Date
3-10-2026
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Breck Perry
Keywords
extracurricular activities, community violence, urban school district, qualitative research, social learning theory
Disciplines
Educational Administration and Supervision | Educational Leadership
Recommended Citation
Conyers, Justin Errol, "Utilizing School-Based Extracurricular Activities: An Embedded Single Case Study on How an Urban School District Combats Community Violence" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7983.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7983
Abstract
The purpose of this single-embedded case study was to understand how school-based extracurricular activities (SBEAs) were utilized to combat community violence among students in an urban school district. Social learning theory guided the study, providing a framework for examining how participation in extracurricular activities influenced students’ behaviors and attitudes through the modeling and reinforcement of positive social interactions. The central research question asked: How were school-based extracurricular activities utilized to model and reinforce behaviors that combat community violence among students? This qualitative study employed a single-embedded case study design. The sample consisted of teachers and administrators from one urban school district serving a diverse and socioeconomically challenged population. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes. Findings revealed keyways SBEAs contributed to providing safe spaces, fostering positive relationships, promoting social and emotional development, and offering alternatives to negative community influences. These findings were discussed in relation to social learning theory and existing literature and outlined implications for practice, policy, and future research. The study concluded that school-based extracurricular activities played a meaningful role in mitigating the effects of community violence and supporting positive student outcomes, offering valuable insights for educators, school leaders, and policymakers seeking to leverage extracurricular programming as a strategy for violence prevention.
