Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-97).

Due to limited research in the field testing of youth sport, specifically with regard to females, this project was delimited to the examination of the responses of youth participants in relation to the nature of the sport, when participating under conditions of competitive stress. It further attempted to elucidate gender related differences within these responses. Forty four male and female subjects aged 15 - 19 years volunteered to participate in this study; all pupils were First team members who competed in a variety of team and individual sports. Subjects participated in a battery of psychological, physiological and performance tests before and after competing in a practice session and during competitive league matches. The data were statistically analyzed for the various parameters under investigation. The results of the Sport Competition Anxiety Test indicated that the females, and the male team players had the highest competitive anxiety traits (CTA). The Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire scores showed that most subjects have a general dominance of task orientation to sport. The results of the Physical Self-Perception Profile revealed that the females' poorer perception of their physical was not as substantial as their difference in CTA compared to males. Team participants, particularly the males, had a poorer self-image than individual sport counterparts. Elevated heart rate responses were observed prior to performing in a competitive ambience, with significant increases in team, rather than individual, players. The Evaluation of Task Demands revealed that team players, especially the females, perceived the match demands as significantly higher than the individual athletes. No significant differences were observed in the players' Evaluation of Perceived Strain. Neither were any significant differences observed in the players' ratings of their performance. In conclusion, although differences appear to exist between male and female responses within a competitive ambience, the magnitude of difference was far more notable between team and individual responses to competitive stress, particularly for competitive matches as opposed to practice sessions.

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the challenges and benefits associated with cultural diversity within groups. The research hypotheses were proposed to test the effects of cultural diversity on group performance and group processes by comparing culturally diverse and culturally homogeneous groups under conditions of intergroup competition and noncompetition. This experiment was conducted using 500 upper-level undergraduates enrolled in the principles of management course for the fall semester.

No description available.

In our society, gender role stereotypes define the areas in which men are thought to excel. Recent research has focused on the male gender role and how it effects the psychological and physical health of men. Maintaining an acceptable level of masculinity may be deleterious to men's physical and/or psychological health. Success in competition is a broad dimension of the male role which has repeatedly been shown to be of great importance to men. Men who are strongly committed to the stereotypical masculine role can be differentiated from men who are not committed to the masculine role by the Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) rating scale (Eisler' Skidmore, 1987). The MGRS scale was developed based on the Lazarus , Folkman (1984) transactional model of stress, appraisal and coping. Men that score high on the MGRS scale are likely to identify more with the stereotypical, masculine role and are likely to appraise competitive situations as .ore stressful than low MGRS .en. Likewise, high MGRS men are more likely to feel more threatened when outperformed by a female than low MGRS men. Furthermore, high MGRS .en should appraise masculine-relevant situations as more challenging to than low MGRS men. High and low MGRS men were placed in a competitive situation against a female in which the gender relevance (masculine or feminine) of the competitive stressor was varied. Those in the Basculine relevant (RR) condition were lead to believe that men outperformed women on the competitive task while men in the feminine relevant (FR) condition were told that women outperformed men on the task. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MGRS appraisal and the gender relevance of the competitive stressor on men's cardiovascular, emotional and cognitive responding throughout the process of a competition. This study examined the physiological and self-report responding of the following 4 groups: 1) High MGRS men in a MR relevant situation, 2) High MGRS men in a FR situation, 3) Low MGRS men in a MR situation and 4) Low MGRS men in a FR situation. These 4 groups were compared on physiological (systolic blood pressure, SBP; diastolic blood pressure, DBP; and heart rate, HR) and self-report measures of stress and anger. Subjects also rated their opponent before and after the competition on a measure of masculinity and fem / Master of Science

The effect of learning style preference on a student's performance on math problems solved both cooperatively and competitively was examined. Eighty-nine first graders were assessed for their preferences for cooperative or competitive interactive styles. Thirty-eight children were found to have clear preferences for either cooperative or competitive styles, or to have no preference for interactive style. Students were then put into pairs, consisting of students from the same or different learning preference groups. These pairs were instructed to solve math problems cooperatively and competitively. After solving the problems under both conditions, the subjects were asked which way they would like to solve the problems again. Of primary interest was the students' overall level of accuracy on the task as a function of learning preference and pair type. The differences between performance for each condition were analyzed by a 3x2x2 Mixed Analysis of Variance with repeated measures. All students performed better under cooperative conditions than the competitive condition regardless of their learning preference or type of partner, but this was not a statistically significant difference. Results also showed that students did not shift their learning preferences as a function of their group assignment. These preliminary findings support that learning preference does not appear to be associated with academic performance. Methodological limitations of the study and possible improvements are discussed. / Master of Science

The purpose of the study was to compare the attitudes of 4-H youths and their parents concerning 4-H competitiveness. The sample was composed of seventy-nine 4-H youths and their parents from three North Texas Counties. The instruments, which consisted of an "Opinionnaire for Parents" and an "Opinionnaire for 4-H'ers," were designed to obtain the 4-H'ers' and parents' attitudes about 4-H competition. The study revealed no significant difference in competitive attitudes between 4-H youths' and their parents' or between younger and older 4-H'ers. 4-H boys were found to have more competitive attitudes than 4-H girls. No significant relationship was found between parents' level of competitiveness and length of 4-H service.

The problem of this study was to investigate the attitudes expressed by parents of six-, even-, eight-, and nine-year-old boys toward competition in the Carroliton Farmers Branch, Texas, Soccer Association during the 1976 Fall soccer season. Scott's Attitude Inventory and an analysis of variance at the .05 level of significance were used for the study. The data obtained from the 193 parents who participated in the study revealed that the parents held a positive attitude toward intensive competition in youth soccer leagues. Additional analysis of data revealed that attitudes of parents of boys six- and seven-years-old did not difsfner significantly from these attitudes held by parents of eight- and nine-yearold boys.

Sports are a primary zone of masculinity and sports films are a popular genre. One is hard pressed to find many leading female roles as athletes in male-dominated sports storylines. The cinematic portrayal of women athletes represents social attitudes and values and whether or not the women's movement has been able to influence representations and, concomitantly, social understandings of women and athleticism. My discussion of films featuring female athletes begins with National Velvet (1944) and ends with Whip It (2008). By examining select sports films centered on all female teams, co-ed teams and individual female athletes, I show how their storylines and resolutions do or do not capitulate to patriarchal ideology. I find a general capitulation, with some concessions to women's equality. I conclude with a call for a degendering of sports and a redefinition of strength, competitiveness and aggression as human, not masculine. / by Vividiana Lieberman. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Not available / text