Examining Leadership Development in Campus Recreation Student Employment Using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory: Pretest-posttest Design on Intramural Sports Basketball Officials

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to take a quantitative look at how leadership develops in campus recreation student employees by examining Oklahoma State Intramural Sports Basketball Officials. Using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (S-LPI) created by Kouzes and Posner (2006), this research aimed to expand on the research regarding knowledge of student development through recreation employees, focusing on leadership behavior. This study also aimed to understand the differences of leadership development based on previous experience as an intramural sports official. 40 intramural basketball officials were chosen to participate in the study, 20 new and 20 returning. Each official took the S-LPI before the season started to measure their leadership behavior, then again after the season ended. Three officials did not complete the season and could not take the posttest. The results showed a significant increase of the overall leadership score from pretest to posttest. In addition, the S-LPI contains five leadership practices that exemplary leaders demonstrate: Model the Way, Inspired a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enabling Others to Act, and Encouraging the Heart. Each leadership domain also showed significant increase from pretest to posttest. Lastly, returning and new officials showed no significant differences in leadership behavior. Overall, the results show that working as an intramural sports basketball official develops leadership, further establishing campus recreation as an essential structure in higher education. Future research could examine other types of campus recreation student employees, along with using the S-LPI as a tool for assessment.