This document summarizes a research project examining whether professional athletes should be viewed as role models. It includes the research question, purpose, literature review discussing influence of athletes and role model traits, methods using a survey of sports fans, findings on role model identification and expectations of athletes, and conclusions that athletes inherently serve as role models whether they want to or not.

1. B Y M A X C A M P B E L L
D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 5
HPED 5400 RESEARCH PROJECT:
ATHLETES AS ROLE MODELS

2. RESEARCH QUESTION
Should professional
athletes be idolized or
viewed as role models by
fans and followers of
younger generations?

3. CHARLES BARKLEY
(Pac10footballfan, 2009)

4. PURPOSE
• To conduct an ethical and enticing study
• To attain a diverse sample of participants
• To demonstrate the power and
influence of professional athletes
in our society
• To relate the findings to my personal
views and opinions
(Deseret News, 2015)

5. LITERATURE REVIEW
• African-American athletes have an unparalleled
influence on youth of the same ethnicity (Agyemang & Singer, 2013,
p. 59)
• “…we’re all role models whether it’s negative or positive”
(as cited in Agyemang & Singer, 2013, p. 61)
• Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown,
Jackie Robinson (Agyemang & Singer, 2013, p. 61)
(MRU Library, 2015)

6. LITERATURE REVIEW
• Advocacy for education (Armour & Duncombe, 2012, p. 383)
• Mentors vs. role models (Armour & Duncome, 2012, p. 384)
• Female athletes unlikely to be
idolized by both boys and girls
(Armour & Duncombe, 2012, p. 385)
(MRU Library, 2015)

7. LITERATURE REVIEW
• Initiate a desire for first-time sport participation (Mutter & Powlowski,
2014, p. 326)
• Affect the involvement of previously-existing athletes (Mutter &
Powlowski, 2014, p. 326)
• “Reject doping. Respect your opponents.
Remember that you are all role models.
If you do that, you will inspire a
generation.”
– Jacques Rogge, former IOC President
(as cited in Mutter & Powlowski, 2014, p. 324)
(MRU Library, 2015)

8. METHODS
• 100 North American sports fans over the age of 15
• Friends, classmates, co-workers, and others
• Anonymous and confidential 10-question survey
• Free and informed consent
(Survey Monkey, 2015)

9. METHODS
• Mixed methods format
• Responses collected from Nov. 4 – Nov. 16
• Conducted via social media, email, and in-person
• Coding/classification and
negative case analysis
• Three notable limitations

10. FINDINGS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Under 15 15-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 Over 50
Age

11. FINDINGS
Sex
Male
Female

12. FINDINGS
• 85% of respondents believe that “It is important for
children, adolescents, and young adults to identify a
personal role model, regardless of that role model’s
profession.”
• 95% of respondents believe that “Professional athletes
must assume responsibility for conducting themselves in
ethical and moral fashions both on and off the field.”

13. FINDINGS
“Professional athletes are currently subjected to
unreasonable demands and unattainable expectations in
regard to developing and maintaining their status as a role
model.”
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of
responses
0 = Strongly
Disagree;
10 =
Strongly
Agree

14. FINDINGS
PROFESSIONALISM Dedication
Sportsmanship Honesty
Strong work ethic Selflessness
Community Presence INTEGRITY
Optimism Thorough communication
Confidence yet humility Perseverance
“What are three traits of suitable role models who play a
sport at a professional level?”

15. FINDINGS
"The increased visibility and accessibility of athletes in
recent years has aided the perception of professional
athletes as positive role models for today’s youth."
0 10 20 30 40
Completely Disagree
Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Somewhat Agree
Agree
Completely Agree

16. FINDINGS
“How do you determine which professional athlete(s) you
support?”
Skill/Ability (75)
Membership to a certain team (42)
Accolades/Awards (18)
Hometown/Origin (36)
Position they play (20)
Role model characteristics (80)

17. FINDINGS
(Bleacher Report, 2012)
(LA Times, 2013)
(Bobby Orr, 2014)
(The Daily Beast, 2014)
(CBC, 2013)
“Did you ever idolize a professional athlete(s) as an adolescent?”

18. FINDINGS
“Why are professional athletes often viewed as role models by
fans and followers of younger generations?”
• Accessibility through the media
• Fame, fortune, and lifestyle
• Hopes and dreams achieved
(JG Sports Talk, 2015)
(Bleacher Report, 2013)

19. CONCLUSIONS
• Athletes are role models, whether they like it or not
• Subjective rather than objective identification process
• Everyone needs a role model –
in or out of sport
• Future research
(MRU, 2015)

20. REFERENCES
Agyemang, K., & Singer, J. N. (2013). An exploratory study of professional male black
athletes’ individual social responsibility [ISR]. A Journal on Black Men, (2)1,
47-71.
Armour, K., & Rebecca Duncombe. (2012). Changing lives? Critical evaluation of a
school-based athlete role model intervention. Sport, Education and Society, 17(3), 381-
403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2011.608941
Athlete silhouette [electronic image]. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://
img.deseretnews.com/images/article/contentimagetall/
1529939/1529939.jpg
Baseball fans [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
www.jgsportstalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/480123979.jpg

21. REFERENCES
Bobby Orr [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from
http://bobbyorr.net/images/Bobby%20Orr%20Main%20Menu.jpg
Jarome Iginla [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://i.cbc.ca/
1.1407565.1378976317!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/iginla-
goodybe-130328.jpg
Journal cover ‘A’ [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
library.mtroyal.ca:2136/journals/spectrum/v002/2.1.agyemang.html Journal
cover ‘B’ [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
library.mtroyal.ca:2063/doi/abs/10.1080/13573322.2011.608941#.Vl5Kz0ttfZs
Journal article ‘C’ [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
library.mtroyal.ca:2069/science/article/pii/S1441352313000533

22. REFERENCES
Kobe Bryant [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from
http://www.trbimg.com/img-5169f468/turbine/la-sp-kobe-bryant- frustration-
20130413-001/600/600x386
Michael Jordan [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http:
cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2014/05/06/speed-read- the-
juiciest-bits-of-a-new-michael-jordan-biography/jcr:content/image.img.2000.jpg/
1402507491314.cached.jpg
MRU logo [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from
https://www.mtroyal.ca/cs/groups/public/documents/image/mru_logo_png.png

23. REFERENCES
Mutter, F., & Pawlowski, T. (2014). Role models in sports – Can success in professional sports
increase the demand for amateur sport participation? Sport Management Review,
17(3), 324-336. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2013.07.003
Pac10footballfan. (2009, February 9). Charles Barkley “I am not a role model” Nike Air
Commercial [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=R8vh2MwXZ6o
Philadelphia Flyers fan [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
img.bleacherreport.net/img/slides/photos/003/378/445/
hi-res-111498650-young-fan-of-the-philadelphia-flyers-receives-a-
puck_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75

24. REFERENCES
Steve Nash [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://
img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/001/572/025/113148317_crop_north.jpg?
w=630&h=420&q=75
Survey Monkey Logo [electronic image]. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from : https://
secure.surveymonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/assets/brandassets/
logo_stacked.png