Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if high school team sports athletes, particularly basketball players, support social character over moral character as a result of the way character may be defined and fostered by coaches, parents, society and the media. The research questions guiding this study were as follows: (1) Is there a significant difference in moral character, as measured by the RSBH Value Judgment Inventory, between high school basketball athletes and non-athletes? (2) Is there a significant difference in social character, as measured by RSBH Value Judgment Inventory, between high school basketball athletes and non-athletes? (3) Is there a significant difference, as measured by the RSBH Value Judgment Inventory, in moral character between high school male and female athletes? (4) Is there a significant difference, as measured by the RSBH Value Judgment Inventory, in social character between male and female athletes? (5) Is there a correlation between moral character scores and social character scores between athletes and non-athletes? This study examined how high school student athletes and non-athletes from the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference morally and socially reason and make cognitive character decisions regarding sport. The Patoka Lake Athletic Conference (PLAC) consists of seven schools. The conference is comprised of approximately 700 student athletes. The largest of these seven high schools has an enrollment of 569 pupils and the smallest school has an enrollment of 240. Over 90% of the student populations are Caucasian. These seven high schools are located across five Southern Indiana counties. Of the 336 students selected to participate in the survey, 227 students actually participated. The RSBH Value-Judgment Inventory was developed in 1998 by Dr. Andrew Rudd to measure moral and social character. This inventory is comprised of two indices: the first index consists of ten sport scenarios that take place outside of competition and concern themselves with social character; the second index is comprised of ten sports' gamesmanship scenarios concerning themselves with moral character. Statistical data analysis included Independent Measures t Tests and Pearson correlation. Using an Independent Measures t Tests significant differences were found in moral and social character between athletes and non-athletes and between male athletes and female athletes. It was found that athletes supported the ideas of social character (teamwork, dedication and sacrifice) over moral character (honesty, responsibility and justice). Non-athletes supported moral character over social character. The study also revealed that male athletes supported social character over moral character to a greater extent than their female athlete counterparts. A Pearson correlation revealed a positive correlation between social character index scores and moral character index scores. It is important to note that the greater the scores on the moral index the less likely one supports the ideas of justice and honesty. The greater the scores on the social index the more likely one supports the ideas of teamwork, sacrifice and dedication. Therefore, the relationship is such that if one supports the ideas of social character, they are less likely to also support the ideas of moral character and visa versa.

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