Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
Background: Federal mandates add pressure to school administrators to improve academic performance on standardized tests. Physical education, along with other none academic subjects, are being removed to make more academic instructional time.
Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to examine how middle school students' cardiovascular fitness affects academic performance standardized test. A secondary focus was to examine the relationship between a 2.5 and 5 day a week physical education regimen* cardiovascular fitness levels.
Methods: The FitnessGram PACER was used to measure the cardiovascular endurance levels and the Iowa Basic Skills Test was used to measure academic performance in reading, mathematics, science and social studies for ninty 8th grade students in a mid-western school.
Results: 'Fit' students performed substantially better in all academic subjects, especially in mathematics and social studies. No significant differences were found for cardiovascular fitness levels for 2.5 and 5 day physical education regimen, but students in 5 day physical education regimen had substantially higher PACER scores. Male students that were enrolled in the 2.5 day physical education regimen performed significantly better in mathematics and social studies compared to males in the 5 day physical education regimen.
Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that improving cardiovascular fitness helps improve students' academic performance.
Year of Submission
2010
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services
First Advisor
Fabio Fontana
Date Original
2010
Object Description
1 PDF file (23 pages)
Copyright
©2010 Lindsey Kingsbury
Language
en
Recommended Citation
Kingsbury, Lindsey, "Cardiovascular Fitness and Academic Achievement in 8th Grade Students" (2010). Graduate Research Papers. 4293.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4293
Comments
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