Does participating in Taekwondo, a High structure Martial Art program, increase social functioning in children?

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Graduate School

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, and peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

ABSTRACT

The term martial arts refer to many of the combatant sports that originated and evolved in the east and then spread to other parts of the world. Their effectiveness and various physical, social and psychological benefits are well-documented. Taekwondo is a famous martial art sport, well-known for its multiple benefits. Our present study takes into account the psycho-social benefits of taekwondo among school-going students. It aims to gauge whether participation in taekwondo programs show enhanced social functioning among students. The study explores this relationship through a phenomenological study, as students along with their parents enrolled in taekwondo programs were made to fill questionnaires about how the program helped them/ or their children become more socially competent. The findings were later validated by interviews from the subjects. The present study aims to establish a causal relationship between enhanced social efficacy and taekwondo training.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTiv

ABSTRACTv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Self esteem1

Social functioning2

Social Emotional Development3

Socio-emotional status5

Social Emotional Development5

Shyness among children6

Social competencies6

Interaction and identity7

Sports Programs and development of socializing skills9

Self-respect and empathy13

What are Martial Arts?15

Evolution of Martial Arts15

Taekwondo16

Taekwondo and Stress Reduction17

Taekwondo and Social Functioning19

Does participating in Taekwondo , a High structure Martial Art program, increases social functioning in children?19

Purpose Statement20

Research Question20

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW21

Process of Socialization21

Social Competencies22

Social functioning23

Collective efficacy30

The role of parents31

Training and Mentoring32

Social Learning Theory33

Theoretical framework34

Erikson34

Piaget's theory36

The benefits of sports37

Sports and socializing38

Sports, mental health Aggression41

Martial Arts training and clinical population43

Martial Arts training and juvenile training43

The social and physical advantages of Taekwondo51

Summary of the literature57

Literature Search57

Search Strategy58

Conclusion59

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY61

Philosophical Framework or Paradigm62

Research Design66

A Case for and Against Experimental Research67

Design and Statistical Analysis69

Procedure69

Population and Sampling Frame70

Research Question and Hypotheses74

Characteristics of experimental research75

A) Reflection75

B) Iterance75

C) Collaboration76

D) Role of the Researcher77

Ethical issues78

Quality and Verification79

Reliability/Dependability80

Validity81

REFERENCES85

APPENDICES96

The Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBSS)96

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Self esteem

Self esteem is the feeling of being accepted and liked that children develop from their family, friends and peers. It is developed within a person and expands and shapes due to people in a child's surroundings (Katz, 1996). A child develops a strong personality, which are nurtures throughout his life. Parents and teachers, who attend to a child's needs and give them time, attention and warmth sow the seeds of a strong personality. This enables a child to develop a strong sense of self, where he can trust others as a result of the trust and confidence that others show for ...