The impact of an out-of-school swimming program for underserved children and youth on stakeholders

dc.contributorSINELNIKOV, OLEG
dc.contributorMorgan, Holly
dc.contributorBerryhill, M. Blake
dc.contributorWoodruff, Elizabeth
dc.contributorWind, Stephanie
dc.contributor.advisorCurtner-Smith, Matthew D.
dc.contributor.authorSusnara, Daniela M.
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-12T16:28:10Z
dc.date.available2021-05-12T16:28:10Z
dc.date.issued2020-12
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an out-of-school swimming program (OSSP) for underserved children and youth on its stakeholders. Specific research questions (a) explored the impact of the OSSP on children and youth, (b) described the perspectives and practices of instructors working in the OSSP, (c) examined the factors which shaped these perspectives and practices, and (d) described community partners’(CPs) perceptions of the OSSP. Participants were 200 children and youth who attended the OSSP, 2 female instructors, 4 CPs associated with the OSSP, and parents of the children and youth who participated in the program. A theoretical perspective was derived from the literature on socialization, as well as community-engaged scholarship. A mixed-methods design was used to measure the program impact on children and youth. Aquatic skill and knowledge of water safety were measured through assessments. These data were examined through descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. Additional data were collected through qualitative methods. The perspectives, practices, and perceptions of the instructors and CPs were also measured using interpretive methods including, non-participant observation, informal interviews, formal interviews, document analysis, and written feedback. Standard interpretive methods were employed to analyze the data these techniques yielded. Several key findings emerged: (a) the children and youth improved their aquatic skill and knowledge of water safety and became confident in their aquatic ability and knowledge, (b) the instructors were highly skilled and had well-developed sets of beliefs about teaching swimming and working with disadvantaged children and youth by the end of the OSSP, and (c) the CPs found the OSSP to be relevant, to have a high level of reciprocity, and to be resilient. The OSSP was shown to counter structural, institutional, personal, and cultural barriers that limited underserved children’s and youths’ access to and value of swimming. The study suggests well trained instructors can be a component to overcoming these barriers. Others aiming to design similar programs may benefit from examining the organizational structure and content of the OSSP.en_US
dc.format.extent97 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0003693
dc.identifier.otherSusnara_alatus_0004D_14320
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/7636
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectKinesiology
dc.titleThe impact of an out-of-school swimming program for underserved children and youth on stakeholdersen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Kinesiology
etdms.degree.disciplineHuman Performance
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.leveldoctoral
etdms.degree.namePh.D.
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