE inventory of coping responses was applied as a framework from which to understand how college …

Athlete Identity And Mental Health Among Ncaa Division Iii Student-Athletes, Sarah Stokowski, Alison Fridley, Chris Croft, Peyton Stensland, Skye Arthur-Banning

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Student-athletes often identify with the athlete role and demonstrate high levels of athlete identity. High athlete identity leads to many unintended consequences such as low career maturity and difficulty adapting to a life beyond sport. Additionally, high athlete identity often leads to mental health concerns among the student-athlete population. Informed by self-categorization theory (Turner, 1982), the purpose of this study was to explore athlete identity and mental health among NCAA Division III student-athletes. The Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 were completed by 332 NCAA Division III student-athletes. The results demonstrated that Division III student-athletes …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Depressive Symptoms In Ncaa Division Iii Collegiate Athletes, Sayre Wilson, Sebastian Harenberg, Tara Stilwell, Justine Vosloo, Lindsey Keenan

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Mental health disorders are important health concerns among collegiate athletes. Estimations of elevated depressive symptoms in this population range from 1.1-26%. However, these data are derived mostly from NCAA Division I institutions or professional athletes. Evidence from lower divisions (e.g., NCAA Division III) is currently sparse in the literature. Hence, the primary purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in NCAA Division III collegiate athletes. The secondary purpose was to examine which mental health indicators predict depressive symptoms. In total, 186 participants completed several mental health scales (e.g., PHQ-9, DASS-21). The results revealed a …