Perceptions on the Purpose of Sport between NCAA Divisions III and I International and Domestic Student-Athletes

Abstract

Since the 1950s international student athletes have been traveling to the US (Ridinger & Pastore, 2001) and this number has tripled over the last decade according to Farrey (2009). Researching this phenomenon continued when Popp, Hums, and Greenwell (2009) attempted to expand our understanding by exploring the view and purpose of sport between NCAA Division I domestic and international student-athletes. While there were limitations to the foci of the Division I study, a more comprehensive perspective was sought by conducting a comparative view with a focus on NCAA Division III domestic and international student-athletes. While academics are the underlying goals for both divisions, there are differences in mission statements, recruiting bylaws, and stated outcomes. Using stratified and purposeful selection processes both domestic and international student-athletes were asked to complete a modified version of Duda's (1989) Purpose of Sport Questionnaire. Using a MANOVA statistical procedure significant differences were found in two of the seven purposes of sport factors. Domestic student-athletes rated the factors of good citizen and self-esteem significantly highly than international student-athletes. Comparatively, the NCAA Division I study conducted by Popp et al. (2009) derived a significant difference in the purpose and view of competition.