Special Olympics International, an organization
committed to providing sport opportunities for children
and adults with mental retardation, has been a major
advocate in promoting competitive experiences for the
mentally retarded. Few studies have focused on the
effects of participation in competitive athletics on
individuals who are mentally retarded. The purpose of
this study was to investigate the self-concept of
winners, non-winners, and losers after participation in
a Special Olympics competitive meet. The study also
examined the attitude of mentally retarded participants
toward competition and the perceived importance of
competing in the event.
The subjects for this investigation were
participants from the Texas Special Olympics State
Swimming Meet. The study included 95 males and 56
females. Comparisons were made among athletes placing
first, second, and last in races at the swim meet.
Following competition, subjects were administered a
sub-scale of the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale (PHSCS)
and asked questions relative to attitudes toward
competition. A followup interview was conducted eight
to twelve weeks following the swimming meet to
determine the importance of having competed in the
Special Olympics State Swimming Meet.
No significant differences in self-concept levels
existed among winners, non-winners, and losers
immediately following competition. While all three
groups expressed positive feelings toward participation
in Special Olympics, the last place finishers were
slightly more negative about swimming in the race when
interviewed immediately following their participation.
Also, immediately following the race, more second place
finishers preferred to swim when racing other people
than did winners and last place finishers.
In a followup interview eight to twelve weeks
after participation, no significant differences were
found among groups regarding their attitude toward
competing in the Special Olympics Swim Meet. Also, the
perceived importance of the Texas Special Olympics
State Swim Meet was not significantly different for
winners, non-winners, and losers, as measured by
responses to the followup interview. / Graduation date: 1991
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/37989 |
| Date | 26 April 1991 |
| Creators | Luttrell, William Lynn |
| Contributors | Dunn, John M. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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