The effects of participant belaying on self efficacy of college students in indoor rock climbing

Abstract

This study was designed to determine if participating in the technical skill of belaying during the activity of indoor rock climbing could improve self-efficacy. The sample included 41 male and female Ss. Subjects self-assigned themselves into 1 of 2, 8 week, indoor rock climbing courses offered at the University of\Wisconsin-La Crosse. Ss were randomly selected as either a control (n=20) or belaying (n=21) group via random numbers table. Subjects completed a pre-and posttest measuring their general and rock climbing self-efficacy. Belaying subjects participated in 28 hours of rock climbing instruction during which time they were shown proper belay protocol and were assigned the responsibility for belaying climbers. Subjects in the control group received the same amount of climbing instruction but did not perform belaying. Results of a one-way ANCOVA indicated no significant (p > .05) difference between the two groups on the posttest scores. Also, the results indicated no difference between males and females in the belaying group on the posttest scores.