Researching the future expectations of sports sciences students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. As the field of sports science continues to evolve rapidly, understanding students' aspirations is crucial for adapting educational programs accordingly. Furthermore, gaining insights into their future expectations can aid in addressing emerging trends and demands within the sports industry. The aim of the research is to examine how the future expectations of sports science students change at the end of their education life. Material and Methods. The study focused on sports science students in Turkey, with a sample size of 130 students selected randomly. These students willingly participated in the research, and their pre-test and post-test scores were compared using a standardized scale to evaluate changes in their perceptions and expectations. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program. To examine potential differences among variables within the research group, the Man Whitney U test was utilized for dependent groups, while the Kruskal Wallis H test was applied to assess multiple differences between groups. A significance level of p<0.05 was established. Results. The research revealed a significant difference in the pre-test results solely based on the educational status of the sports science students' mothers and fathers. Moreover, notable variations were observed in the average differences between pre-test and post-test scores concerning the students' departments and age. However, no significant differences were found in the future expectations of sports science students when considering gender, age, department, and income status variables. Notably, there was a significant difference favoring undergraduate students in terms of their mother's and father's education status variables. Furthermore, the mean scores of the pre-test and post-test demonstrated a significant difference between the age groups of 17-18 and those aged 21 and above. Additionally, significant differences were observed between students in the "Sports Management" department and those in the "Coaching" department, favoring the latter. Conclusions. The study emphasizes that gender, age, department, and income status did not significantly impact the future expectations of sports science students. However, it is crucial to address the educational needs of undergraduate students and the variations in scores among different age groups and departments to better cater to their career aspirations and development..