Thesis+Based+Research+Assignment


 * Rationale for Research / Introduction**

I went down this research path because team sports have affected my social and academic development in a positive way. I have become more confident with who I am. Team sports also affect other peoples, especially woman, self confidence.

My driving question is, How can being apart of a sports team help create self confidence? While focusing on the driving question, I had to answer many questions before I could answer it. My questions were, does the type of sport affect the self-confidence and self image? How does age affect the benefits of team sports? Do women or men gain more self-confidence and better grade due to their involvement in sports? Those were the main questions I asked before I could answer my driving question, and they were what lead my research to focus mainly on social and academic benefits of team sports. A. Gordon, Bloom A, Todd M Loughead, and Julie Newin. "Team Building for Youth sport: coaches play a vital role in making or breaking the cohesion of a sport team." //Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance// (Nov.-Dec. 2008): 44. //Gale Cengage Learning//. Web. 22 Sept. 2009. . 1. Over half (54%) of children five to 14 are involved in sports (1) 2. “The primary reason children become involved in sports and stay active in sports is to have fun. (1) 3.  “Youth sport participation begins declining after the age of 12. This finding is especially worrisome because that age is also a crucial time for the development of children’s social skills and self-esteem” (1) B. Perry-Burney, Gwendolyn D., and Baffour Kwaku Takyi. "Self Esteem, Academic Achievement, and Moral Development Among Adolescent Girls." //Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment// 5 (2002): 15-27. //EBSCO Master File//. Web. 22 Sept. 2009. .
 * Research **

1. “Girls who play sports are known to display more self-confidence and tend to have a higher moral development” (15) 2. Girls who have a sense of identity will be more optimistic about themselves, others, life and are able to be their own person. This happens with family, and the status. Sports can help also. 3. “At fifteen a girl becomes more independent; exhibits more confidence; and begins to think about potential career aspirations. She participates in more group activities” (17) 4. “Through sports activities they learn fair play and discipline; sports also teach them how to deal with success and failure (18). 5. Girls who play sports have more self-confidence while playing and are more self-assured about their spot on the team.(18) 6. “Their level of self-efficacy is demonstrate in higher academics, participation in extracurricular activities in school, and more involvement in home” (18) 7. “They have a clear and constant view of their goals and interest than students with low self-esteem (18). 8. Girls were asked if being on a team has affected their self-confidence in a positive way, 90% answered yes. (20). 9. All the finding in the interviews states that “not only do team sports increase the self-confidence of these girls, but also we see an improvement in GPA and a desire to attend college” (25). 10. “The relationship developed within the team, peers and family only enhances and supports the girls’ personal development and self-esteem (26).

C. Rosewater, Ann. "Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcome." //The Education Digest//. Prakken Publications, Inc., 30 Apr. 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2009. .

1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Involvement in sports, “May affect how and what children learn and how they interact with others (adults and peers) and those other are, and their capacity to regulate their emotional and physical development over time. (50). 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “High-quality organized sports are a gateway to academic achievement, better grades, improved chances of attending college, and success in the labor market (50). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Organized sports engage students and teach them important skills, draw them into the task of learning and connect them to fellow students and caring adults” (51). 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Children who participate in team sports are higher achievers, have better grades, and have a lower dropout rate. 5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Physical activity, including participation in organized sports produces intellectual and academic benefits that may have long term positive effects on life chances (51). 6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Sports affect key brain functions critical to learning” (51). 7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “sports help children and youth feel better connected to school, attend regularly, and connect with a more positive peer network” (51). 8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Sport participation builds planning skills and provides the experience of failing a trying again (persistence)…translates to greater achievement in school” (51). 9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Sports give a place where students can meet people with at least on common interest (51). 10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Sport participation can minimize the feeling of difference and isolation and increase the likelihood of attending college” (52).

D. Ogintz, Eileen. "Snow Sports Programs Help Kids Build Confidence." //CNN//. Tribune Media Services, 2009. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. <http://cnn.com>.

