Physical Activity and Academic Achievement

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement Physical Activity and Academic Achievement in College Students Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. To do so, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test were compared before the participants worked out to the scores after the students worked out regularly for three weeks. Participants were 50 Psychology students randomly selected at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. There was an interaction that after the students worked out they answered more questions correctly on both sections, verbal and math. The predicted results caused a possible correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement. However, the results should be interrupted carefully, as more studies still need to be done in order to completely support that physical fitness causes academic achievement to improve. It is possible that physical and mental process correspond with each other and influence each other. Introduction The positive health benefits of regular exercise are widely known. Even though due to much research where it is evident that there are positive benefits of physical activity, physical education in schools is being viewed as only an extracurricular activity rather than a necessity (Grissom, 2005). When school budgets are being cut short, physical education is being cut first; this in the long run negatively affects the students. Previous researchers and advocates argue that daily physical education in schools improves students concentration and cognitive functioning (Sibley, 2003). Physical education is an essential factor in students academic achievements. To date, in the United States, Canada and Australia, there were five controlled experimental studies done that evaluated the effects on academic performance of providing students with additional time for physical education. All the studies have shown that even if there is no drastic improvement, it definitely does not need to be sacrificed (Shephard, Volle, Lavallee, LaBarre, Jequier, 1999). In 2007, 287 fourth and fifth graders from British Columbia were studied to determine if providing daily physical activity affected their academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). They participated in daily ten minute classroom activity in addition to their regular 80 minute PE class. Even though the physical activity time been increased by about fifty minutes per week, the students who received extra physical activity had similar stantarized test scores for mathematics, reading and language arts as students in the control group. The researchers concluded a positive correlation between physical activi ty and academic performance (Ahamed, 2007). Overall, it is extremely difficult to calculate a statistically significant difference between experiment and control groups because it is difficult to raise academic achievement (Shephard 1996). Also whatever research that has been done in order to find the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement primarily focused on middle school to high school students. The purpose of this study is to determine whether college students that work out regularly perform better than those that do not work out at all. College students have a lot going on during their academic career. This study is being done in order to determine whether those that schedule regular exercise into their busy lifestyles achieve greater academic success overall. The practical implication of the proposed study is that those who work out regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle perform better on tests rather than those students who do not work out. The experiment is trying to demonstrate that it is needed for students to not forget to lead a healthy lifestyle and to take time out of the busy schedules to exercise and that will lead to higher test scores. The hypothesis was that participants will answer fewer questions on the GRE if they do not work out. Students will answer more questions correctly after they work. Also, there will an interaction between working out and number of questions answered. Refer to Table 1 and Graph 1 for predicted results. The predicted results were that students will answer correctly 20 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 18 out of 28 questions on the math section before they work out regularly. After the three week work out, the students answered 24 out of 30 questions on the verbal section and 26 out of 28 questions on the math section. There was no main effect on type of questions. There was a main effect on the exercise that after the students worked out they scored higher. Method Participants 50 undergraduate college students at University of Illinois at Chicago were between the ages of 18-25 were tested. Both male and females sexes were approximately equally represented. The participants were assigned to participate as part of the Psychology class, which counted towards the class credit. The participants were all healthy which allowed them to participate in the physical portion of the experiment. Design The experiment was a within subjects design. The participants were asked to complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before they exercised for three weeks regularly and after they