A Consideration of Qualities Used by Administrators in Judging Effective Teachers of Physical Education in Minnesota

Abstract

The relationships between selected personality and motor variables in emotionally disturbed children were investigated in 61 male and female children, ages 6 to 13, in residential Re-Ed schools. In addition, reliability estimates were obtained for certain measuring instruments with this special group of subjects. The results revealed that (a) selected personality and motor variables appeared essentially unrelated; (b) grip strength, 50-yd dash, and flexed-arm hang were reliable while sit-ups and 600-yd run-walk were moderately reliable; (c) the arm and leg coordination measures, the four second-order factors of the Children's Personality Questionnaire (CPQ) and Early School Personality Questionnaire (ESPQ), the Self-Esteem Scale, the Body Cathexis Scale, and the Body Cathexis-Short Form all exhibited moderate reliabilities; and (d) the 14 primary factors of the CPQ and ESPQ generally exhibited lower reliabilities.     

Assessing College Student-Athletes' Life Stress: Initial Measurement Development and Validation

College student-athletes have unique life stress that warrants close attention. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid measurement assessing college student-athletes' life stress. In Study 1, a focus group discussion and Delphi method produced a questionnaire draft, termed the College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale. In Study 2 and Study 3, the properties of the items and the underlying structure of the College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale were confirmed through item analysis, factor analysis, and reliability examination. A 24-item College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale with eight factors was established. In addition, examining concurrent and discriminant validity via correlations among College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale, positive state of mind, and burnout experiences provided further evidences of criterion validity. Across these phases, results showed adequate factorial structure, criterion validity, and reliability of the College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale. The investigators suggest that College Student-Athletes' Life Stress Scale could be used as a tool for researchers and practitioners to assess college student-athletes' life stress.     

Associations Between Self-Control,Practice, and Skill Level in Sport Expertise Development

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the association between self-control (SC) variables and (a) sport-specific practice amounts, (b) engagement in various practice contexts, (c) threats to commitment to one's sport, and (d) skill development using the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) in a diverse sport sample. Method: Two hundred forty-four athletes (47% female; M_age = 21.96 years, SD = 6.98 years; 68.8% individual sports and 31.2% team sports; 13.77 [SD = 8.12] hr/week of sport-specific practice) completed a survey composed of the BSCS and practice-related measures. Three skill groups (basic/intermediate, advanced, expert) were informed by athletes' self-reported highest level of competition. Separate analyses were conducted for juniors (aged 12–17 years) and seniors (aged 18–43 years). Results: A 2-factor model (self-discipline and impulse control) fit the BSCS data. Fewer thoughts of quitting from one's sport were associated with higher self-discipline in juniors and seniors and were also related to higher impulse control in seniors. Greater practice amounts were associated with higher self-discipline; however, only seniors showed such associations in voluntary practice contexts. For juniors and seniors, impulse control was associated with more voluntary practicing. There were, however, no skill-group differences for levels of self-discipline or impulse control. Conclusions: Self-discipline and impulse control may be dispositional characteristics associated with how athletes engage in practice and avert conditions that threaten their sport commitment. SC dispositions may relate to practice amounts differently in juniors and seniors, depending on the requirements for self-regulation in a practice context.     

Relationship of Heath and Carter's Second Component to Lean Body Mass and Height in College Women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare Heath and Carter's anthropometric approach with the multiple regression technique for the prediction of lean body mass (LBM). Lean body mass was estimated from whole-body ⁴⁰K spectrometry and body density in college-age women. Heath and Carter's second component correlates .40 with LBM (density)/height and .24 with LBM (⁴⁰K)/height. The correlations are quite low and indicate that LBM per unit of height is not closely related to the second component. When lean body mass and height were used together in multiple regression analysis as separate predictors instead of a ratio, 48% of the variation was accounted for in the second component. A test of validity of the measures used to calculate Heath and Carter's second component was evaluated through the use of multiple regression analysis, incorporating height and anthropometric measures as independent variables and LBM from density and ⁴⁰K as dependent variables. The muscle circumferences but not skeletal widths in the Heath and Carter method were found to be valid predictors of LBM through regression analysis. LBM is predicted with a standard error of estimate of 2.2 kg using the anthropometric variables of Heath and Carter's second component. This error is comparable to the results of other anthropometric predictions of LBM in college-age women.     

