Health and Physical Education Commons^™

A Qualitative Case Study: Ncaa Division Iii First-Generation Student-Athletes And Transferable Skills, Eric Brennan

Theses and Dissertations

The development of transferable skills is seen as an important factor for higher education institutions to enhance the employability of their graduates (Holmes, 2013; Tymon, 2013). An overarching purpose of the higher education system is to prepare students for their professional careers and lives. This qualitative instrumental single case study explored how first-generation student-athletes develop transferable skills through intercollegiate athletics at a public, Division III university in New Jersey. Further, it sought to understand how the university validates these transferable skills for first-generation student-athletes. Data was collected using semi-structured in-depth open-ended interviews to capture rich details from the participants related …

More Than Athletes: Do Student Athletes Perform Better Academically In Their Respective Competitive Season?, Kristiina Michele Castagnola

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to analyze the grade point averages of student athletes in their competitive season versus their “off” season. This study also provides suggestions to Rowan University on how they can better support their student athlete’s academic success. This research study used surveys and a quantitative data analysis to analyze the grade point averages of the student athletes. The participants in this research study were student athletes that attended Rowan University in the 2021-2022 academic school year and had completed one full academic year. The most significant data collected was that student athletes do not …

Exploring New Jersey’S Middle And High School Health Educators’ Decision-Making On Sti Content And Instruction: A Qualitative Collective Case Study, Brianne Siderio

Theses and Dissertations

STIs in youth in New Jersey is a growing concern. According to New Jersey’ Public Health Data Resource (2020), the total number of STIs in youth from age 15-24 totals 19,698. The current STIs-related sex education programs vary widely in New Jersey in terms of scope, the accuracy of content, emphasis, and effectiveness (Thrive New Jersey Coalition, 2019). Therefore, students may have quite different levels of awareness on the prevention of STIs. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the Θ (theta) (Stake, 1995) of the “why” and “how” of health educators’ decisions in designing STI …

Coach Leadership Counts And Civic Mindedness Matters, Sarah L. Sharpe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this sequential exploratory study was to investigate how New Jersey public high school coaches who self-report transformational leadership traits may potentially influence the development of civic mindedness in their respective student-athletes. Three main research questions were posed regarding coaches’ transformational leadership practices, their roles in the development of students’ civic mindedness, and connections between the two. It was posited that the behavior of coaches can have a significant effect on the student-athletes that participate on their teams. The theoretical lens of transformational leadership permeates this research. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices Inventory …

The Role And Awareness Of Sexual Violence Initiatives At Rowan University Through Undergraduate Students' Perceptions, Alyssa M. Paluch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the overall role and awareness of Rowan University's sexual violence programs through the perceptions of undergraduate students. An online survey was distributed to all enrolled Rowan University undergraduate students to determine their perceptions of the sexual violence initiatives. After the survey was closed, semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted to further investigate those perceptions. Out of the 16,874 surveys distributed, 301 complete responses were recorded, which was about a 1.8% response rate. Out of the 43 participants who signed up after the survey to complete an interview, eight of them followed …

Improving Collegiate Head Coaches' Awareness And Knowledge For Mental Health To Better Their Student-Athletes, Conner Mcvey Walsh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to examine how well-aware and equipped head coaches are when handling a student-athlete with mental health-related conditions. The primary goals of this study were to interview head coaches and learn about what resources their college institution provides for them, as well as the steps taken when approached by a student-athlete concerned about their mental health. The research on a head coach's awareness and knowledge on helping student-athletes is limited, but the research on the number of student-athletes with mental health-related conditions is not. By combining the literature on student-athletes, mental health, and …

Barriers That Impede Foreign-Born And Educated Male Nursing Students' Success In A United States Nursing Program: A Case Study, Lisa Marie Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

The United States has a 36% shortage of full-time nurses. This is projected to worsen. There will be a need for 260, 000 more nurses by 2025 and more than 581,000 new nursing positions will be created through 2024 (American Association College of Nursing, 2011; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). By 2030, New Jersey's shortage of nurses will exceed 43% (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). If a diverse population of students complete a nursing program and become nurses working in the field, the literature reports that there are better client outcomes when the healthcare industry mirrors …

University Hookup Culture: Convenient Or A Path To Sexual Assault?, Gabriella Longenbach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to have a better understanding of the potential impact that hookup culture has on college students today. While this culture can be convenient and the most modern way of getting to know someone sexually, it also has the chance to be dangerous. By learning how this culture works and how college students engage in it, university employees and higher education professionals can support students through sexually related issues that they might come across.

Sport Clubs And Wellness: Analyzing The Impact Being A Sports Clubs Member Has On The Dimensions Of Wellness, Michael Anthony Brito

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how a student's wellness is impacted through participation in sport clubs. This was done at a division three public institution with a Campus Recreation department, which offers 45 sport clubs. This study was conducted during the spring 2020 semester at Rowan University by distributing an online survey. The survey focused on gaining information about their sport club experience and the impact on occupational, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical dimensions. As well as understanding the factors that may affect their wellness.

