Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-2013

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Jacob J. Levy

Committee Members

Dawn M. Szymanski, John W. Lounsbury

Abstract

This study examined to see if Division I female water polo players (n = 113) had a distinct personality profile when compared to their counterpart of other female college students (n = 170). Also, this study analyzed to see the impact personality traits and team cohesion variables had on overall athletic satisfaction in female water polo players. The measures used were as follows: for personality, the Personal Style Inventory for College Students (PSI, Lounsbury & Gibson, 2008); for team cohesion, Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ, Carron, Widmeyer, & Brawley, 1985) ; and for athletic satisfaction, Athletes Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ, Riemer & Chelladurai, 1998). The results looking at the differences between means and effect sizes in regard to the Big Five Personality traits in water polo players and other college students showed a significant difference in 3 out of the 5 traits (conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness). Then, when looking at overall athletic satisfaction in their athletic experience a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. The Big Five Personality traits only accounted for 7% of the variance (statistically insignificant change in R2 [coefficient of determination], p = .16), while the four team cohesion measures accounted for 55% (p < .001) of the variance, a large effect. In particular, a part correlation showed that significant results between athletic satisfaction and Individual attraction to the group-Task (ATG-T, rpart [part correlation]= .37, p < .001) and Group Integration-Task (GI-T, rpart [part correlation]= .29, p < .001). These findings have implications to help players and coaches understand if they would be a good fit for a Division I water polo team and to understand how to best make a team successful. Future research can also be done to see if these results are generalizable to other similar team sports as well (i.e. soccer, hockey, etc.).

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