Development and validation of the Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale

Abstract

Items from the Reinvestment Scale were modified to create a decision-specific version of the scale. Principal components analysis of responses from 165 participants revealed one-, two-, three-, and four-factor solutions for the Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis of responses from a second sample of 111 participants revealed that a 13-item two-factor solution showed the best fit. The first factor comprised six items referring to conscious monitoring of the process involved in making a decision, and was termed decision reinvestment. The second factor, decision rumination, comprised seven items related to focus on negative evaluations of previous poor decisions. In an initial assessment of predictive validity, Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale scores of 59 skilled team sport players were found to be highly correlated with coaches' ratings of players' tendency to choke under pressure (r = 0.74), with high Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale scores indicating greater susceptibility to poor decision-making under pressure. It was concluded that the Decision-Specific Reinvestment Scale highlights a performer's predisposition to engage in behaviours detrimental to performance under pressure, namely decision reinvestment and decision rumination.     

Determinants of Cardiorespiratory Endurance in College Women

Abstract

The relationship between cardiorespiratory (CR) endurance performance and various physiological and anthropometric measures was determined in 33 college women. Bivariate and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the extent to which the independent variables, individually and collectively, accounted for the variance in the 2-km run. Independent variables included maximal [Vdot]O₂, [Vdot]_E, R, and HR; submaximal HR; response to a standard workload of steps during a l-min steptest; percent body fat predicted from skinfolds; body circumferences; height; and weight. [Vdot]O₂ max in ml/kg of body weight accounted for the greatest amount of variance in run time (39%). The steptest added 5.9%, the other physiological measures collectively added 9.7%, while the anthropometric measures collectively added only 2.1% to the explained variance for a total of 56.7%. Although anthropometric factors play a role in CR endurance performance, their influence is small in this population when physiological factors are accounted for.     

The Occupational Socialization of a First-Year Physical Education Teacher with a Teaching Orientation

The research reported in this paper examined how one American university's physical education teacher education (PETE) program influenced the perspectives and practices of a first-year high school teacher named Ed (a pseudonym). In addition, it explored how this influence was mediated by Ed's biography and entry into the workforce. Lawson's [(1983) Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2, pp. 3-16; (1983) Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 3, pp. 3-15] hypotheses on physical education teacher socialization guided data collection and analysis. Data were collected though journal writing, formal and informal interviews, and document analysis. They were analyzed using constant comparison and analytic induction. Key findings were that features of Ed's biography led to the formation of a teaching orientation which, in turn, facilitated his full induction by his PETE program. Consequently, on entering the workforce, Ed was determined to teach as he had been trained even in the face of some serious situational constraints.     

Reliability of a Novel Badminton Intermittent Exercise Protocol

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Badminton is a sport characterized by high-intensity activity interspersed with short rests requiring specific physiological fitness, skills and game tactics. This study aimed to develop, describe and establish the reliability of a novel badminton intermittent exercise protocol, to simulate singles match-play (Part A) and assess match-fitness (Part B). Method: Twelve well-trained male badminton players performed a two-part protocol, mimicking the demands and activity of match-play, on two occasions with at least 72-h recovery. Part A imitated match-play and consisted of 40 stages alternating between 20 s work – receiving shuttlecocks from a launcher and ghosting (simulated) actions – and 40 s rest. Part B was an open-ended period, challenging match-fitness, designed to exhaust participants within 10 min. Physiological responses (heart rate, blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion) (Part A and B) and time to exhaustion (Part B) were determined both times. Results: There were no differences in performance and physiological responses between trials (p > .05). The protocol demonstrated excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.89) for all variables. Time to exhaustion (Part B) was 198 ± 98 s and 194 ± 82 s, respectively. Mean (Part A) and peak (Part B) heart rates were 166 ± 9; 191 ± 8 b?min^?1 and 166 ± 9; 191 ± 7 b?min^?1 and blood lactate concentrations (Part B) 11.8 ± 2.3 and 11.5 ± 2.1 mmol?l^?1 for trials 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusion: The protocol reliably induces match-like responses and can be used to assess match-fitness for training/research purposes.     

