A case study investigating Year 8 and 10 perceptions of their perceived barriers that impact on their Physical Education and Physical Education

Abstract

A great amount of research has been carried out in the attempt to understand the barriers that affect girls’ decisions about their uptake of physical activity. The research indicates that a considerable number of barriers prevent girls from participating in physical activity (Dwyer et al., 2006; Green et al., 2007). The literature demonstrates that this is particularly the case for girls entering Key Stage 4 (Aniza & Fairuz, 2009). This research study attempts to develop a greater understanding of the barriers that negatively impact on young females participation in physical education (PE) and physical activity (PA), and whether as they matured through adolescence these barriers increase. A mixed-method investigation was used to explore the various factors that affect participation rates. The mixed methods approached involved distributing questionnaires to year 8 and 10 girls to establish basic information about current participation rates and any barriers the girls may perceive. Focus group interviews expanded upon and gained in depth information about the girls’ perceived barriers and the impacts on their participation. The focus group interviews involved one group from year 8 and one group from year 10, as it was important to discover whether the barriers differed as the girls’ matured through adolescence. The results found that a higher percentage of girls in year 8 participated in the recommended amount of physical activity, with a figure of 46.3%. In comparison year 10 girls participated in 28% of recommended amount of physical activity. The figures highlighted that it was important to discover reasons for these figures, therefore, discovering the barriers. These barriers were identified as choice, influences of family and friends, influence of boys and PE kit. These barriers were impacting on both year groups in some way, with a number of the barriers having a greater effect on year 10. This is the reason why their participation was considerably lower. The results indicate that the participants believed that a number of changes needed to be implemented in order to decrease which prevent females from taking part in physical activity.