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University of San Diego

The Effects of Participating in Youth Theater

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of student participation in youth theater on the students. Research suggests that theater arts have aided in building student cognition and contributed to the development of literacy. Davenport (1999) concluded that the experience and knowledge that one gains from theater arts form the basic building blocks for the skills needed to learn and to become literate. He added that creative expression is the actual production of a work of art, and this direct, personal involvement provides the experience base upon which cognitive development occurs. This cognitive development has practical application that reaches beyond performing on a stage. Students apply the skills they learn in their academic pursuits. This work represented students voices in order to explore how theater affects students beyond the stage and in their character development. This study accomplished its purpose by surveying and interviewing students who have participated in P.A. Theater. Data analysis identified themes in the research that explain, in the students’ voices, how participation in the arts affect their choices in the theater and beyond.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
EdD Doctor of Education
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation: Open Access
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Education
Year dc:date.available
2006

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Arapostathis, Mark Plato, EdD

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/878
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digital.sandiego.edu:dissertations-1883

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of San Diego
Base URL
digital.sandiego.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Arapostathis, Mark Plato, EdD. The Effects of Participating in Youth Theater. Dissertation: Open Access thesis, 2006. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/878