Development of a grinding-specific performance test set-up

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a performance test set-up for America's Cup grinders. The test set-up had to mimic the on-boat grinding activity and be capable of collecting data for analysis and evaluation of grinding performance. This study included a literature-based analysis of grinding demands and a test protocol developed to accommodate the necessary physiological loads. This study resulted in a test protocol consisting of 10 intervals of 20 revolutions each interspersed with active resting periods of 50 s. The 20 revolutions are a combination of both forward and backward grinding and an exponentially rising resistance. A custom-made grinding ergometer was developed with computer-controlled resistance and capable of collecting data during the test. The data collected can be used to find measures of grinding performance such as peak power, time to complete and the decline in repeated grinding performance.     

The management of the long head of the biceps in rotator cuff repair: A comparative study of high vs. subpectoral tenodesis

BackgroundTenodesis of the long head of the biceps (LHB) is commonly undertaken during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We assessed the clinical and structural outcomes after high arthroscopic tenodesis (HAT) or mini-open subpectoral tenodesis (ST). We hypothesized that the clinical and structural results after HAT and ST are similar.MethodsWe included 40 patients with rotator cuff tear and LHB tendinopathy. Twenty patients (7 women and 13 men; mean age: 57.9 years; range: 56–63 years) were treated using HAT, and 20 patients (8 women and 12 men; mean age: 58.5 years; range: 55–64 years) were treated using ST. Functional evaluation was performed preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery, using the Constant Murley Score and Simple Shoulder Test scores; the LHB was evaluated using the LHB score. A Visual Analogue Scale was administered to all patients preoperatively and 2 days after surgery.ResultsThe postoperative total and pain subscale's Constant scores were significantly higher in the ST group. Moreover, 2 LHB score values were significantly different between the groups. The postoperative LHB total score in the ST and HAT groups averaged 86.9 ± 4.1 (mean ± SD) points and 73.3 ± 6.4 points, respectively. The Pain/Cramps subscale in the ST and HAT groups averaged 47.1 ± 5.9 and 33.2 ± 4.6 points, respectively. The 2 groups showed no difference in Visual Analogue Scale values (5.5 in the HAT group; 5.8 in the ST group) postoperatively. One patient in the HAT group reported a secondary onset of Popeye deformity.ConclusionBoth high arthroscopic and mini-open ST of the LHB tendon produced reliably good functional results, but the ST group was associated with better postoperative clinical outcomes.     

Self-selected or imposed exercise? A different approach for affective comparisons

The aim of this study was to compare the psychological and physiological responses of self-selected and imposed sessions of equivalent intensities and durations and allowing to participants a free control of pace during the self-selected session. Seventeen participants completed three sessions on a cycle ergometer. Participant’s VO_2Peak and lactate threshold were measured during an incremental exercise test. During the second and third sessions, participants could view a virtual cyclist on a monitor. During the self-selected session, participants were allowed free control of the intensity and duration. To ensure that the imposed session replicated the self-selected session in intensity, participants were instructed to follow an additional virtual cyclist, which was displayed on a monitor using the CompuTrainer 3D software. Power output and physiological and psychological variables were recorded during the sessions. A two-way ANOVA showed no effect of condition for power output (P = 0.940), heart rate (HR) (P = 0.965), VO₂ (P = 0.898), blood lactate (P = 0.667), Feeling Scale (P = 0.877), Felt Arousal Scale (P = 0.924) and CR100 (P = 0.939). A paired t-test showed no significant difference in Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale scores between sessions (P = 0.054). In contrast to previous studies, the self-selected session did not provide better affective responses than the imposed session with same intensity and duration.     

Age Role Expectations and Sex Role Expectations for Selected Sport Activities

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if role expectations for participation in 12 selected sport activities existed based on the age (20, 40, 60, or 80 years old) and/or gender of the referent person. A secondary purpose was to determine if the sex role orientation of the respondent influenced the assignment of these age related and/or gender related stereotypes to participation in sport. Female undergraduate nursing students (N = 93) were administered an Activity Appropriateness Scale developed by the investigators and Bem's Sex-Role Inventory (1974). The results indicated that age related expectancies accounted for almost 40% of the variance in subject's responses to the appropriateness of participating in these selected sports and was a more potent stereotype than responses based on sex role appropriateness. Furthermore, sex role orientation × age of the referent person interactions indicated that masculine subjects viewed sports participation as most appropriate, particularly as the age of the referent person increased from 60 to 80 years. The evidence suggests that research be directed toward examining and accounting for the phenomenon of ageism in sport.     

