Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the communication between athletes and non-athletes at the College of Wooster. 119 participants started the survey which included the peer communication scale, three scenarios for the participants to write a short response, and the participants to sort their short answer into five different conflict management skills: avoiding the conflict, stand your ground, collaboration, compromise, and giving in. The first hypothesis stated that collegiate athletes will be more likely to use collaboration in the workplace since they are collaborating with teammates, coaches, and other students at the school. The second hypothesis stated that non-athletic college students will be more likely to use the stand your ground as a method of conflict management. A between-subject independent t-test was trending towards significant while looking at the second and third questions from the peer communication scale. A chi-square test was run to look at the three scenarios. It was found that the second scenario was trending towards significant, meaning athletes were more likely to collaborate while non-athletes chose to stand their ground. These results could be used to advance knowledge that there was more satisfaction in the communication of athletes than non-athletes and this could show that having a close bond with their teammates could allow for this satisfaction. The results that the non-athletes chose to stand their ground, this knowledge could increase the knowledge of changing the conflict managing skills.

Advisor

Abraham, Ashley

Department

Psychology

Keywords

: student-athletes, non-athletes, communication, conflict management skills, peer communication scale

Publication Date

2021

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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