ERIC Number: EJ1294045
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jan
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0273-5024
EISSN: N/A
Middle School Students' Perceptions of Physical Education: A Qualitative Look
Phillips, Sharon R.; Marttinen, Risto; Mercier, Kevin; Gibbone, Anne
Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, v40 n1 p30-38 Jan 2021
Purpose: Existing research suggests that students' attitudes toward physical education are positive through Grade 5, but become less positive as grade levels increase; this research is, however, missing student voice. The purpose of this study was to further understand why students' attitudes have been shown to decrease. Methods: Twenty-six focus group interviews (students N = 65) were conducted over 2 years to discover what was influencing attitudes from fifth to eighth grade. Results: Three themes emerged: (a) curriculum leads to decreases in student attitudes (subthemes repetitive and boring, an overemphasis on competition, and fitness testing activities--what's the purpose and why am I on display?), (b) social factors impact attitude: sweating and changing, and (c) physical education assumptions, the easy "A" (subthemes: perceptions of physical education teachers and the easy "A"). Conclusion: Allowing students to explain the reasons for decreases in attitudes contributes to improving the teaching and learning process.
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Student Attitudes, Physical Education, Curriculum, Social Influences, Physical Education Teachers, Grading, Attitude Change, Negative Attitudes
Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: http://journals.humankinetics.com/journal/jtpe
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A