The purpose of this study was to examine what effect Propostion 48 has had on black representation on NCAA Division IA men's basketball and football teams. A one - page questionnaire was mailed to the compliance coordinator at each of the 106 col1eges and universities participating in men's basketball and football at the NCAA Division IA level from 1985-86 to 1990-91. The questionnaire contained two charts and one open - ended question. The questionnaire was designed to identify any change in black representation on football and basketball teams since the inception of Proposition 48. This was done by comparing the final year prior to the introduction of Proposition 48 with each of the 5 succeeding years. Responses were received from 45 of the colleges and universities. However, due to incomplete information, and several declinations the data was computed on only 19 responses. The data was analyzed through a statistical test of differences between two populations at a .05 confidence level. Analysis indicated only a total of 4 significantly positive Z scores out of a possibility of 205 scores. This confirmed the belief of the researcher that Proposition 48 did not have a significantly negative effect on the representation of black student and universities athletes participating in football and basketball at NCAA Division IA colleges / Master of Science

The present study investigated the career maturity levels of student-athletes as compared to non-athletes with a special professional athletic aspirations of male athletes as well as consistency of match between their career expectations and choice of college majors. The sample included 101 male college football and basketball players and 76 male non-athletes from a Division IA university in the Midwest. The participants were given the Career Maturity Inventory (Crites, 1995) and an author-generated demographic questionnaire which covered topics such as age, race, year in school, and career plans.Five research hypotheses were examined: (1) More athletes would choose majors inconsistent with their career expectations than would choose consistent majors. The results did not support this hypothesis, x2 (2, N = 101) = 3.347, p = .188. (2) Athletes who reported a consistent match between their college major and career choice would have higher levels of career maturity than their less consistent counterparts. No significant differences were found when comparing consistency and career maturity levels (F = .144, p = .866). (3) White athletes would choose majors which were more consistent with their interests and values than would their Black counterparts. The results did not support this hypothesis (F = .381, p = .539). (4) As a group, male athletes emphasis on racial differences. The study also investigated the would display lower levels of career maturity when compared to their non-athletic counterparts. The results did indicate that the career maturity levels of athletes were not as developed as those of non-athletes in relation to the planning skills needed for effective career decision-making (F = 11.03, p < .001). However, both sets of scores were above the possible mean scores of the instrument, indicating that the athletes in this sample were less mature than the comparison group of non-athletes but not immature in terms of the overall possible mean scores. (5) A significant percentage of male student-athletes would report expectations for entering the professional sports arena. Athletes were found to have high expectations for obtaining a professional sports career (i.e., National Football League or National Basketball Association), with higher percentages of Black athletes (77.3%) than White athletes (22.7%) endorsing such expectations.The conclusions drawn from the research demonstrated that athletes may be at a slight disadvantage in an area critical to the education process. This disadvantage may prevent them from developing alternative career options should a professional sports career not come to fruition. Placing the athletes in some type of comprehensive career intervention program upon entering college may be helpful in raising the athletes' career planning skills to that of their non-athlete counterparts, giving them a wider range of options upon graduation. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This thesis will highlight the significance and representation of race in the film and television show Friday Night Lights. The core claim of my thesis will show that representation of race was different in the film as compared to the television show due to their various settings, one historical (1980s) and the other contemporary (2000s). While both the film and the television show were produced in the 2000s, their use of two different historical periods allows for contrasting representations of race even they both draw from the book Friday Night Lights. The film's representation of race is reflective of its late 1980s setting, therefore, viewers of the film will see a more explicit handling of racial issues. During that time period it was socially acceptable to talk about issues of race straightforwardly and directly. On the other hand, the television show's contemporary setting, by contrast, allows for the representation of race to be handled more suggestively, indirectly, and implicitly, reflecting new ways of thinking about race more prevalent to the early 21st century. / by Keisha Johnson. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

This study was designed to accomplish an in-depth examination and documentary analysis of professional literature and scientific studies in order to identify and synthesize reported physiological, socioeconomic, psychological , and cultural differences between American black and white male athletes in the performance of selected athletic skills. The following major conclusions seem justifiable from the data which has been reported: 1) Physical differences impede or enhance athletic performance in certain athletic activities. 2) Social elements influences the choice and extent to which both races are involved in athletics. 3) Black male athletes have equal or stronger control of their emotions than white male athletes. 4) Culture and environment affect the development of traits in both races which contribute to their success in selected athletic skills. 5) How athletic skills are acquired accounts for the success both races experience in selected athletic skills. 6) A positive relationship exists between education and vocational aspiration and athletic success for white male athletes, but athletic success has independent consequences for facilitating higher levels of education for black male athletes. 7) black male athletes perform more successfully in reactive activities and white male athletes perform more skillfully in self-paces athletic activities.