The findings of this study showed a high positive impact to …

The Benefit Of Using Peer Buddies In Adaptive Physical Education, Julie Anne Cairone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the participation levels of students with disabilities in an adaptive physical education class with the addition of typically developing students in the class as Peer Buddies. The goal was to observe the students' participation levels prior to the introduction of the Peer Buddies then again after the introduction of the Peer Buddies. There were thirteen typically developing students who were the peer buddies and fourteen students with disabilities in the adaptive physical education class. The thirteen peer buddies took a survey before being introduced to the adaptive physical education class and a …

Intramural Sports Leadership: Exploring The Impact Of Being An Intramural Sports Official On Leadership Skills, Shan Yu Paracka

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the leadership development of intramural sports student officials at a med-sized public institution in the northeastern United States. Twenty-six total intramural student officials participated in the study that were evenly mixed between veteran officials and first time officials. The data shows that while there is a change in the scores from the pre-test and the post-test, there is a high probability of this being a random occurrence.

The Effect Of Classwide Peer Tutoring On The Skill Performance And Fitness Levels Of Students With Disabilities In An Elementary Physical Education Inclusion Class, Christopher Farrell

Theses and Dissertations

This single subject study used an ABAB research design to investigate the effect of classwide peer tutoring (CWPT) on the skill performance and fitness levels of students with disabilities. Data was collected from nine students with disabilities who are members of a fourth grade physical education inclusion class. During the baseline phases of this study, students received instruction through whole-class direct instruction provided by the physical education teacher. During the intervention phases of this study, students participated in CWPT sessions. Skill performance in this study was determined through students demonstrating skill cues while shooting towards a target. Fitness levels were …

High School Age Students With Disabilities And Social Interaction In A General Education Physical Education Setting, Kelsey B. Hannan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study focused on the social interaction of high school age students with disabilities in a general physical education setting. The study included two students in tenth grade in an adaptive physical education class. The students attend a high school in a suburban northern New Jersey school district. The two students chosen for this study have a documented diagnosis of autism and are placed in the adaptive physical education class at the high school. The adaptive physical education class is separate from the general physical education classes. All students in this adaptive physical education program have either …

Student Leaders' Involvement And The Impact On Their Eating Habits, Carly Jill Samuels

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the eating habits of undergraduate student leaders at Rowan University. This study also sought to find a connection between the involvement of student leaders and its effect on the food intake for student leaders. The Student Athletes and Involvement Theory instrument helped to quantify student leader involvement. This survey was distributed to undergraduate student leaders at the Student Government Association senate meetings.

The conclusions revealed in the study include involvement patterns being consistent with previous research, more nutritional education needed for undergraduate student leaders, more research needed to determine the relationships of …

Rowan Unified Sports: Impact On Student Volunteers Through The Lens Of Transformative Learning, Mariah Francisco

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the impact of participation with Rowan Unified Sports on student volunteers through the lens of transformative learning. Data were collected from 14 participants who were individually interviewed, answering items on demographics as well as their experience and learning through their participation with Rowan Unified Sports. Data analysis suggested evidence of transformative learning as a result of participating with Unified Sports. Participants shared changing perspectives in areas such as intellectual, social, and athletic capabilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Participants also articulated application of this understanding to their everyday life. In other …

Use Of Peer Buddies In Adaptive Physical Education, Jessica Lynn Kotelnicki

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe the participation levels of students with disabilities in an adaptive physical education class when typically developing students are included in the class as Peer Buddies. The goal was to observe if students' performance levels increased while performing with fellow peers. This study was undertaken to see the relationship between students with disabilities participation levels in an adaptive physical education class when peer buddies were integrated. A baseline test was completed in the beginning of the study and participation was observed through class activities as well as abdominal crunches. Data was observed and …

Academics And The Student Athlete: A Mixed Methods Study On The Role Of Athletics In The High School Educational Setting, Meredith Mcgee

Theses and Dissertations

Athletics are a strong component in the educational experiences of students. Without the proper social support, student athletes are presenting academically through a deficit lens (Cohen & Wills, 1985; Comeaux & Harrison, 2011; House, Umberson, & Landis, 1988; Sarason, Sarason,& Pierce, 1990). Coaches, teachers, and administrators must work collaboratively to enhance the education of student athletes. As a result, high schools can better prepare their student athletes for post-secondary life specifically through the significant relationships formed between athletic personnel and their athletes.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore athletic administrators' and coaches' practices related to fostering …

Exploring The Policymaking Process Of School-Based Physical Education: A Congressional Perspective, Edward B. Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory case study design was to investigate and analyze the policymaking process of physical education at the national level. The participants used to explore this phenomenon were senators and representatives from the 114th-115th Congress who sat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (n = 21), and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education (n = 14). Additional participants were national policymakers (n = 3), staffers (n = 6), and legislative liaisons (n = 2). Data was collected from semi-structured interviews (n = 8), policy artifacts (n = 87), and the researcher's journal …

Promoting Behavior Change In Rowan University Students Through Fitness And Wellness Programming, Megan E. Mchugh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of participation in the Rowan University Recreation Center’s 2015 RU Heart Strong incentive program, and to explore behavior change in college students as a result of fitness and wellness programming at Rowan University. Data were collected from 59 subjects who participated in a survey that assessed subjects’ physical activity levels and various psychosocial constructs such as social support, self-efficacy, and expectations in relation to the 2015 RU Heart Strong incentive program. Data analysis suggested that students who participated in the RU Heart Strong incentive program practiced behaviors to maintain a …