Effects of low-dose caffeine supplementation on early morning performance in the standing shot put throw

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the efficacy of low-dose caffeine use for early morning performance in the shot put event. A double-blind, randomized, crossover design was used to investigate the effects of buccal caffeine supplementation on early morning shot put execution in nine inter-collegiate track and field athletes. In one condition the participants received a piece of caffeinated gum designed to deliver 100 mg of caffeine in a buccal manner, and in a second condition a placebo gum. The gum was chewed for 5 min before being discarded. Participants then completed the first psychomotor vigilance task followed by a series of five warm-up throws, followed by six attempts with a shot put (7.26 kg for males, 4.0 kg for females) measured for distance. The protocol ended with a final psychomotor vigilance task. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (treatment*time) was used to compare performance between the caffeine and placebo treatments over the six measured attempts. A significant difference (treatment×throw) was observed (P=0.030, partial eta-squared = 0.259), indicating that the caffeine treatment produced better performance over the course of the six attempts subsequent to a warm-up. A paired samples t-test (Bonferroni-adjusted for multiple comparisons) revealed that the first attempt in the caffeine treatment (9.62±1.71 m) and in the placebo treatment (9.05±1.69 m) were significantly different (P = 0.050, effect size = 0.996, 95%CI 1.02 to 0.13 m). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance revealed a significant (P=0.016, partial eta-squared = 0.650) interaction effect (treatment×mean reaction time), whereby both at the pre and post time points the mean reaction time on the psychomotor vigilance task was reduced under the caffeine treatment (caffeine: pre 0.306±0.05 s, post 0.316±0.08 s; placebo: pre 0.317±0.06 s, post 0.323±0.06 s). Based on these results, we suggest that caffeine gum can be beneficial for both performance and alertness if used by shot put athletes during early morning sessions.     

Laying the foundations for physical literacy in Wales: the contribution of the Foundation Phase to the development of physical literacy

Background: The Foundation Phase in Wales is a play-based curriculum for pupils aged 3–7 years old. Children learn through more holistic areas of learning in place of traditional subjects. As such, the subject of physical education in its traditional form no longer exists for pupils under the age of 7 in Wales. In light of the role of physical education in developing physical literacy and in particular the importance of this age group for laying the foundations of movement for lifelong engagement in physical activity, the disappearance of physical education from the curriculum could be deemed to be a concern.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the Foundation Phase as a naturalistic intervention and examine its contribution to the development of physical literacy.

Participants and setting: Participants included year 1 pupils (N?=?49) aged 5 and 6 from two schools in contrasting locations. A smaller group within each class was selected through purposive sampling for the repeated measures assessments (N?=?18).

Research design and methods: A complementarity mixed-method design combined quantitative and qualitative methods to study the Foundation Phase as a naturalistic intervention. Quantitative data were generated with the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 administered to the sample group of children from both schools as a quasi-repeated measure, the physical competence subscale of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance and the Leuven Involvement Scale for Young Children. Qualitative data were generated throughout the study from the analysis of video and field notes through participant observation. Data from the mixed methods were analysed through complementarity to give a rich insight into pupils’ progress and experiences in relation to physical literacy.

Results: Overall analysis of the data from TGMD-2 showed significant improvements in the Gross Motor Quotient and Locomotor skills from T1 to T3, but no significant improvement in object control. Data from qualitative methods were analysed to explore processes that may account for these findings. Video and field notes complement the quantitative data highlighting that children were developing their locomotor skills in many aspects of their learning. Observations using the Leuven Involvement Scale indicated that children had high levels of involvement in their learning and apparent in video and field notes was pupils’ motivation for movement. Paired sample t-tests (N?=?18) conducted on the Harter and Pike perceived physical competence six-item score subscales (T1 and T3) indicated a significant difference in the mean perceived physical competence scores on the six-item scale between T1and T3. Qualitative data explored pupils’ confidence for movement in many areas of learning.

Conclusion: The combination of quantitative and qualitative data indicates that the Foundation Phase is an early childhood curriculum that lays the foundations of physical literacy with the exception of aspects of the physical competence, specifically object control skills. Although these skills only contribute to psychomotor aspects of physical literacy they are strongly associated with later engagement in physical activity. The development of specific physical skills such as object control skills may need more specialist input with early childhood pedagogy teachers trained in motor development to see significant improvements.     

