Graduate Research Papers
Coeducational and Single-Sex Physical Education in Middle School: Impact on Physical Activity Levels
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in physical activity levels between co-educational and single sex classes in both male and female middle school physical education students. It was hypothesized that males and females in single-sex physical education classes would have a different amount of time in and above the target heart rate zone (135-185bpm) as well as a different average heart rate than in coeducational classes.
The study sample consisted of 45 sixth grade students from Grundy Center, Iowa who had accurate heart rate data for all data collection. The first day the students played flashball in a single sex physical education setting while the second day the students played in a coeducation environment. Time in and above target heart rate zone and the average heart rate was collected for all students in both environments.
Results indicated that female students had similar time in and above their target heart rate zone (135-185bpm) for single sex (33.9 min) and coeducational (34.9min) play. Conversely female students' average heart rate was significantly lower during single sex (144.9bpm) than coeducational (152.95bpm) play. Due to this significant increase in average heart rate it is speculated that females participated at a higher intensity during coeducational play.
Results for time in and above zone for male students had a different outcome than that of the females. Male students spent significantly more time in and above their target heart rate zone during coeducational play (36.7 min) than single sex (30.1 min). Conversely results indicated that male students' average heart rate was similar during single sex and coeducational play. According to the data it is speculated that male students participated at a similar intensity for a longer period of time. In this case males spent almost 7 minutes more in their target heart rate zone during coeducational play.
Overall it is concluded that coeducational physical education is a better environment for middle school aged students if the goal of the program is increased time in and above zone for males and increased intensity for females.
Year of Submission
2008
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Division of Physical Education
First Advisor
Nancy Hamilton
Date Original
2008
Object Description
1 PDF file (39 pages)
Copyright
©2008 Sarah Huffer
Language
en
Recommended Citation
Huffer, Sarah, "Coeducational and Single-Sex Physical Education in Middle School: Impact on Physical Activity Levels" (2008). Graduate Research Papers. 4232.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4232
Comments
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