exercised regularly for three weeks. The exercise consisted of cardio work out. The first independent variable was running on the treadmill for 30 minutes and using the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes and no cardio exercise at all. The second IV was the type of question. The participants were asked to complete the verbal and math sections. The dependent variable was the level of performance on the GRE. The amount of questions answered correctly will determine the level of performance. Materials The materials used were the UIC Wellness Center and the two versions of GRE sample questions from the verbal and math section. Both GRE tests were of the same difficulty. One version was used before the work out, and another version after the 3 week workout. There were 30 questions on the verbal section and 28 questions on the math section. Procedure First the participants were given the GRE both sections, verbal and math. They had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. After the exam, the participants were all signed up at the UIC Wellness Center for regular exercise. They worked out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1-2 hours. They walked/ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes, rested for 5 and then used the elliptical machine for another 30 minutes. This repeated for three weeks. After the regular work out, the participants were given a different version of the same difficulty GRE tests. Again they had 30 minutes to complete the 30 questions on the verbal section. They had 45 minutes to complete the 28 questions on the math section. In the end, both exams were scored and compared to each other. References Ahamed Y, MacDonald H, Reed K, Naylor PJ, Liu-Ambrose T, McKay H. (2007). School-based physical activity does not compromise childrens academic performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Volume #39, 371-376. Grissom, JB. (2005). Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement. Journal of Exercise Physiology, Volume #8, 11-25. Shephard RJ, Volle M, Lavallee H, LaBarre R, Jequier JC, Rajic M. (1999). Required physical activity and academic grades: A controlled longitudinal study. Children and Sport. Sibley BA, Etnier JL. (2003). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children. Pediatric Exercise Science. Tables, Figures IV A: Physical activity A1: No Exercise A2: Exercise 20 24 18 26 B1: Verbal IV B: Type of Questions B2: Math Table 1

P unit

I will also be talking about nature and nurture and how It relates to some of the life stages. The PIES are what everyone needs when they are growing up and get to their full potential they are: physical, intellectual emotional social. Physical needs are things like sleep, food, drink, air, warmth, shelter, reproduction and safety form danger these are things that you cannot live without and need to survive. Intellectual Is the second need In life Is the need to learn, face challenges, Interests and hobbies.The third need is emotional needs this is things like: respect to you and others, identity, self-esteem and self-worth. The final need is social this is when you need to feel a ensue of belonging, such as a relationship with someone, affection, family, a work group, and love. Development from O-death physical, Intellectual, emotional and social Conception and birth In the physical stage you are constantly growing In terms of biological cells growing from a cluster in the fallopian tubes to an embryo.By 8 weeks the embryo develops Into a fetus inside your mother's womb and develops tissues, limb, organs and senses, this process ends when your mother gives birth to you. In the Intellectual stage you do not learn anything as you do not thing. In the emotional stage you start o grow an attachment to your mother but you cannot have any self-work or concept as you cannot learn. In the social stage you grow a close relationship with your mum as she Is carrying you and her body Is feeding you this Is the only relationship that you develop in this stage as you have not been born yet so there for cannot build any relationships.You may feel a sense of belonging during pregnancy but that would be It. Infancy In the physical stage you keep constantly growing and developing you grow In height and weight to become stronger this is so that you can support you self you first start y supporting your head then move on to supporting your back when you sit up then you support yo ur whole body when you start standing up for the first time. Also your learn how to digest foods that are easily digest able at first then you go on to after you have been weaned of your mother's milk.The intellectual stage of infancy is that the child starts to communicate with words and is in the process of learning to speak. The child may also be able to count to 10 and say the alphabet but as doing this they do not actually know the meaning of what they are saying an example of this Is If you UT a lop In front of them and then 5 x ups they would chose the ups as they think that there are more of them and do not understand the concept of what they are 1 OFF like their parents or close family and friends if this effected in the infancy then it can affect you in later life.An example of this is that if you aren't securely attached to their mum or dad may in later life be not as able