Leeann M. Lower

The Case for the Perceived Social Competence Scale II

Objective: This study examines the psychometric properties of the revised Perceived Social Competence Scale (PSCS), a brief, user-friendly tool used to assess social competence among youth. Method: Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) examined the factor structure and invariance of an enhanced scale (PSCS-II), among a sample of 420 youth. Correlations between PSCS-II and self-reported social skill scores were examined. A longitudinal CFA tested the invariance of the factor structure over time with a different sample of 451 youth. Results: The revised 5-item PSCS-II demonstrated acceptable factorial validity, factorial invariance across time and gender as well as strong predictive validity. Conclusion: The PSCS-II was supported as a strengthened version of the PSCS to measure social competence in social work research and practice.

Validity and Reliability of the Teamwork Scale for Youth

The teamwork life skill is a critical outcome desired in many positive youth development interventions; however, limited versatile, user-friendly measures of this construct exist. Purpose: This study examines the psychometric properties of the Teamwork Scale for Youth, an assessment designed to measure youths’ perceptions of their teamwork competency. Methods: The Teamwork Scale for Youth was administered to a sample of 460 youths. Confirmatory factor analyses examined the factor structure and measurement invariance of the scale across time. Correlations between teamwork and perceived social competence and commitment scores were also examined. Results: The revised 8-item Teamwork Scale for Youth was found to demonstrate acceptable factorial validity and measurement invariance across time. Additionally, strong reliability and concurrent and predictive validity of the scale were established. Discussion: The Teamwork Scale for Youth is a brief, easily administered, psychometrically sound tool that can be used with confidence in social work research and practice.

A Comparative Analysis of Perceived Benefits of Participation Between Recreational Sport Programs

This study examined recreational sports, with a focus on a comparative analysis of the overall, social, intellectual, and fitness perceived benefits associated with participation in three separate recreational program areas: group fitness, intramural sport, and sport clubs. A survey instrument, based upon the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) and Quality and Importance of Recreational Services (QIRS) perceived benefit scale, was administered to 1,176 students at a postsecondary institution. Results revealed a significant difference in perceived benefits between recreational program areas, with sport clubs reporting the greatest mean in all four perceived benefit groups (overall, social, intellectual, fitness). The study also found a significant positive correlation between all perceived benefit groups. These findings have implications for practitioners in terms of perceived benefit differences, suggesting advantages of the sport club program structure and the potential multiple effects of enhancing a perceived benefit group.

Informing priorities for coaching education: Perspectives from youth sport leaders:

Central to the ability of successfully facilitating sport participation toward positive developmental outcomes is the youth sport leader. Youth sport leaders are responsible for addressing the many stressors and risk factors that youth encounter in both sport and life. However, a majority of youth sport leaders do not receive coaching education or training, especially in regard to youth development. The purpose of this study was to gain a greater understanding of the various factors, which affect youth sport leaders, their team, and the community in which they coach. The four key areas of team building/teamwork, parental influence/involvement, sportsmanship, and teaching life skills emerged. By better understanding the issues within youth sport, researchers will be more aware of the most relevant issues to guide future research and to inform the development of coaching education. Moreover, youth sport leaders will be better equipped and prepared to maximize youth development through sport participation.

Transgender Students: Are They a Protected Class?

The plaintiff brought action against the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and its employees for unlawful discrimination based on his sex and transgender status after being prohibited from using sex-segregated restrooms and locker rooms on the university campus.

The public/private divide: an analysis of American law relative to recruiting and transfer policies in interscholastic athletics

ABSTRACT Competitive balance within interscholastic athletics in the United States is governed by state athletic associations. The policies derived by these associations vary by state and are meant to ensure high school athletic teams have an equitable chance of athletic success, especially in post-season tournament competition. Two specific policy types, recruiting and transfer restrictions, are often designed to safeguard against schools targeting specific athletes, or students choosing schools based on athletic motives. These policies are particularly challenging to create and enforce when private schools are involved, as private schools admit students differently than public schools and because private schools tend to have disproportionately high levels of athletic success. Consequently, legal cases challenging recruiting and transfer policies often include private high schools where violations of fundamental rights are alleged. A thorough review of such cases revealed that state athletic associations are generally supported by the courts to create and enforce recruiting and transfer limitations.

“It’s just something engrained in them”: examining organizational citizenship behaviors within part-time campus recreation center employees

ABSTRACT Sport scholars have sparsely examined the contributions of part-time employees in the workforce. This study contributes to the gap in the literature by exploring a recreation center’s part-time student staff participation in organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). These behaviors can simply be described as “going above and beyond job requirements” and have been suggested to increase organizational effectiveness [Podsakoff, P. M., & MacKenzie, S. B. (1997). Impact of organizational citizenship behavior on organizational performance: A review and suggestion for future research. Human Performance, 10(2), 133–151]. Furthermore, the authors sought to understand how these OCBs contributed to organizational effectiveness. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of student employees. The findings from this study showed that multiple OCBs were apparent at this recreation center, and the students felt that these behaviors positively impacted the organization’s effectiveness. This case study extends the lines of research on part-time employees and OCBs in sport.

Evidence for Title IX Redress

While Title IX has contributed to significant increases in female athletic participation, there continue to be claims of gender inequality, such as in the case described in this article, McCully v. Stephenville Independent School District.

Part-Time Student Employees’ Commitment: The Role of Culture Types

Part-time student employees fulfill vital roles for the university, while also gaining valuable work experience that direct perceptions and opportunities for future employment. This study examined the direct effect of organizational culture types on affective commitment of part-time student employees of college recreation departments. Specifically, using the Competing Values Framework (CVF), four major forms of organizational culture types (i.e., hierarchy, market, clan and adhocracy) were examined. Multiple regression was used to analyze the relationships. The findings from 442 part-time student employees revealed clan and adhocracy cultures were significant positive predictor variables of affective commitment in recreational sport organizations. These findings are practically relevant given the flexible state of life students experience while working in college.