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A qualitative study of the performance diagnosis matrix at the individual level as a predictor of student-athlete success as identified by Division IA coaches in the Big 12 Conference

The intent of this study was to determine if men’s football and men’s
basketball coaches at the university or college level utilize an assessment
instrument when recruiting and evaluating potential student-athletes. Specifically
studied through interviews were the characteristics that these coaches look for in
successful and unsuccessful student-athletes, how they currently collect
information during the recruitment period and the importance of collecting data on
student-athletes. Swanson’s Performance Diagnosis Matrix and Human Capital
Theory framed the research. The population for this study consisted of current
Division IA men’s football and men’s basketball coaches in the Big 12 Conference.
Prior to contacting the Big 12 coaches a pilot study was conducted at two Division
IA Universities and with a former head football coach at a Big 12 Conference
University. These interviews were instrumental in the final development of the
questions used to interview the Big 12 Conference coaches. The participants were
sent a letter asking for their participation in the study and then were contacted by phone to set up an interview. The interviews were conducted in the months of July,
August, and September 2006 by phone. This study found that most coaches do not
have or utilize an assessment instrument. Significant data showed coaches believe
that the evaluation process of student-athletes is the most difficult and critical part
of their job. Using emergent category designation I found seven themes
(characteristics) of successful student-athletes, as indicated by the coaches:
competitive, a hard worker, has a supportive family, is a leader, has good character,
and is honest. I also found the themes (characteristics) of an unsuccessful student-athlete
to be: undisciplined, lacks character, has an unstable family and is not
competitive. The study helps to define through research and development an
assessment instrument to more effectively define the needs of student-athletes prior
to entering universities and coaches will have additional data for meeting the needs
of student-athletes.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/5897
Date17 September 2007
CreatorsHudson, Shane Lee
ContributorsDooley, Larry
PublisherTexas A&M University
Source SetsTexas A and M University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeBook, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text
Format200992 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital

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