to cope with stress and other major life events. In the social stage of infancy by the age of 2 mont hs they may start to smile and by 3 months they will be able to respond to their parent's voices after 5 months they can recognize people that they have seen such as grandparents and family friends. They start to form an emotional attachment to their parents and by the age of 30 months -36 months they are playing alongside other children and making friends.Childhood In the physical stage children grow constantly but they do it at a slower speed than in infancy. By the age of 4 they will be able to kick and throw a large ball when the child is 6 its head will be only having ten per cent left to grow even though its body still has ages to grow fully. They may be able to skip or ride a bike. Their reproductive organs stay small and useless until puberty. In the intellectual stage children can now think logically and understand simple logical mind puzzles.You may find that a 7-8 year old may find it difficult to mentally imagine puzzles that do not make perfect sense or riddle like ques tions In the Emotional stage children start to use their imagination and they begin to understand the roles that others play in their life. They start to picture them self how they want them to be (ideal self) and their parent's relationship my how the child feels (sense of self-worth). The way that they act at school with their teacher and friends may influence there self-confidence if this stage goes wrong then in the long run and in adult hood they may feel a sense of failure or no self-worth.In the social stage young children are dependent on their careers such there parents they begin to learn social roles such as friendship and teacher student relationships. Adolescence In the physical stage the child/ adult are nearly fully grown and puberty starts to happen. This happens in girls between 11 and 13, it general happens for girls earlier than boys. Boys start puberty between the ages of 13 and 15. Puberty is the stage where the body starts to develop its sexual organs ready for sexual reproduction it is started by the release of hormones that control their sexual development.Both female and male will have a growth spurt at some point where they will grow in height at faster rate than usual. During in puberty girls breasts get larger and they start their fat layers start to increase under the skin. Also they get their menstrual periods and pubic hair starts to grow. During in puberty boys also get pubic hair as well as facial hair. Their voices break. This means that their voices get deeper in tone. Their testes and penis become larger. In the intellectual stage they are now an adult thinker and can thank through and solve complicated problems in their heads.They can work out a problem like the car won't start as the battery if dead or it needs more fuel. They also may start thinking abstractly and be able to solve a problem without seeing the end idea. In the emotional stage teen ages start to get a sense of their own identity and their sense of self star ts to develop further. In this time it may be trustful as they may not have very good self-esteem. This is linked to a person's sense of identity. A strong sense of identity is need so that loving sexual attachments can be made.This also means that they will feel secure in the work place when influenced by how their family affect them. Teenagers have to cope with becoming confident with their sexuality and also becoming socially independent from the family. Friends are important in this stage as they help them fit it and belong in a group. Teenagers will copy their friend's behavior and the way they dress as well as levels and cultural values. Adult hood In the physical stage you are at the peel of your physical performance from the age 18 – 28 this is proved by champions that do sport.This is because adults lose their strength and speed with age. Exercise can help you to develop your physical strength and can increase your fitness if you are overweight you will lose weight u ntil you are fit or have a good IBM. In the intellectual stage you are already fully developed fully and need to Get a Job during adulthood this involves learning new skills, skills can also be learn at the early stages of adulthood when a person leaves home and lives independently this can include cooking and managing a home budget. And then in the later years of adulthood adults begin to react more slowly.In the emotional stages your development starts when a person leaves home and starts to be independent and self-reliant also getting a new Job means you have to behave in a mature manner and you as a person starts controlling the way you respond to emotions. In the social stage you when an adult leaves home they start to build up ewe relationship like getting a partner or getting married and having their own family they start to love in different ways they love their friends, partners, family and children but in different ways.Being in a working atmosphere means that you develop work friendships as well as colleagues. Old age and the final stages of life In the physical stage older adults are more prone to putting on weight this may happen because they have become less active but still eating the same amount of food as when they were younger. Older adults also are at a