Personality traits of college football players who participated at different levels of competition

Abstract

The Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Test (16 P. F.) was administered to varsity football players (N=246) who were attending a small private college (n=50); an Ivy League University (n=69); a Big-Ten University (n=83); and a small state supported college (n=44). The purpose of the study was to determine if there were significant differences in team personality profiles. Personality profiles of the four teams were subjected to Multiple Discriminant Function Analyses. The null hypothesis that no significant differences existed in personality profiles between the four teams was rejected. Separate between-teams Multiple Discriminant Function Comparisons revealed that the Big-Ten team's profile was significantly different (.05 level) from each of the other three teams. Significant between teams differences in personality were not found between the small private college, the Ivy League University and the small state-supported college. Univariate F test comparisons showed that the teams were found to be significantly different (.01 level) on factors: I, tough-minded vs. tender-minded; N, forthright vs. shrewd; Q1, conservative vs. experimenting. The Big-Ten team was more tough-minded, shrewd and conservative. At the .05 level of significance the teams were found to differ in personality on factors: M, Practical vs. Imaginative; O, self-assured vs. apprehensive and Q2 Group Dependent vs. Self-sufficient. The State College team was found to be more imaginative than the other three teams. The Ivy League team was found to be more self-sufficient and more self-assured than either of the other three squads.