Year of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Department or School/College

School of Education

Committee Chair

Patty Kero

Commitee Members

John Matt, William McCaw, Frances L. O'Reilly, Roger Norris-Tull

Keywords

Athletic team, Cohesion, Cohesiveness, Community service, Group Environment Questonnaire, Volleyball

Abstract

Despite the efforts of many to determine the best means for constructing and maintaining unified sports teams, leaders in the field continue to seek additional methods. This non-experimental quantitative analysis of NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball teams examined the value of community service participation as a team building activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference, if any, that exists between the amounts of cohesiveness on teams that employ different grouping strategies in community service work. Participants representing 74 different teams included a coach and a total of 442 players from those schools across the country. Mann Whitney U Tests were employed to explore team scores on the Group Environment Questionnaire and individual player perceptions of community service. Findings revealed no statistically significant differences on either measure from teams that conducted service as an entire group in comparison to those that did so in small groups or on an individual basis. Further analyses indicated a statistically significant difference in the players' perception of the value of service work to the local community when comparing teams coached by natives of the local community as opposed to those who were not. Results of the study indicated patterns of positive feelings associated with community service and its potential as a team building exercise among the student-athletes involved. Future studies should include further analysis of team cohesion as well as the role of community service in intercollegiate athletics.

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