higher risk of getting disease and disability. For women menopause happens around the age of 45-60 this is when they become less fertile and are not as able to conceive children.In the intellectual stage older adults like adult hood nothing has changed other than the fact that you learn something new every day. But as you get older you may start to forget things this may Just be because of old age or because of dementia or Alchemist's. Everyone is different so there intellectual development is different, for example someone could get dementia this could cause there intellectual development to be affected because they have loss of memory.In the emotional stages emotional development doesn't ch ange much but because of them getting older people can see them as less able and so that can knock there confidence as they can feel that they can't do what they use to be able to do. As you get older, a lot of your friends and family may have passed away because it's the end of their life. Also, older adults may be very close to someone who they had a great relationship and spent most their life with. This person may have passed away and the other person could die of heart ache.In social stages during these years there group of reined cut down and family start to become more important again. They can also be isolated and be on their own a lot of the time or with their partners and so they're not different social groups, such as going to bingo and meeting new people. My celebrity I picked Madonna as my celebrity in her early life she was born in Bay City, Michigan, on August 16, 1958 and her full time is Madonna Louise Veronica Concise. From the age of 5 Madonna had lost her mum due to cancer but she had also Just got a baby sister.The treatment or her mother had to be delayed until the baby reached full ERM, but by then the disease had grown too strong and she passed away on the 1 December 1963. This was a big shock to her and therefore had a tough childhood this may affected her emotional and social stages. Because of the career of singing her intellectual development has developed in relation to writing songs as money coming in was more important. Emotionally; she has been though a lot and from a young age was put under pressure and stress due to finance in the family and the death of her mum.And when she got older due to all the Jobs she is physically and mentally rained because as she has become more famous she has to think about his every move as her whole life is now for everyone to see. This could cause her to be stressed, or depressed as of the media. From a young age she wouldn't have been able to go out with friends as he would have been working as she had a Job and did a lot of ballet. And still as she gets older she has to be careful with who she trusts as because she is famous it could make her quite lonely as she needs to trust people even more than anyone else. References The health and social care LA book 1 P Unit September had then arranged an Interview with my form tutor who helped me Identify what opportunities a business degree in management would help me in she explained hat there are many Job roles and told me to research more into the Job roles and to check the new Vic website. Http://model. Enamel. AC. UK/ had then a broader idea to what I would be getting studying in university. I found out that there are many opportunities in different departments of management 11th Even though I understood what I would be studying in university I thought I would arrange a meeting with the career advisors to see if there are other options or better courses suited towards my needs.My findings suggested in the interview that my creative and writing skills were very good, they suggested me on looking into law as there is a law/ business management BAA honor 1 lath September was not too sure about studying law as I have never thought of studying it, but I thought I would check the requirements and also c heck what the course is all about. Http://WV. Westminster. AC. UK/courses/sub]sects/business-and-management/ undergraduate-courses/full-tale/fumble- management-law 1 OFF aspects of law as well, the economics side of it 11th September.

Why Top Female Athletes Stay in Male-Dominated Sports to an Elite Level

Abstract This study is focused on why top female athletes stay in male-dominated sports to an elite level and involves female athletes from different countries. Semi-structured interviews will be carried out on 15 participants. The study is characteristically interpretive and qualitative, and involves a four-year timeframe. 