The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of the 8m.m. slow motion color film on the learning of motor skills in physical education. Basketball skills were used in the study. Three classes of Grade 9 boys were selected for the study. The three classes were administered the Stroup Basketball Test. After the initial test one class was selected as the group to receive the class demonstration by film. One class was selected as the group to receive the class demonstration live, by the teacher. The third group was selected as a control group. The groups were matched by threes on a basis of rank order. The live group and film group received 8 lessons in basketball skills. The lessons were identical except for the method of demonstration. The control group received regular physical education periods, excluding basketball. At the end of the 8 lessons, the three groups were retested. Both the film and live groups showed gains in performance which were statistically significant. No statistically significant gains were obtained for the control group. The improvement of both the film group and live group significantly exceeded the improvement of the control group. The improvement of the film group did not significantly exceed the live group. It was concluded that the 8 m.m. slow motion color film seems conducive to the learning of motor skills and adaptable to use in physical education when used competently. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Two problems were examined with respect to muscular endurance of the abdominal and thigh flexor muscles: first, the hypothesis that muscular endurance can be increased through mental rehearsal of a particular item of endurance; second, that the increase, if any, would be as great as, or greater than that achieved through sole physical practice of the same item. Thirty-six subjects were selected from the required physical education programme at The University of British Columbia to engage in the experiment. They were equated into three groups on the basis of similar results obtained in two sit-up tests. One group served as a control, the second group practised sit-ups physically and the third group mentally rehearsed sit-ups. Following the initial tests the first group did not practise again for twenty days; the second group physically practised sit-ups for five minutes on each of twenty days; and the third group mentally rehearsed sit-ups for five minutes on each of the twenty days. On the final day individuals of all three groups were re-examined in the original sit-up test. Results indicated that muscular endurance of the abdominal and thigh flexor muscles is increased significantly over a twenty day period by a daily five minute mental practice of sit-ups. It was also found, however, that the increase was significantly smaller than that achieved by a daily five minute physical practice of sit-ups. It was concluded that where physical practice is at all possible this method is recommended over mental practice to facilitate an increase in muscular endurance. Two recommendations of further study in the area of mental practice and muscular endurance were made. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics of physique, motor fitness and cardiovascular fitness of University ice hockey players. Fourteen University of British Columbia varsity ice hockey players were given selected tests of physique, motor fitness and cardiovascular fitness. The tests were administered during the last month of the competitive season. In the physique area the subjects were characterized by extreme mesomorphy, average endomorphy, low ectomorphy, low fat measurements, had relatively long trunks, wide hips, slightly above average shoulder width and arm proportions that are mechanically suited for efficient mechanical manoeuvering of a light instrument such as a hockey stick. The motor fitness tests ranged from average to good and could not be considered excellent for a group of athletes. The cardiovascular measurements ranged from good to excellent. These results were attributed to the nature of the sport and the demanding interval-like training program which the hockey team had undergone during the season. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a twice-weekly thirty-minute circuit training class in improving the Cardiovascular condition and motor performance of male freshmen enrolled in the Required Physical Education Programme at the University of British Columbia. An experimental sample of twenty subjects was selected randomly from one of the eight circuit training classes but this number was reduced to fifteen by the end of the term. A statistical comparison of the experimental group with a large sample of first year students tested in 1962 was made for height, weight and four motor performance items. The two groups were found to be sufficiently alike to consider the experimental group as reasonably representative of male college freshmen enrolled in the required programme of the University. The subjects were given a -twenty-seven item fitness test battery prior to and at the end of the ten week circuit programme. The gains in fitness measures were evaluated by an analysis of the reliability of mean differences for each test item, a conversion of the mean test scores into standard scores from scoring tables for normal young college men in order to determine mean standard score improvement, and an analysis of the number of students who, between tests, increased their scores, decreased their scores, or remained the same. These results were then compared with those obtained from a physical conditioning programme study which utilized the same tests, procedures and time spent in training between tests. In almost all the variables studied, approximately three-quarters of the subjects showed changes which were in the direction of increased physical fitness. All of the twenty-seven items used showed mean changes in the direction of increased physical fitness and twenty-two of them were statistically significant. These included all the motor performance items and eight of thirteen cardiovascular condition items. Each individual, showed a somewhat unique pattern of changes in cardiovascular condition. Several subjects with relatively high scores on their initial tests had lower scores when they were retested and some subjects who had relatively low initial scores showed higher scores on re-test. The rest of the subjects, in general, increased their scores on retest. The training programme was adequate to produce fair improvements in cardiovascular condition in the initially unfit students. Factors extraneous to the study appeared to influence those subjects who scored high initially but then regressed on retest. The training programme seemed sufficient in duration or intensity (or both) to produce improvement in motor performance. The circuit training programme was found to be superior to the physical conditioning programme in improving most aspects of physical fitness. