An Examination of the Factors Contributing to Student Satisfaction with their Overall Academic Experience

Abstract

Guided by Astin's (1984) theory of student involvement, this study was designed to examine the relationship between both the quantity and quality of students' recreational sports involvement and satisfaction with their overall academic experience. Surveys were randomly distributed to students (N=718) participating in a variety of recreational sports programs. Multiple regression was used to analyze the relationship between the predictor variables (quantity and quality of involvement) and the outcome variable (student satisfaction). Only two measures of the quality of students' recreational sports involvement were significant predictors of satisfaction. Understanding how involvement in campus recreational sports programs contributes to the broader goals of the institution is critical in order to reposition recreational sports as an essential service on post-secondary campuses. Suggestions for future research are made in the context of the limitations of the study.