Date of Award

Fall 2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Education (MSEd)

Department

Human Movement Sciences

Program/Concentration

Physical Education

Committee Director

Edward Hill

Committee Member

Edwin Gomez

Committee Member

Lynn Ridinger

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.E44 O34 2006

Abstract

Challenge courses have become increasingly popular in recent years. Benefits examined and researched through the use of challenge courses include increased self-esteem, group cohesion, leadership skills, and general self-efficacy (Hart & Silka, 1994; Hatch & McCarthy, 2005; Moseley, Reinke, & Bookout, 2002; Paxton, 2000; Propst & Koesler, 1998). Many groups are turning to half-day challenge courses due to time and financial constraints. Few studies have quantified the benefits of a half-day course. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of participation in a four-hour challenge course on leadership efficacy and work efficacy of college students. A survey was taken by college students that registered to participate in a challenge course event. Pretest, posttest, and follow-up questionnaires were utilized. There were three data collection dates, whereby 43 surveys were collected that were for pretest and posttest, and 21 follow-up surveys were collected. T-tests analysis found that participating in a challenge course has a significant positive effect on increasing one's leadership and work efficacy from pretest to posttest, after participation in a four-hour challenge course. This research also demonstrates that increased levels of the participants' self-efficacy remained six weeks after the completion of the challenge course.

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DOI

10.25777/c0fj-7d69

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