1. Background Sport is an institution that continues to create, reinforce, and maintain male hegemony. However, some of its aspects may also be seen as a product of collective effort. Gender diversity in sports are often placed in subtle, multi-level and ignored structures and behaviours embodied in sport organisations. Hence, there is a need for continued work on the matter (Fink 2008). The participation of female athletes in male-dominated sports will be explained by male hegemonic concepts as well as cultural and structural concepts.1.1 What prompted the interest in the topicWhat prompted the interest in the topic was the researcher’s own exposure in female sports where she was able to associate with elite female athletes of various ages from different countries, including those under Islamic rule and the Muslim region, such as Iran, Morocco, and Turkey. She has had worked closely with female competitors in over 50 members of the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), and h ence considers the topic a realisable one. Since the researcher is into sports herself and associates with the likely respondents of the study, she finds the topic both interesting and challenging.1.2 Relevance to Previous ResearchThe relevance of the topic to previous research is that it serves as a supporting material to what has already been claimed of the participation of female athletes in male-dominated sports. Previous research has indicated the prevailing role of cultural and structural systems that produce and reproduce these sports as an exclusive realm of male athletes (e.g. Anderson 2008; Carty 2005). The present study confirms these notions, and likewise looks into patterns of possibilities whereby female athletes can be generally accepted and recognised within these once male-stereotyped sports.1.3 Contributions to the Research and the FieldThe study’s contribution to research is identified in its investigation of culture, and somehow, of gender issues, in the p articipation of female athletes in male-dominated sports. Its contribution to the field is its introduction of certain theoretical concepts that can explain why female athletes continue to delve into male-dominated sports and an analytical explanation of their intent to stay or move out of the system.1.4 Research Aims and ObjectivesThis study aims to ascertain why top female athletes stay in male-dominated sports to an elite level; the hurdles they face and how they overcome these hurdles. It also aims to draw out the similarities in challenges faced by these elite athletes and to see if such challenges are similar across cultures and religions. The study purports to use this understanding to help support women to stay in a specific sport once they are already participating. The objectives of the research are as follows: To review the existing literature on the subject of Sports Sociology in relation to women’s sports participation; To conduct interviews and surveys to elite female athletes from various countries; To find out gaps in knowledge within the field; and To provide recommendations for future research. 2. Literature Review This part of the research proposal identifies a range of works and studies related to the topic being investigated. It aims to establish the theoretical framework for the study and provide evidence to the topic.2.1 Trends in the Literature Relating to the Research TopicIn their work, Krane, Choi, and Baird et al. (2004) stated that female athletes live in two cultures: One that is characteristically masculine; and the other – the larger social culture – which celebrates femininity. The study was linked to feminist cultural studies and aimed to determine how female athletes negotiate femininity-based social expectations with athleticism. It involved 21 female athletes who served as participants in focus group discussions. Three themes comprised the data analysis, specifically the ‘influence of physicality, femininity, and athlete as other.’ The data revealed that being athletic is in contrast to being feminine and that the participants themselves felt being marginalised as athletes and expressed that others perceive them as being ‘different’ from typical women. Despite these, they were proud of their physical strength and developed bodies and regarded themselves as being empowered, which can be generalised beyond the context of sports (Krane et al. 2004). The use of focus group discussions in the study aimed at encouraging self-disclosure amongst female athletes with similar experiences and reducing the anxiety that might be felt in individual interviews. The authors also pinpointed the fact that focus groups are especially effective in feminist research (Krane, et al. 2004). According to Carty (2005), sport has been a social aspect that has traditionally prevented women from participating. Recent policy developments and broadening public support enabled girls and women to participate dramatically in sports that had been typically limited only to men. Female athletes had come out from those sports that had been stereotypically designated only to them, such as tennis and gymnastics, and can now play male-dominated sports such as hockey, football, rugby, and so on. Of equal significance is the revealing of masculinity constriction and the concept of gender differences. Hence, Carty explored social changes accompanying the broadening popularity of women in sports and some opposing messages in advertisements initiated by these changes. The qualitative method is used in the study to explore all the issues covered by the aims and objectives, which were tackled through semi-structured interviews. It may be inferred that Carty’s assertion on the constraint s placed against women in regard to participating in male-stereotyped sports is similar to the notion of Krane et al. (2004), specifically the marginalisation of female athletes and their being perceived as different from normal women. There is therefore congruence between the two authors in reference to their view of the situation of female athletes in male-dominated sports. On the other hand, Pringle (2005) emphasised