Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-14-2023
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Melinda Valliant
Second Advisor
Stefan Schulenberg
Third Advisor
Samantha Kostelnik
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Grit is a personality trait defined by persistence in reaching long-term goals despite difficulties (Duckworth, 2021). Angela Duckworth introduced the topic through her research and creation of the grit scale. The purpose of this research was to assess the grit levels of athletic groups at a southern university, using Duckworth’s scale. The hypothesis was that NCAA athletes would have higher grit levels because they have more incentives to gain by persevering through difficult times. The three groups surveyed were Club sports, Esports, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports, which have a range of included benefits in their programs. These incentives include things the groups already receive such as scholarships, Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals, exposure, and more. Participants in this study completed Duckworth’s 10-question grit survey, through a Google form or paper form. The surveys were given to graduate assistants, team leaders, and directors to distribute to their respective athletes. In total, 46 athletes completed the survey representing different athletic groups, genders, classifications, and scholarship statuses. A significant relationship was found between sports categories and grit score however, there were no other significant relationships found (ANOVAs and t-tests were used to analyze data). These findings add to the existing literature by providing information regarding the significant relationship between sport categories and grit and the possible correlation of incentives in those groups.
Recommended Citation
Markham, Kaylee, "Grit Games: Do Incentives Play A Role?" (2023). Honors Theses. 2854.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2854
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