1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> While the children and learning how to snowboard or ski, they are also learning many life lessons. (Para 6) 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Snowboarding is just the vehicle,” says Ryan Townsley, CHILL’s national coordinator. “Anything you can do to help kids find success will help them build self-esteem” (Para 7). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> These programs are doing something right. “The kids’ social workers and counselors report a dramatic improvement in their schoolwork and behavior. ‘It really makes a difference when people encourage you,’ explains Jasmina” (Para 15). 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Learning new things and trying to get comfortable in unfamiliar places creates challenges that people will have to over come. It is a good life lesson.

E. Wann, Daniel L., and Leslie Page. "Testing the Team Identification-Social Psychological Health Model: Examining Non-marquee Sports, Seasonal Differences, and Multiple Teams." //Journal of Sport Behavior// 32.1 (1990): 112-124. //EBSCOhost masterfile premier//. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. <http://web.ebscohost.com>. 1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Sport team identification facilitates social psychological well-being by increasing social connections to others (112). 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “However, consistent with the positive psychology movement found in general psychology, sport scientists have recently begun to explore the positive side of sport fandom as well” (113). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Social Psychological Health Model, proposes that team identification facilitates well-being by increasing social connections” (114). 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “There was a positive relationship between identification with non-revenue local sport team and social psychological health” (119).

F. Lidor, Ronnie, and Keith Page Henschen. //The Psychology of Team Sports//. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology, 2003. Print.

1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Sport provides a positive and socially acceptable outlet for these natual tendencies” (24) 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Confidence plays an important role in the individual athete’s performance, and it also plays an important role for the whole team” (220). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Confidence and Mental preparation are only two aspects of this multifaceted process. Mental preparation and conidecne alone do not lead to optimal performance and gold medals, but they are crucial ingredients in this complex process” (231).

G. Poinsett, Alex. "Sports:Get in the Game." //PBS//. Carnegie Cooperation, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org>.

1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Research by educators and experts has proven that [involvement in sports] has the power to combat drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and the high school dropout rate” (Para 1) 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> **“In the Mix”** has heard from teens who value involvement in sports because it can provide contact with caring adults, a safte haven from the streets and a reason to rise about peer pressure, a way to stay in shape, and can promote increased self-esteem” (Para 1). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Sports can provide a positive role in teenagers’ lives regardless of skill level” (para 3). 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 43% of girls in sports and exercise daily feel confidence and capable about their bodies. Only 17% of the girls who don’t participate in sports can say that. (Para5). 5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “This report explores the role that sports programs play in promoting academic success, health and fitness, responsible social behaviors, and self-confidence among young people (pg 10).

H. Metzel, Jordan D., M.D., and Carol Shookhoff, Ph.D. "The Benefits of Youth Sports." //Not Alone//. N.p., 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2009. <http://www.enotalone.com>.

1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Kids usually get the benefits they seek from sports and more. Kids need attention and respect (in the order), but they have few ways to get them. (Para 6) 2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “kids who participate in organized sports do better in school, have better interpersonal skill, are more team oriented, and are generally healthier” (Para 7). 3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Participation in sports provides opportunities for leadership and socialization, as well as the development of skills for handling success and failure” (Para 8). 4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “The president’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports reports many development benefits of participating in youth sports for girls, including increased self-esteem and self confidence, healthier body image, significant experiences and competency and success, as well as reduced risk of chronic disease” (Para 10). 5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Female athletes also take greater pride in their physical and social selves than their sedentary peers; they are more active physically as they age; they suffer less depression” (Para 11). 6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Athletes develop relationships with their teammates. For boys, sports are primary, and unfortunately sometimes the sole, way of socializing with others” (4) 7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “According to Mike Nerney, a consultant in substance abuse prevention and education, multiple peer groups are always a good idea for teens” (4). 8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “Having a refuge when relations go wrong with one group can alleviate a great deal of stress and offer an alternative for kids who feel uncomfortable of frightened by peers who engage in high-risk activities” (4) 9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> “On a team, kids learn about cooperation, camaraderie, and give-and-take” (4).


