E-Thesis 33 views 8 downloads
Myths and Mysteries of Athlete Development: Parents’ Perspectives / ZOE DAVIES
Swansea University Author: ZOE DAVIES
Abstract
Sport Wales are shifting their focus from winning medals to the development of athletes, and with it recognise that parents are key stakeholders who may influence the effectiveness of this new initiative. Previous research has discovered that parents can influence athlete development both positively...
| Published: |
Swansea University, Wales, UK
2024
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Master of Research |
| Degree name: | MSc by Research |
| Supervisor: | Knight, C |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66890 |
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| Abstract: |
Sport Wales are shifting their focus from winning medals to the development of athletes, and with it recognise that parents are key stakeholders who may influence the effectiveness of this new initiative. Previous research has discovered that parents can influence athlete development both positively and negatively, but parents’ perceptions of athlete development and how such perceptions are developed is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine parents’ perceptions of athlete development, and how they developed such perceptions, to understand how parents may aid or impede Sport Wales’ new initiative.Specifically, this study sought to understand areas of parent’s perceptions of athlete development that may require particular attention or focus when moving forwards in implementing the new initiative designed by Sport Wales. This study was conducted using a Mixed Methods approach. A survey was conducted with 116 participants (M age = 46.6yrs,SD = 7.3yrs). Six categories of factors were included in the survey (the athlete’s skills and characteristics, parental involvement, coaching, training, socio-environmental factors, and demographics). Data collected through the survey was analysed using IBM SPSS (version 24.0). Thereafter, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants (M age =48.7yrs, SD = 4.9yrs). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Subsequently, transcripts were analysed using data analysis procedures detailed by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña (2020). The data collected across the interviews were analysed within the pre-determined categories that provided the structure of the survey. Results revealed significant differences in the perceptions of importance between the categories in relation to their influence on athlete development. The athlete’s skills and characteristics, parental involvement, and the coaching the athlete receives were viewed as having a statistically stronger (perceived)influence on athlete development. Conversely, training, socio-environmental factors, and demographics were perceived by parents as being significantly less influential on athlete development. Such was further supported by the qualitive results. |
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| Item Description: |
A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. |
| Keywords: |
Athlete development, parental involvement |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |