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Exploring challenge by choice in an adventure setting

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Exploring challenge by choice in an adventure setting

Name:Personal
Chase, Daniel Lyons Role :Text(marcrelator)
creator

Name:Personal
Stiehl, Jim Role :Text(marcrelator)
thesis advisor

Name:Personal
Brustad, Robert J Role :Text
committee member

Name:Personal
Sinclair, Christina Role :Text
committee member

Name:Personal
Fried, Juliet Role :Text
committee member

Name:Corporate
Sport & Exercise Science Role :Text(marcrelator)
sponsor

Name:Corporate
University of Northern Colorado Role :Text(marcrelator)
degree grantor

typeOfResource
text genre(marcgt)
Thesis
Origin Information Place

University of Northern Colorado (keyDate="yes")
2009-05 Place :Text
Greeley (Colo.)
2009-05

Language :Text
English

Physical Description
148 pages
born digital

abstract
Since its inception, Challenge by Choice (CBC) has been regarded as a foundational principle and standard operating procedure for challenge ropes course programs. Although CBC is the primary mechanism for facilitating intended ropes course outcomes and widely accepted in the adventure education field, until recently, it had remained an untested assumption. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of challenge by choice (CBC) in an adventure setting. Specifically, how was CBC understood and enacted, and did it appear to play a role in participants' involvement? Further, this study was guided by four specific sub-problems. First, what was the instructor's view of CBC and in what manner did he share that view with participants verbally, and through activities? Second, what were participants' understanding (comprehension, approval, and degree of importance) of CBC, and was this understanding related to their involvement? Third, were activities designed and presented as outlined in the CBC literature, and was this related to participants' involvement? Finally, did non-CBC factors (e.g., classmates, weather, and personal events/issues external to the course) have a bearing on participants' involvement? This study used a qualitative research design and investigated 33 students from three, eight-week challenge course classes taught by the same instructor at a mid-size university. Data collection methods included: formal interviews; informal interviews; instructor's audio-taped presentation of CBC; student journaling; and field observations. Utilizing a general inductive data analysis approach, the following three themes emerged: instruction, atmosphere, and challenge. Instruction positively influenced involvement while atmosphere and challenge both positively and negatively influenced involvement. These findings suggest that CBC might be necessary but not sufficient in explaining students' involvement. Findings also suggested that the three components: instructor, participants, and activities, seemingly influenced the CBC climate. Future research questions include: what are the most salient components of CBC, would expected outcomes differ when sharing CBC only through actions and not verbally, and what factors influence negative challenge course experiences? note
Related Item :series

Related Item :thesis(displayLabel="Degree Type")
doctoral

Related Item :thesis(displayLabel="Degree Name")
Ph.D.

identifier:Local
Chase_unco_0161N_10003.pdf
Location (usage="primary display")
http://hdl.handle.net/10176/cogru:117

accessCondition:useAndReproduction
Copyright is held by the author.
Record Information languageOfCataloging :Text(ISO639-2B)
English :Code(ISO639-2B)
eng

note:admin
 note:bibliography
 note:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Type")
PhD note:thesis(displayLabel="Degree Name")
doctoral
Subject

Subject

Subject Name:Personal

Subject Name:Corporate

Subject

accessCondition:restrictionOnAccess
Title Information:Alternative


Subject
Physical Education

Subject
Challenge by Choice

Subject
Ropes Courses