Title: A Causal Study of Attitudes Toward Intercollegiate

Abstract approved: Redacted for privacy CharLOk'E. Carpenter The purpose of this study was to determine and explain attitudes toward intercollegiate athletics of undergraduate students in three academic majors attending Oregon State University. The attitudes of a proportionate random sample consisting of 215 students were measured according to their responses to thirty-two Likert scale items containing six sub-scale areas. The investigation duplicated the methodology used by T. M. Jensen, W. M. Leonard and R. D. Liverman (1981, 1982). Attitudes by sex and academic major were examined for statistical variation. Social, biographical and demographic responses were analyzed regarding the causal path model proposed by Jensen, Leonard and Liverman (1982). Multiple regression determined the estimated relationship between variables. In general, intercollegiate athletics were favorably perceived. Statistically significant differences were found by academic major for the total scale score, and in four of the six sub-scales. No statistically significant differences were found by sex or for interaction effects between art and computer science respondents in total and sub-scale scores, or between academic majors and two of the sub-scales. Regression analysis of the path model linkages proposed by Jensen, Leonard and Liverman (1982) was conducted with the response data. Eight of twenty-six linkages were found to have no statistical significance. The statistical relationships obtained suggested a possible explanation for student attitudes toward intercollegiate athletics. A revised causal path model with three additional linkages was proposed. Copyright by Glenn David Ruh