Research Idea
My intended research project is to examine the experiences of young athletes, primarily basketball players and the support their parents provide. The goal is to examine the expectations of the parents as well as their child. Do these young athletes really want to play these selected sports activities or is this the choice of their guardians. In addition, I would like to examine how family members influence these young athletes. Do these parents feel that their support creates a positive impact on their child’s sports participation, and will these experiences help mold them into future competitive athletes? How do parents view other athlete parents while in attendance for sporting events? Is parental pressure a positive or negative force for young athletes. Most importantly, how does participating in youth sport and or activities influence these children.
Research Proposal
FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL OUTLINE
Your IDEA- The experiences of being a basketball parent to young athletes and the support their parents/caregivers provide. I intend to interview parents who have young children in competitive sports and inquire on why they chose this sport and what the expectations of these parent/caregivers are.
Literature Reviews. “Parents’ Perspectives and Young Athletes’ Perceptions of Social Support.” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation. Youth Sport: Positive and Negative Impact on Young Athletes.” Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine 4. Parental Involvement, Pressure, and Support in Youth Sport: A Narrative Literature Review.
Theoretical Perspective- I will use a symbolic interactionism approach to frame my project and report my data.
Research Methods- I will conduct individual interviews and if available I will attempt to conduct a focus group interview with parents whose children participate in sporting events. I will also observe parents while they attend their child/ren’s sporting events and note what findings I have observed.
Research Design- I will obtain informed consent from participants. My participants will be parents of the SA Choppers organization. I will observe these parents while at practice, training and sporting events to obtain additional observational field notes. I will also obtain photos from parents as well as from the SA Choppers organization.
Collect Data/Conduct Research- I will get informed consent from participants. I will Interview my participants. I will conduct a focus group with my participants. I will observe my participants and write field notes. I will collect visuals.
Data Analysis- I will organize and analyze the data I have collected through my literature reviews, interviews, focus groups, observations etc.
Findings- I will write on what I have learned from these parents. Was it what you expected or was it different? I will write up my findings for my research/reflection paper citing the texts, scholarly literature, data gathered from my research participants and my personal reflection on the topic.
Dissemination- I will upload my final paper to Blackboard.
Developing Research
My intended research project did not go as I had planned. My goal was to interview basketball parents and examine the support they provide for their young athlete. The issue I have faced is that most of my participants are within the same age group which did not provide room for significant data. Therefore, I have had to make some much-needed adjustments to my research project. Since most of my participants’ children were within the same age group I have chosen to speak to other parents whose children participate in other sports. I originally limited myself by only interviewing basketball parents. Which was not a bad idea, but I was really looking for is to speak to a multitude of parents and hoped to have gathered various data from my participants. However, I found myself to have gathered similar data from those individuals I met with. My participants now include children who participate in multiple sports activities and those involved in another sporting organization. Since I have expanded my research topic I have gained several parents who would be willing to participate in my research. I am extremely thankful for these participants as it has been difficult in examining the same age group and sport. I currently have eight participants who I have met. I have a few more participants to meet within the current week and will be wrapping up my research soon. This research project has been a bit more difficult than any I have completed in the past, but I am sure it will all come together.
Taking it to the hole
I conducted my final interview this afternoon and I am excited to piece my work together. I am extremely grateful to all the parents who participated and provided feedback for my paper. Although, I did encounter some difficulties in attempting some interviews from specific basketball parents. There were a couple of individuals that I was extremely eager to learn what data I could have received from them but I was not able to conduct those interviews as those individuals failed to meet with me before my deadline. I was left to fill those interviews with other willing participants. I am proud to learn how devoted these parents are to their children and their success regardless of what support they play. I will begin writing my paper this evening and I cannot express how excited I am to wrap up this research project!