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1. To determine the validity of the 9 minute and 12 minute timed runs and the 1600 metre distance run as predictors of peak oxygen uptake and therefore as measures of cardiorespiratory fitness in girls 8 to 11 years of age. 2. To determine the reliability of the 9 minute and 12 minute timed runs and the 1600 metre distance run as measures of cardiorespiratory endurance. Hypotheses were formulated from these two major purposes as well as from additonal problems which included: (i) studying the relationship between the timed/distance runs and peak oxygen uptake as the distance and time components of the runs increased, (ii) determining the intercorrelatons between two different timed or distance runs with respect to the distance and the length of time spent running. Sixty female subjects from Crofton House School and St. Patrick's Elementary School, Vancouver, B.C., were tested on the three timed/distance runs, the 9 minute, 12 minute and,1600 metre runs and a peak oxygen uptake treadmill test. Anthropometric measures (height, weight and percent body fat) were also taken. Prior to the timed/distance run testing all of the subjects were taught the concept of paced running and had four practise runs to practise this concept. Twenty of the subjects completed all the testing. The validities of the 9 minute, the 12 minute and the 1600 metre runs as predictors of peak oxygen uptake and the interrelationships between all the variables were determined by developing a correlation matrix. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to select the independent variables (age, height, weight, percent body fat, 9 minute timed run, 12 minute timed run and the 1600 metre distance run) that best predicted the dependent variable, peak oxygen uptake. The reliabilities of the 9 minute, the 12 minute and the 1600 metre runs were determined by developing test-retest reliability correlation coefficients. The results indicated that all three timed/distance runs were significantly correlated with peak oxygen uptake. The 9 minute timed run exhibited the highest correlation with peak oxygen uptake followed by the 1600 metre distance run and the 12 minute timed run. Both the 1600 metre distance run and the 12 minute timed run showed significant test-retest reliability correlations, therefore were reliable predictors of peak oxygen uptake in girls 8 to 11 years-of age. The intercorrelations between the timed and distance runs showed the 9 minute timed run and the 1600 metre distance run having the highest degree of relationship followed by the 1600 metre distance run and the 12 minute timed run and finally the 9 minute and 12 minute timed runs. In conclusion both the 1600 metre distance run and the 12 minute timed run were considered to be reliable field tests and predicted peak oxygen uptake in girls 8 to 11 years of age. The 1600 metre distance run exhibited higher validity and reliability correlations and therefore would be the preferred field test of cardiorespiratory fitness in girls 8 to 11 years of age. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Despite the compelling evidence that physical activity, especially regular physical activity plays a key role in enhancing health and well-being, many people remain physically inactive. To promote physical activity among the general adult population, identifying possible correlates is essential. In this regard, self-determination theory (SDT) with its motivational perspective may provide useful insight. This research examined the collective effect of the sub-theories of SDT (causality orientations theory, basic psychological needs theory, and organismic integration theory) on physical activity behavior explanation among Chinese adults. Given the lack of a measure for causality orientations in the context of physical activity behavior, an attempt was firstly made to develop and validate a psychometrically sound tool, namely the causality orientations scale for physical activity (COS-PA). The COS-PA was developed and validated in multiple phases. First, a scenario/item pool was created from multiple sources. Second, the pool was subjected to face validity, content validity, clarity, readability and comprehensibility appraisal. Adjustments were then made to finalize the initial scale. Third, the factorial, convergent and discriminant validity of the initial COS-PA were assessed via a series of exploratory factor analyses (EFAs), and correlated-trait, correlated-uniqueness analysis in the multi-trait, multi-method approach with two independent samples. The nomological validity of the scale was assessed by correlation analysis with theoretically linked constructs. In addition, the potential effect of social desirability bias of participants’ response to the COS-PA was checked. Fourth, the COS-PA’s reliability was evaluated using multiple methods, including Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, composite reliability and test-retest reliability. Subsequently, the proposed SDT process model (established based on the tenet of SDT and previous findings) was examined for physical activity explanation in an independent sample. Overall, the COS-PA exhibited sufficient validity and reliability in the multi-phasic tests. The proposed SDT process model, describing a motivational sequence whereby causality orientations and perceived autonomy support independently explain basic psychological needs satisfaction and behavioral regulation, which in turn explains PA behavior was partially supported. Moreover, potential indirect effects in the SDT model were examined. Although scale validation is an on-going process, these findings provide evidence for the COS-PA’s adequate psychometric properties and value for future use. Furthermore, the findings lead to a deeper understanding of the explanatory efficacy of the macro-SDT framework (i.e. the SDT process model) for physical activity explanation among the Chinese population. The findings highlight the positive roles of autonomy causality orientation and perceived autonomy support for basic psychological needs satisfaction, self-determined behavioral regulation and physical activity behavior.

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