that issues linked to female sport and exercise can be examined via Foucauldian theories. However, the Gramscian theory, which is used to examine the concept of masculine hegemony, remains dominant. The article made a comparison and contrast of the theoretical tools branching from Foucault and Gramsci’s writings in relation to investigating sport and masculinities. It was indicated that masculine hegemony does not simply point to a prevailing concept of masculinity but also to specific understandings of power that may be problematic to some. The discussion is useful to the study as it focused on the concept of masculine hegemony that can address the prevailing male dominance in sports, as well as male sports in general, which had once been (and continuous to be) considered an exclusive field for male athletes. It is important to note that Pringle’s assertion provides the groundwork for the situation of female athletes, as ex plored by the concept of masculine hegemony that explains women’s marginalisation, pinpointed earlier by Carty (2005) and Krane et al. (2004). Pringle’s concept of masculine hegemony was similarly described by Whisenant, Pedersen, and Obenour (2002) who cited the end of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) as the cause for sport administrators to deal with reestablishing their place as athletic directors. The study aimed at assessing the success ratio of these directors, focusing primarily on gender. The initial results validated the expected findings that masculine hegemony is a well-established concept within inter-collegiate athletics. This is note-worthy in the topic’s exploration of the hurdles faced by female athletes in male-dominated sports. On the other hand, Vincent, Imwold, and Masemann et al. (2002) made an investigation of female athletes’ receipt of equitable coverage in â€Å"women’s games.† The study made a comparison of six selected newspapers from Canada, Great Britain, and the United States and how they dealt with male and female athletes during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The qualitative method and content analysis were used for the comparison of all articles and photographs of athletes on all newspapers involved. Albeit there were differences found, the results generally demonstrated an equitable amount of coverage for both male and female athletes participating in the games. The study confirmed the idea that female athletes receive increased newspaper coverage when they participate in major competitions. However, analysing critically Vincent et al.’s work against those of Pringle (2005), Krane et al. (2004), and Carty (2005), one may posit that the former tackled a rather neutral presentation of female athletes vis-a-vis male athletes, as demonstrated by the equitable newspaper coverage on them. Vincent et al. looked into the ‘outward configuration’ of the male-female dichotomous existence in sports, as against the internal focus made by Pringle (2005), Krane et al. (2004), and Carty (2005).2.1.1 The Role of Culture in SportsIn their study, Elling and Knoppers (2005) used a social-critical perspective to analyse symbolic sport inclusion/exclusion in relation to gender and ethnicity amongst adolescents. The findings suggested that dominant normative gendered images still influence young people’s preferences in sport participation. Sport can function as an integrating agent as well as a differentiating and discriminating tool amongst the youth. With regard to gender, sport participation is less predictable because of such circumstances as ethnicity interactions. Albeit ethnic minority females had the least participation in sport, a relatively higher value is placed on traditional masculine sports such as karate and soccer. Additionally, the potential circumstance of being labeled as ‘sissy’ serves as a powerful mechanism to exclude oneself from participating in conventional sports for girls. However, stereotypical images are continually challenged as well (Elling and Knoppers 2005). Viewing the earlier notions of gender-based explanations of the uneven perception between male and female athletes (e.g. Pringle 2005; Krane et al. 2004, and Carty 2005), Elling and Knoppers apparently provided a deeper explanation of the reason for such disparity. On the other hand, Pelak (2005) emphasised on how South African female football players negotiate ideological constrictions in participating in the stereotypically masculine sport. The author highlighted the micro-level experiences of situating athletes within social structures at macro level, such as apartheid. The study used a multi-method approach, including interviews, survey, observations, and documentary data. Various feminist sport frameworks and theoretical insights of Black feminists contributed to the analysis. The findings revealed an ongoing creative resistance amongst female soccer athletes against exclusionary practices in the sport. Pelak evidently upheld the findings of Elling and Knoppers (2005) with regard to symbolic sport inclusion/exclusion, as exemplified by social structures that serve as constraints to female participation in male-dominated sports. Meanwhile, the study of Anderson (2008) explored the cultural and structural elements that contribute to the breeding of anti-feminine perspectives amongst men in team sports. The authors initially led the readers to the view that men’s separation into a homosocial environment puts a limit to their social contact with women and promotes a hostile masculinity that induces the proliferation of orthodox views about women. However, the study also suggested that when these same men participate in a gender-incorporating cheerleading sport competition, they tend to reinvent their perspectives toward women. The author used a range of theoretical concepts and linked them to grounded observations and interviews, upon which a theoretical model was established. He specifically used a socio-feminist theory of masculinity that holds gender as being formulated by an intricate interaction of â€Å"organisational culture, institutional power, and individual agency.