Research shows that athletes in certain sports are overrepresented in certain majors and courses. This phenomenon is known as what?

The phenomenon of athletes in specific sports being overrepresented in certain majors and courses is referred to as clustering. This term describes a situation where individuals within a particular group, such as athletes from certain sports, trend towards specific academic disciplines or fields of study, often due to various factors including historical patterns, social networks, and institutional support.

Clustering can arise from the demands of the athletes' sports schedules, which may limit the time available for a broader range of academic pursuits, leading them to select majors that offer more flexibility or align more closely with their interests and commitments. Additionally, certain sports may have established pathways into specific academic areas, further promoting this trend.

The other options do not capture this specific behavior as clearly. Segregation implies a separation based on demographic characteristics rather than a concentration in particular fields. Integration suggests a blending or merging of different groups, which is unrelated to the overrepresentation concept in this context. Specialization refers to focusing on a particular skill or area, which may not necessarily reflect the broad academic tendencies of athletes as seen in clustering.