 * Thesis**

Based on this research, my finding make me stick with my original stance on the topic. I believe that being on a team sport can help youth academically and socially. A lot of people involved in sports when asked have a said they have more self-confidence and a lot have noticed they are doing better in school.

Besides the obvious physical benefits from involvement in team sports, teen-age athletes also benefit both in terms of academic and social development.


 * Finding & Support for Findings**

1. Students who participate in team sports overall do better academically than students who do not. a. Support: B6, B9, C2, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C10, D3, G1, G5, H2

2. Self-Confidence increases tremendously by student’s involvement in team sports. a. Support: A3, B1, B3, B5, B8, B9, B10, D2, E2, F2, F3, G2, G4, G5, H4

3. Being apart of team sports, helps students make right choices and stay away from illegal substances. a. Support: B2, B7, C5, D3, G1, G2, G3, H7

4. Great life skills such as team work and leadership are taught through involvement in team sports. a. Support: B4, B7, C1, C3, C5, C6, C8, D1, D4, F1, G5, H1, H2, H3, H9

5. People who participate in sports tend to me more optimistic about their live and others, they also tend to have more friends, and people they have something in common with. a. Support: B2, B3, B6, B10, C1, C3, C7, C9, C10, G2, G3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9


 * Progress Reflection**

From conducting this research project I have learned a lot about how students who participate in team sports come out overall better. They are healthy, more confident, they have learned important life skills and they have very good academics. With all of that, the people who were involved in sports will be able to make a living easier than others. Self-confidence improves by being involved and then people do better in their sport. Being on a team sport helps people academically and socially, people are able to get more friends and find people who have at least one person who shares a common interest.

When doing this research project, I thought about what key words I could type that would get me the best information. When deciding if the article had the information I needed, I used the reading skills we practiced in class. I read the first sentences and the abstract. That helped me bring down the time of actually searching for information about my topic. Also for this project, I discovered more about my topic and how team sports can affect self-confidence. My higher order thinking for this project was just searching more specifically for my topic and discovering information that really related to my thesis.

Research skills that I will have to improve are searching with more specific terms. When I would search for something I would come up with information with the same wording but not exactly what I wanted. If I could type in a specific search to begin with, my research time would dramatically go down. I will have to find information that has to do more with my topic and does not just have one sentence about. Overall, I believe my research skills are good. My skills combined with help from teachers and my topic expert will help me move forward and be able to write a paper about this topic.

All the information I knew before research remained the same. I knew that people benefited socially from sports because of how it affected my life. However I was slightly off about the academic portion. I knew that many people who play sports do well in school, but I have also known people who struggled in school because they did not know how to manage time. All of my knowledge that I knew before researching remains the same, it just goes a little more in detail. I can now give examples and proof that people become more self-confident and gain an amazing social network by involvement in sports.


 * Connections to the Overall Project**

The findings from my research fit back into the big picture of m project because from the beginning I was focusing on how team sports benefit students socially and academically. My research all helped to prove that people who play sports come out feeling more confident, have a better self image and have better grades and GPA. All my research helped my project by proving that my original idea was right and people who play sports benefit socially and academically. People have higher confidence, better grade and their behavior is better by learning life skills. My research helped my project very much.

This research will help me move forward with my project because I have learned in detail about my project and how team sports actually benefit young athletes. It helped me narrow my topic and discover the social and academic benefits of team sports. With this research I will be able to write a paper that includes my own experiences and is filled with factual evidence and support. I have found out about the benefits of team sports in detail, and I will now be able to move forward and write a paper that goes along with my thesis and create a clinic that will help other kids gain self-confidence.