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Social and Behavioral Sciences

(62) PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND AND ENHANCE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE NSCAF

Friday, July 14, 2023
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Milano III-IV
Abstract Details: The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) funds scholarships and grants specific to the field of strength and conditioning. To date, NSCAF had not collected demographic data on their funded participants. To obtain this, they partnered with researchers at the University of Denver for a participatory action research study. Obtaining demographic data of grant recipients provides a baseline understanding of the NSCAF’s efforts for diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI) funding.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic information of NSCAF grant recipients.

Methods: The initial target group was 169 individuals who received grants from NSCAF. After obtaining IRB approval, in October 2022, previous grant recipients were sent an email with the link to a Qualtrics survey from NSCAF. Those who had not responded were sent a reminder after one week. Ten days after that, a third email was sent to those who had not responded. Thirty days after that in November, a personalized email was sent from NSCAF to everyone who had still not responded. In January, a personalized email was sent from the NSCAF Director to everyone who had not responded. Also in January, we mailed letters via USPS to everyone that had not responded directing them to the survey link. In February, NSCAF put solicitation information in their monthly newsletter and on the NSCA’s social media. The survey was 14 questions and participants were asked to identify the following: name, phone number, email address, age, first-generation student, race, gender, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, veteran status, social class, employment, volunteerism, and involvement with NSCA or NSCAF. Each question had radio buttons with pre-determined options to select, including “prefer not to respond” and a free-text entry box.

Results: Fifty-eight recipients responded to the survey. One recipient did not report their age. Ages ranged from 24-71, with a median age of 37. Twenty-five (43%) recipients were first-generation students and 33 (57%) were not. One recipient identified as Asian American or Asian. Nine (16%) respondents identified as Hispanic, Latina/o/x, or Chicana/o/x. Forty-five recipients (78%) identified as White. Two respondents self-described as “mixed.” Thirty-seven recipients identified as men and 20 as women. One recipient preferred not to respond. Fifty-two of the respondents chose straight as their sexual orientation, with 2 responses as bisexual, and 4 preferred not to respond. All respondents reported not having a disability and one had veteran status. Forty-four respondents described their social class as either middle-class or upper-middle-class, with 47 responses reported at least $50k in annual income. Seventeen respondents reported making more than $100k annually.  Lastly, 35 recipients (60%) reported that they currently volunteer with NSCA or NSCAF.

Conclusions: Although demographic data can be sensitive, we were able to obtain a satisfactory response rate and support the NSCAF in their DEI efforts. With 58 respondents, there were very few “prefer not to respond” answers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Knowing the demographic information of past participants will help guide the NSCAF’s decision-making process to improve DEI in relation to funding.

Acknowledgements: none