Date of Graduation

8-2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Dean Gorman

Committee Member

George Denny

Second Committee Member

Stephen Dittmore

Third Committee Member

Paul Calleja

Fourth Committee Member

Jack Kern

Keywords

Education, Arkansas, Homework, Instruction, Physical education

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out the prevalence of physical educators assigning homework to their classes (17.4%) and to identify factors that are related to whether physical educators assign homework. The questionnaire was completed by 144 employed physical educators from the state of Arkansas.

Logistic regression, an independent samples t test, and a chi-square test were used to analyze if specific predictors, school demographics, and the personal beliefs of physical educators affected using homework in physical education. No statistical significance was found in the demographics or predictors, but nine of the beliefs selected indicated that a physical educator's beliefs towards homework may be a major factor in assigning homework. Primarily, the physical educators who assigned homework believed more strongly than others that homework could increase physical activity, make grading easier, and increase content knowledge. Physical educators who did not assign homework believed more strongly that grading homework would take too much time, as teachers they had too many time constraints, that activity homework would be difficult to prove completion, if other in-class assignments exist then it was unnecessary, and believed that homework assignments would be hated by parents and students.

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