An investigation of television as technology and its influence on student-athletes in Division 1 men\u27s college basketball

This dissertation examines the role of television as an agent of change in the traditional relationship between academic standards and intercollegiate athletic participation. Recent commentaries on this partnership have expressed a variety of opinions, which can be summarized under six main themes. These themes have provided the foundation for this investigation. Qualitative and quantitative instruments were used to explore this topic. The results are concentrated on the undoubted fact that television has a major impact on the role of the intercollegiate student-athlete. It was further established that television as a technology is not a neutral force but has a positive or negative effect depending on associated agents. Among these, the evidence is clear that the burden of transferring traditional educational standards and values is ultimately invested in the character of the coach