THE EFFECTS OF THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION ON STUDENTS' DEVELOPMENT OF PURPOSE (SPORTS, LIFE GOALS, CAREER PLANS)

This study examined the effects students' participation at a particular level of competition in intercollgiate athletics has upon development of purpose. Development of purpose consists of the leisure interests, educational plans, career plans and lifestyle plans of students.;The results showed no differences among high and low level athletes and nonathletes in reading, selection of an academic major and academic performance. Athletes participate more often in and derive more satisfaction from sports activities than nonathletes. Male athletes participate less often in and derive less satisfaction from cultural activities than nonathletes. Female low level athletes participate more often in but derive less satisfaction from cultural activities than high level athletes and nonathletes. Male low level athletes participate more often in and derive more satisfaction from social activities than high level athletes and nonathletes. Female athletes participate less often in but derive more satisfaction from social activities than nonathletes. Low level athletes are more involved in extracurricular activities than high level athletes and nonathletes.;It was concluded that female low level athletes have the most diverse leisure interests and are most successful in achieving development of purpose. High level athletes and freshmen and sophomore male low level athletes do not achieve development of purpose to as great an extent as other college students. Nonathletes, excepting female low level athletes, are more successful in achieving development of purpose than athletes.;It is recommended that athletic directors and coaches, especially of high level programs, require athletes to act independently and give adequate attention to achieving developmental and educational tasks expected of them as students. Further research should be done to study the relationships between students' participation in intercollegiate athletics and their developmental and educational outcomes.;A total of 568 subjects were surveyed, 303 males and 265 females. Three groups were compared: 306 high level scholarship athletes, 144 low level nonscholarship athletes and 218 nonathletes. A questionnaire, a leisure participation and satisfaction scale by Ragheb, 1980, and The Student Developmental Task Inventory, Revised Second Edition, by Winston, Miller, and Prince, 1979, provided data on the subjects.