† The study involved a sample of 68 male cheerleaders who identified themselves as heterosexual and who used to play football. The findings suggested that the socially negative outcomes affixed to male sport athletes might potentially reduce through gender-incorporating sports (Anderson 2008). This study is relevant to the topic under study as it explains the male athlete’s propensities when participating in male and female stereotypical games, thereby contributing to its query on why women stay in male-dominated sports.2.2 Limitations and/or Gaps in the LiteratureThe existing literature on the topic is observed to include works that are not very recent, which hence suggests a need for updated findings. There are not many academic studies delving into the issue of culture as a prevailing factor for certain sports to be perceived as typically male; and most of which are discussed using gender-based criteria. Theoretical Framework Below is the theoretical framework of the study based on the literature: Figure 1: Theoretical Framework 3. Research Methodology3.1 Research ParadigmThe interpretive and positivist paradigms are utilised in this research. The interpretive paradigm states that social actors generate meanings about their interaction in the world. Social reality is hence interpreted as an attempt to interpret the world, thereby connoting a subscription to realist ontology (Scott and Morrison 2005). The use of interpretive paradigm is justified in this study as it attempts to gather interview data that are grounded on ascertaining perceived realities surrounding female athletes, as well as the meanings they append to these realities. The positivist approach, on the other hand, relies on the methods of the natural science (Lee 1991) and is seen in the study’s use of survey to assist certain inferences suggested by interview data.3.2 Research Design and MethodThis study is characteristically mixed methods (combination of qualitative and quantitative methods) in its research design. Qualitative methods hold that findings about human interaction (e.g. female athletes) can be understood better and more systematically when studied from the inside out rather than the opposite (Monsen and Horn 2008). Quantitative methods, on the other hand, maintain that phenomena can be explained by collecting numerical data (for this study is the survey) that are analysed through statistical methods (Mujis 2011).3.3 ParticipantsThe research participants for both interviews and the survey are 13-35 year-old female athletes from different countries with whom the researcher has frequent association, including those under Islamic rule and Muslim religion, such as Iran, Morocco, and Turkey. The sample size for the interview is 15, which is considered sufficient to generate findings. For the survey, the sample size is 35.3.4 Data CollectionPrimary and secondary data shall be collected. Primary data shall be generated from semi-structured interviews and the survey whilst secondary data shall support the pri mary data and shall be obtained from books and academic journals. An interview schedule and a survey questionnaire will be constructed.3.5 Data Analysis and DiscussionOnce the information has been established, data analysis will take place using the thematic analysis, which intends to find patterns/themes/meanings from a range of data sets (Hamdan 2009). The discussion will be towards addressing the research questions and will be backed by the literature.3.6 Weaknesses and LimitationThe study finds no weakness in its methodology. One limitation that can be identified is in terms of using interviews for data gathering, which is perceived to lack generalisability because of a relatively small sample (Ford 2012). This is addressed by using a larger sample (15 participants) (e.g. Waltz, Krumperman, and Zigmont 2011) and triangulation through the survey.3.7 Ethical ConsiderationsFirst amongst the ethical considerations that the study takes note of is the anonymity of the target participa nts, as well as the confidentiality of data to be collected. It is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure that participants provide informed consent prior to their participation and that they have the right to withdraw their participation at any point, without incurring any liability. The data collection shall take place vis-a-vis having informed the participants of the general purpose of the study and why their participation is being sought. Moreover, the data will be stored in a database using passwords that only the researcher knows, whilst the survey