Research

Collegiate Sport Club Volleyball Participant Outcomes project report

NIRSA contracted with the National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness to conduct a survey to determine the student learning outcomes resulting from participation in a sport club, in addition to the frequency of drinking and hazing among sport club participants. For the purposes of the study, participants in the 2007 Volleyball Sport Club Championships were surveyed.

The survey was electronically administered to 2,749 sport club volleyball participants who attended the 2007 NCCS Volleyball Championships. After two electronic administrations of the survey, 615 surveys were returned. This accounts for a 22.37 percent return rate.

Student learning outcomes section

This study documented the out-of-classroom learning that results from participation in sport club volleyball. Results showed that the participants demonstrated tremendous amounts of learning across a broad range of areas. Participants gained in life skills, acceptance and appreciation for diversity, social interactions, communication, character, leadership, and beliefs about themselves. Specific items in which participants demonstrated the greatest gains were travel planning skills, school pride, sense of belonging, and overall leadership development. Of importance is that school pride and sense of belonging are important variables in school retention.

College student questionnaire survey section

A bank of CSEQ questions were included in the sport club volleyball participant survey and compared with a matched control set. The “Clubs and Organizations” set showed the greatest difference between the matched cases and sport club volleyball participants. The sport club volleyball participants were significantly more engaged than the standard college student population with on and off-campus groups, communicating with faculty members, and providing leadership for a club or organization. The mean scores for each statement were greater for the sport club volleyball participants than for the matched cases. The greatest difference between matched cases and sport club volleyball participants is observed in the statement, “Managed or provided leadership for a club or organization, on or off campus.”

Alcohol consumption section

Study data demonstrated a slight increase in the amount of alcohol consumed per week among sport club volleyball participants when compared to all other students in a standard student body. Data on standard students was gained from the national CORE survey, which is annually administered by the CORE Institute at the University of Southern Illinois Carbondale.

Binge drinking behavior was also examined among sport club volleyball participants and compared to the national averages. Binge drinking was operationally defined as “having five or more drinks at a sitting” and measured only for the two week period that preceded the administration of the instrument. CORE data (2006-2007) reports that the national average of college students who have partaken in binge drinking in the past two weeks is 30.0%. On the contrary, 69.8% of volleyball sport club participants have binged on alcohol in the two weeks prior to the instrument’s administration.

Hazing behavior section

Hazing behaviors have been reported across many types of teams and student organizations. Varsity athletes, members of social and service fraternities, band and performing arts members, as well as those who participate in sport clubs have reported engaging in drinking games, were forced to sing or chant, and got sick or passed out from being forced to drink alcohol.

The results from this questionnaire indicate that almost 12% of the sport club volleyball participants has been hazed during some point in their life. Most of the hazing has involved drinking games, which is consistent with data from the University of Maine Hazing Study (see related story).

Complete survey results can be found in the Research Central section of the NIRSA website (Members Only).