Date Approved
5-12-2017
Graduate Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Mary Bair
Second Advisor
Jay Cooper
Third Advisor
Bart Merkle
Academic Year
2016/2017
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the relationship between athletic identity and career maturity of high profile male athletes at a Division II institution in the Midwest. The study was guided by Donald E. Super’s (1957) career development theory. Participants were high profile male student athletes, who were currently enrolled at the institution and played a revenue producing sport (narrowly defined as men’s football and basketball). Semi-structured interviews were conducted that prompted participants to describe their experiences as high profile student athletes and how those experiences contributed to their athletic identity and career maturity. Findings suggest that participants had a strong athletic identity, an identity that was influenced by early socialization and institutional factors. The findings also indicate that three out of the five participants demonstrated lower career maturity.
ScholarWorks Citation
Clark, Renida S., "Exploring the Relationship Between Athletic Identity and Career Maturity Among High Profile Student Athletes in Revenue Producing Sports Attending a Division II Institution" (2017). Masters Theses. 839.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/839
