A Qualitative Study of Newcomer Socialization: Becoming an Accepted Member of a Professional Sport Team
| dc.contributor.author | Cockshott, Randall W. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-23T01:55:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-23T01:55:57Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1995 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The present study investigated newcomer socialization on a sport team. The researcher sought to understand how newcomers developed feelings of belonging. This research project examined the newcomer's role acquisition process and the events and individuals leading successful socialization. A longitudinal research design was employed. Data were obtained by use of in-depth interviews over an eight week period. Results indicate role acquisition involves role conflict, role clarity, and role acceptance. The ease with which newcomers acquired their roles was related to the level of role congruence. Newcomers learned about the organization in three ways: proactively, meaning directly from other members, through observation, and through their personal experience. Newcomers formed initial perceptions of the organization from the information obtained through their information-seeking strategies. These perceptions also influenced the ease of the newcomers' transition onto the team. Early interaction with the team's goals and objectives was found to foster the development of feelings of belonging, suggesting a relationship between cohesion and successful socialization. Older players and team leaders, prior acquaintances, and players who held similar roles to the newcomer's were found to be important make the individual feel more like a member of the team. This researcher recommends that organizations take the following actions to help newcomers with their socialization process: provide clear role expectations, foster early relationships, expose socializing agents to the newcomer, make efforts to communicate organizational values and beliefs proactively to the newcomer, and expose the athlete to athletic participation early after entry. The continued presence of the researcher, inquiring about the process of socialization, brought out feelings associated with being a new member of the team. It is likely that these feelings may not have otherwise been acknowledged by the newcomer. The acknowledgment of these feelings may have led to a different socialization outcome than would have occurred without the presence of the researcher. Future research should look at socialization in other sports environments, with a broad range of subjects, encompassing various ethnic backgrounds and athletic skill levels. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/2730 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher.institution | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| dc.title | A Qualitative Study of Newcomer Socialization: Becoming an Accepted Member of a Professional Sport Team | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Sport Psychology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Arts—Sport Psychology |