european college of sport science

OP-PP03 Physical Education and Pedagogics 3
EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION PREDISPOSITIONS ON PHYSICAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES
HILLAND, T., FAIRCLOUGH, S., STRATTON, G., RIDGERS, N.
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY, UK
Introduction: The Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model (YPAPM; Welk, 1999) describes predisposing factors of attitude, enjoyment,
perceived competence and self efficacy as key influences on young people’s physical activity. These factors may be important within the
school Physical Education (PE) setting which has been identified as an influential context for enhancing young people’s physical activity. A
key goal of PE is to develop physically educated and physically active youth (NASPE, 2004). The study purpose was to explore the influence
of psychological predispositions in PE on theoretical outcomes of PE, including physical activity levels, knowledge and understanding
of physical activity, and perceived links to opportunities available for out of school physical activity.
Methods: Two hundred and ninety-one Year 8 and 9 children (208 girls, 83 boys; aged 12-14 years) from three schools in the North West
of England participated in this study. They completed a questionnaire pack which included the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older
Children (PAQ-C; Crocker et al., 1997), and items relating to knowledge and understanding of health-related exercise, perceived PE ability
and worth, and how PE impacts upon physical activity participation outside of school. Sex-specific multiple regression analyses were
used to explore the inter-relationships between variables.
Results: Perceived PE Worth and Ability accounted for similar amounts of variance in self-reported physical activity and knowledge of
physical activity opportunities available outside of school, for boys (19.4-26.2%), and girls (14-16.3%). The significant predictor within each
model differed between boys and girls; boys’ Perceived PE Worth predicted physical activity levels (p < 0.03, B = 0.2, [S.E. = 0.09], &#946;
= .26), while for girls Perceived PE Ability was the most important variable (p < 0.01, B = 0.30, [S.E. = 0.07], &#946; = .35). Types of physical
activities participated in outside of school was impacted upon by Perceived PE Ability for boys (p < 0.01, B = 0.7, [S.E. = 0.16], &#946; = .5),
and by Perceived PE Worth for girls (p < 0.01, B = 0.35, [S.E. = 0.09], &#946; = .33). Boys’ Perceived PE Ability influenced their awareness of
physical activity opportunities outside of school (p = 0.008, B = 0.47, [S.E. = 0.17], &#946; = .33) but for girls Perceived PE Worth had
greater effect (p < 0.01, B = 0.48, [S.E. = 0.1], &#946; = .38).
Discussion: These results suggest that gender differences exist in how psychological predispositions in PE affect intended theoretical PE
outcomes. Physical educators should be aware of these gender differences in order to develop targeted pedagogical strategies to enhance
students’ attainment of positive PE outcomes.
References
Crocker P R, Bailey D A, Faulkner R A, Kowalski K C, McGrath, R. (1997). Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 29, 1344-1349.
NASPE. (2004). Moving into the future: National standards for Physical Education. Reston, Va: NASPE Publications.
Welk G. (1999). Quest, 51, 5-23.
THE WORLD GYMNAESTRADA - A MODERN FORM OF LING GYMNASTICS?
MECKBACH, J., LUNDQUIST WANNEBERG, P.
THE SWEDISH SCHOOL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCES
The World Gymnaestrada – A Modern Form of Ling Gymnastics?
Introduction: Different forms of kinetic culture were developed in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. One of these was Ling gymnastics
(Lundvall & Meckbach, 2003; Lundquist Wanneberg, 2004; Pfister, 2003). Ling gymnastics has been described as one of Sweden’s
biggest cultural export products and in 1939 an international gymnastic display, the Lingiad, was held in Stockholm. But Gymnastics
festivals are not a select Swedish phenomenon (Pfister 2007). The first World Gymnaestrada (WG) was held in Rotterdam in 1953. The
focus in this study is on the conceptual content of Ling gymnastics evident in the type of gymnastics performed, Gymnastics For All (GFA),
at the WG.
Methods: Three concept pairs General-Elite, Collectivism-Individualism, and Modesty-Ambition have been used to both capture and
analyse the elements of Ling gymnastics evident in the WG. The study is based on 20 group interviews (semi-structured) with a total of 53
gymnasts and 87 observations (semi-structures with an observational list) carried out during 2007 WG.
Results: The results show: i) one similarity between the two forms of gymnastics is amateurism: no one profited financially from their
involvement, ii) another similarity is the view of collectivism and general: gymnastics should be done together and should be available for
all, iii) the idea behind both gives everyone an opportunity to participate.
Discussion: The answer to the question whether the WG’s concept of gymnastics, GFA, can be regarded as a modern form of Ling gymnastics
is yes, with certain reservations. The study has shown that there also are differences in content; differences that to some extent
can be explained by structural changes when it comes to the view of the individual versus the collective. But in terms of the approach to
the type of display and an emphasis on diversity, the basic principles are the same. The final question is how a Swedish gymnastics form
that is rooted in the early 19th century can live on in an international context today? As been pointed out by the Norwegian sociologist,
Augestad (2001) and the German historian, Pfister (2003) the universality of the Ling gymnastics made it compatible with cultures other
than Swedish. Obviously so even today – at least part of it.
References
Augestad,P. (2001). Sosiologisk tidskrift 9 (3), 233-253.
Kihlmark, O. (1988) Sv Idrottshistoriska föreningens årsskrift, 43-50.
Lundvall, S. & Meckbach, J. (2003). Ett ämne i rörelse. Diss. Stockholm.
Lundquist Wanneberg, P. (2004) Kroppens medborgarfostran. Diss. Stockholm.
Pfister, G. (2003). Sport in Society 6 (1), 61-91.
Pfister, G. (2007), Stadion 33 (1), 49-70.
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