Abstract

In this study, I examined the effects of target gender (IV1) and target label (IV2) on the perceptions of youth athletes with ADHD (DV). Using a Qualtrics survey posted to the College of Wooster SONA system and Amazon’s MTurk website, I randomly assigned participants to read athletic scenarios of boys or girls with either labeled or unlabeled ADHD symptoms. Participants were asked questions based on their perceptions of the athlete and then asked to rate the athlete’s value to the team. Participants were also asked about four covariates: attitudes towards athletics and attitudes towards persons with ADHD (rated on four-point scales of agreeableness), as well as contact with athletics and contact with persons with ADHD (rated on five-point scales of contact frequency per month). After gathering the data, I conducted a 2x2 ANOVA to determine the effects of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Then I conducted three ANCOVAs (after correlating three of the four covariates to the dependent variable) to determine the effect of covariates on the independent and dependent variables’ interactions. The results of the 2x2 ANOVA showed little difference in perceptions of girls with unlabeled vs. labeled ADHD, as well as for boys, although labeled boys had the most positive perceptions and unlabeled boys had the most negative. There was also no significant interaction between the independent variables. However, one of the ANCOVAs, contact with persons with ADHD, showed a significant interaction between the independent variables, such that boys with labeled ADHD were perceived more positively compared to the other conditions.

Advisor

Garcia, Amber

Department

Psychology

Keywords

ADHD label, youth athletes, person perception, intergroup contact

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Hannah E. Shaw