An Examination of the Dumb Jock Stereotype in Collegiate Student-Athletes: A Comparison of Student versus Student-Athlete Perceptions

Abstract

A common stereotype is that athletes are not as capable academically; they are “dumb jocks.” In this study, two surveys were used to examine other students’ perceptions of collegiate student-athletes’ academic abilities, their perception of how they are treated by their professors and other students, as well as how they view the academic abilities of their athletic peers. The student body survey was designed to determine if students perceive student-athletes as being less academically inclined because they are athletes. Survey participants included 493 college students. Results indicated that students report having lower academic expectations of student-athletes and perceived their professors to have lower academic expectations for athletes. The student-athlete survey addressed their perceptions of prejudice of their instructors and non-athlete peers as well as their views about other student-athletes’ academic achievement. Participants included 180 student-athletes. Student-athletes perceived professors and other students as being more willing to provide academic help to them because they are athletes. While student-athletes perceived professors as having higher academic expectations of athletes, they felt other students have lower academic expectations of athletes. Student-athletes assigned the highest levels of academic achievement to themselves, lower levels to teammates, and even lower levels to university athletes as a whole.

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