Comparison of two methods of training Special Olympics volunteers to teach and coach bowling

Date

8/30/1989

Authors

Albright, Cindy Waters

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Abstract

Two methods of training Special Olympics volunteers in coaching and providing developmental bowling skills to mentally retarded individuals were developed and evaluated in this study. Twenty-six subjects attended an inservice training workshop held at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Subjects were randomly placed in one of two training methods. One method involved a 4-hr intensive practicum setting, while the other method involved a 3-hr session which required viewing two videotape modules and participating in a practicum setting. Thirteen subjects randomly selected from an introductory special education class served as subjects for the control group and received no instructional training. An evaluation instrument consisting of a 45-item multiple choice test was developed to assess the subjects' knowledge in teaching bowling skills to mentally retarded individuals. Pretest and posttest data were collected from all subjects. A one-way analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data on the adjusted posttest scores on the knowledge test.

Results of the analyzed data indicated that there was a significant difference, F(2,35) = 63.71, p <.001, among the adjusted posttest means on the knowledge test scores. The Tukey A post-hoc test was computed to determine where the differences were. Both the practicum group and the videotape group scored significantly higher than the control group. There were no significant differences between the practicum group and the videotape group. Therefore, it can be concluded that a videotape module is as effective as a practicum setting for training volunteers to coach and teach developmental bowling skills to mentally retarded individuals.

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Keywords

Special Olympics, Bowling, Volunteer training, Education

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