Interpreting Youth Baseball: Players' Understandings of Fun and Excitement,Danger, and Boredom

Purpose: There is demand in applied sport settings to measure recovery briefly and accurately. Research indicates mood disturbance as the strongest psychological predictor of mental and physical recovery. The Brief Assessment of Mood (BAM) is a shortened version of the Profile of Mood States that can be completed in less than 30 s. The purpose of this study was to examine the BAM as a quick measure of mood in relation to recovery status in elite rugby players alongside established physiological markers of recovery. Method: Using elite rugby union players (N = 12), this study examined the utility of BAM as an indicator of mental and physical recovery in elite athletes by exploring pattern change in mood disturbance, energy index, power output, cortisol, and testosterone 36 hr before and 12 hr, 36 hr, and 60 hr after a competitive rugby match. Results: Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant changes in all variables across the 4 time points (p < .05, η² range = .20–.48), concurrent with previous study findings. Although visual inspection of the graphs indicated that the pattern of change for mood disturbance and energy index mapped changes in all physiological variables, only a low correlation was observed for power output (r = ? .34). Conclusions: Although BAM scores changed significantly over time in accordance with the hypotheses, further testing is required to confirm the utility of the BAM as a measure of recovery. The results indicate that the BAM could be used as 1 indicator of recovery status alongside other measures.     

Physical and psychomotor performance of Australian football and rugby league officials during a match simulation

The onset of exercise facilitates an improvement in psychomotor performance until the second ventilatory threshold, after which performance is reduced. This inverted-U relationship appears valid for incremental and steady-state exercise, however, not for intermittent exercise. This study examined changes in psychomotor performance of team sport officials during a laboratory-based match simulation. Twelve elite Australian football (n = 5) and rugby league (n = 7) officials (32.5 ± 5.5 years; 180.0 ± 6.8 cm; 78.8 ± 7.6 kg) completed the match simulation on a non-motorised treadmill. Physiological measures were routinely taken, while psychomotor performance was assessed using the Eriksen flanker task (multiple-choice response time). Significant reductions (P < 0.05) were observed in distance covered and high-speed running during the second half when compared to the first. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in psychomotor performance at different time points were observed. Response time was significantly improved when running above 65% of maximal sprinting speed (P < 0.01). This data questions the application of the inverted-U hypothesis for intermittent exercise and suggests that the short high-intensity efforts may not result in the same physiological events that limit psychomotor performance during sustained high-intensity exercise. More so, the high-intensity efforts during the match protocol appeared to promote psychomotor performance during the intermittent exercise.     

Reliability and validity of the German language version of Girls' Disinclination for Physical Activity Scale

Abstract

The high prevalence of insufficient physical activity (PA) among adolescents is an important public health issue. Studying reasons for disliking PA might help researchers better understand its underlying mechanisms, yet this psychological construct has been understudied. This study established the psychometric properties of the German language version of the Girls' Disinclination for Physical Activity Scale (G-DAS-Ger). Data were collected on a sample of 257 adolescent girls in Austria (mean age: 13.0 ± 0.7 years) using the G-DAS-Ger and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. One week after the first assessment, the questionnaires were re-administered to 78 girls. Between two administrations, PA of 215 girls was monitored for seven consecutive days using the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers. Confirmatory factor analysis of G-DAS-Ger showed good fit for a three-factor model (χ²/df = 2.025; Bollen–Stine (B-S) p = 0.159; root mean square error of approximation = 0.063; standardised root mean square residual = 0.054; comparative fit index = 0.950). Cronbach's alphas for G-DAS-Ger factors/subscales ranged 0.64–0.76. The test–retest reliability assessed by Spearman's rank correlation ranged 0.62–0.75. Only one subscale correlated significantly with vigorous-intensity PA (Spearman's rho = ?0.16) and none with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA, which indicated poor predictive validity of the G-DAS-Ger. Correlations between G-DAS-Ger subscales and enjoyment of PA ranged from ?0.29 to ?0.41, indicating satisfactory convergent validity. The G-DAS-Ger may be used in its present form to assess disinclination for PA among adolescent girls in German-speaking countries. However, our results put into question the stability of the originally proposed factor structure of the questionnaire and its predictive validity among German-speaking adolescent girls. Methodological refinements to the G-DAS-Ger may be required to improve its psychometric properties in this population.