Differences in Motivation and Enjoyment in Physical Education Classes
Author Information
Author(s): Rubén Navarro-Patón, Josune Rodríguez-Negro, María Muíño-Piñeiro, Marcos Mecías-Calvo, Jaak Jürimäe
Primary Institution: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Hypothesis
Primary education students will have greater intrinsic motivation, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and enjoyment than secondary education students, and boys will have greater motivation and enjoyment than girls.
Conclusion
Primary education students show higher self-determined motivation and enjoyment in physical education classes compared to secondary education students, while boys exhibit greater motivation and enjoyment than girls.
Supporting Evidence
- Primary education students scored higher in intrinsic motivation and enjoyment compared to secondary students.
- Boys reported greater intrinsic motivation and enjoyment than girls in both educational stages.
- Statistically significant differences were found in motivation and enjoyment based on educational stage and gender.
- Enjoyment was positively correlated with intrinsic motivation and basic psychological needs satisfaction.
Takeaway
Younger kids enjoy physical education more than older kids, and boys generally have more fun and feel more motivated than girls.
Methodology
Cross-sectional observational design with quantitative methodology, using various scales to measure motivation and enjoyment.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to non-probabilistic sampling and reliance on self-reported measures.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences, and used a convenience sample, which may not represent the broader population.
Participant Demographics
740 schoolchildren aged 10 to 17, with 410 girls (55.4%) and 330 boys (44.6%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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