An examination of the multidimensionality of situational interest in elementary school physical education
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Published on: September 4, 2019
Haichun Sun1, Ang Chen, Catherine Ennis
1School of Physical Education and Exercise Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. sun@coedu.usf.edu
Abstract:
It has been demonstrated that situational interest in physical activity may derive from five dimensional sources, Novelty, Optimal Challenge, Attention Demand, Exploration Intent, and Instant Enjoyment. The purpose of this study was to examine the multidimensional sources in elementary school physical education. The five dimensions were measured in 5,717 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades from a random sample of 30 elementary schools. Students' responses were randomly divided into two samples for a two-step confirmatory factor analysis. The results confirmed that the five dimensions are primary sources of situational interest for elementary school physical education. The findings implied that situational interest should be taken into account as a necessary curricular component in elementary physical education.
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