Examining Influences on Undergraduate Athletic Training Students Career Decisions Post Graduation

<p><strong>Context:</strong> Career opportunities for athletic training students (ATSs) have significantly increased over the past few years. However, it commonly appears that ATSs are opting for a more diversified professional experience after graduation. With the diversity in available options, an understanding of career decision is imperative. <strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of our study was to investigate, using the theoretical framework of socialization, the influential factors behind the post graduation decisions of the senior ATS. <strong>Design:</strong> Qualitative design using internet-based, structured interviews and follow-up semi-structured phone interviews. <strong>Setting:</strong> Web-based management system. <strong>Patients or Other Participants:</strong> 22 ATSs (16 females; 6 males), who graduated in May 2010 from 13 different Commission<strong> </strong>on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) programs. <strong>Data Collection and Analysis: </strong>All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data was analyzed inductively. Data analysis required independent coding by 2 athletic trainers for specific themes. Credibility of the results was confirmed via peer review, methodological and multiple analyst triangulation. <strong>Results:</strong> Two higher order themes emerged from the data analysis: <em>Persistence in Athletic Training (AT) and Decision</em> to <em>Leave AT</em>. Faculty and clinical instructor support, improved marketability, and professional growth were supporting themes describing <em>persistence in AT</em>. Shift of interest away from AT, lack of respect for the AT profession, compensation, time commitment, and AT as a stepping stone were themes sustaining an ATS’s <em>reason to leave AT</em>. The aforementioned reasons to leave were often discussed collectively, generating a collective undesirable outlook of AT profession. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The results of this study corroborate previous literature and highlight the importance of faculty support, professional growth, and early socialization into athletic training. Socialization of pre-athletic training students could alter retention rates by providing in-depth information about the profession before students commit in their undergraduate education, as well as helping reduce attrition prior to entrance into the workforce.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Gavin, Kerri E

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stephanie M. Mazerolle; William A. Pitney; Laura Burton
• Douglas J. Casa

• career choice
• professional socialization
• mentoring
• post-professional education
• attrition

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/gs_theses/93

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu:gs_theses-1048