The sport of learning: the effect of college athletes' perception of identity on approach to learning

2016-02-08The purpose of this research was to determine how, and to what extent, college athletes’ perception of identity influenced their approach to learning. This study’s rationale was to add to existing literature a new perspective on athlete academic performance that includes viewing the correlation between identity perception and approach to learning. ❧ The study used a sequential explanatory mixed-method research design that consisted of two phases. The first phase, the quantitative research design was used for college athletes from one private university on the west coast. They were asked to complete the Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and the Learning Approaches Inventory (LA-i), along with the College Athlete Questionnaire. The second phase used the qualitative research design to collect data from semi-structured interviews with college athletes that scored in the criteria of Social Identity on the AIMS. ❧ The data collected in both phases of the study provided an inclusive explanation of college athletes’ perception of identity as an influential factor to their approach to learning. The mixed method analysis revealed that in addition to identity, motivation, expectation and value of the academic experience, the learning environment and prior experiences were variables that influenced a college athletes’ approach to learning. ❧ Overall, the study adjoins the literature pertaining to college athlete identity and academic performance. The findings from this study imply that with further longitudinal studies with an intentionally targeted population, strong perceptions of identity could serve to predict a college athletes’ approach to learning