questionnaires will be put to safekeeping and disposed of upon the total completion of the research in order not to be accessed by anyone. The proposal shall require approval from an ethics committee.3.8 Significance of the ResearchThis study is significant in a number of ways, one of which is its contribution to the existing literature on female participation in what has been generally considered as male-dominated sport. Another is its confirmation of the prevailing role of culture and gendered images in such perception, as well as the continuing struggle of female athletes to situate themselves in the realm of sports, thereby adding to the existing knowledge on the subject.3.9 TimelineThe research timeline starts on February 3, 2014 and ends on February 16, 2018. The first part of the survey will be done in May 2014. The various aspects of the research are shown in the Gantt chart below: Figure 2: Gantt chart showing the research timeline References Anderson, E. (2008) ‘I Used to Think Women Were Weak’: Orthodox Masculinity, Gender Segregation, and Sport. Sociological Forum, 23 (2), 257-280. Carty, V. (2005) Textual Portrayals of Female Athletes: Liberation or Nuanced Forms of PatriarchyFrontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 26 (2), 132-172. Elling, A. and Knoppers, A. (2005) Sport, Gender and Ethnicity: Practices of Symbolic Inclusion/Exclusion. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34 (3), 257-268. Fink, J. S. (2008) Gender and Sex Diversity in Sport Organizations: Concluding Comments. Sex Roles, 58 (1-2), 146-147. Ford, N. (2012) The Essential Guide to Using the Web Research. First Edition. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Hamdan, A. (2009) Muslim Women Speak: A Tapestry of Lives and Dreams. Toronto: Women’s Press. Krane, V., Choi, P. Y. L., Baird, S. M., Aimar, C. M., and Kauer, K. J. (2004) Living the Paradox: Female Athletes Negotiate Femininity and Muscularity. Sex Roles, 50 (5/6), 315-329. Lee, A. S. (1991) Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research. Organization Science, 2 (4), 342-365. Monsen, E. R. and Horn, L. V. (2008) Research: Successful Approaches. Third Edition. US: American Dietetic Association. Mujis, D. (2011) Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. Second Edition. London: SAGE Publications. Pelak, C. F. (2005) Negotiating Gender/Race/Class Constraints in the New South Africa: A Case Study of Women’s Soccer. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 40(1), 53-70. Pringle, R. (2005) Masculinities, Sport, and Power: A Critical Comparison of Gramscian and Foucauldian Inspired Theoretical Tools. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 29 (3), 256-278. Scott, D. and Morrison, M. (2005) Key Ideas in Educational Research. NY: Continuum International Publishing Group. Vincent, J., Imwold, C., Masemann, V., and Johnson, J. T. (2002) A Comparison of Selected ‘Serious’ and â€Å"Popular’ British, Canadian, and United States Newspaper Coverage of Female and Male Athletes Competing in the Centennial Olympic Games: Did Female Athletes receive Equitable Coverage in the â€Å"Games of the Women†International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 37 (3-4), 319-335. Waltz, B. J., Krumperman, K. M., and Zigmont, J. (2011) Foundations of EMS Systems. Mason, OH: Delmar Cengage Learning. Whisenant, W. A., Pedersen, P. M., and Obenour, B. L. (2002) Success and Gender: Determining the Rate of Advancement for Intercollegiate Athletic Directors. Sex Roles, 47 (9-10), 485-491.

Hate Crime upon the Homeless - 1526 Words

I chose to write my paper on hate crimes about violence and hate towards members of our society who are homeless. People who happen to be homeless, by the nature of not having a home are more vulnerable to attacks both verbally and physically. I believe that violence upon homeless individuals is a hate crime because they are targeted specifically because they are homeless, and seen as less important than â€Å"regular† people with homes. These incidents usually involve a younger man or teenager. Most of the homeless victims are also men of an older age. In the cases the homeless victim may be being picked on and physically assaulted, and sometimes killed or left to die without available medical attention. These incidents aren’t always reported so the problem is very likely larger than the statistics show. When an individual is living without a place to go to and doesn’t know where there next meal is coming from they already feel like they aren’t worth bein g treated with the respect and dignity that all humans deserve. The homeless community has very little power politically to cause change, but people in a position of power can ensure that crimes against the homeless aren’t okay and add stiffer penalties to these incidents. The hardest part of the process is proving that the actions that happen were driven by the face that the victim was homeless. If there is no relation between the victim and perpetrator and the homeless victim posed no threat to the attacker I think the lawShow MoreRelatedHomelessness is Everyones Problem888 Words   |  3 PagesPoverty reports that homeless population in United States is estimated around 3.5 million, but on the other hand there are nearly 18.6 million vacant houses. 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