COLLEGE-STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF THE PURPOSES OF SPORTS

To examine perceptions of the desirable purpose of athletics by men an d women 162 college men, 84 of whom participated in intercollegiate at hletics, and 190 college women, 81 of whom participated in intercolleg iate athletics, were administered the Purpose of Sport Questionnaire. Applying a two-way multivariate analysis of variance to their mean res ponses gender was significant. Post hoc analysis indicated that men be lieved enhanced competitiveness, social status, and high-status career opportunities to be more important purposes of sport participation th an did women. Participants in intercollegiate athletics had significan tly higher perceptions of enhanced competitiveness, social status, and high-status career opportunities as more important purposes of sport participation than nonparticipants. However, nonparticipants in interc ollegiate athletics believed that acquisition of attributes that make one a good citizen and enhancement of self-esteem were more important purposes of sport participation.