lecture 6

Question 1

State the 4 summary findings / trends that is evident from the Australian and Western Australian research findings on children and adolescents participation in physical activity /electronic media use

Answer 1

1. Boys consistently more active than girls, particularly in older age groups
2. Decline in physical activity in adolescence especially girls
3. Universal prevalence of sedentary behaviors (sitting/TV/video/ phones)
4. Hours of screen-based use at high levels

Question 2

define validity

Answer 2

– measures what it claims to measure

eg. Define the construct of PA (what we mean by amount, level of habitual PA)
- Measuring fitness is not measuring PA
- Measuring skill level is not measuring PA
- What should be included/excluded as PA

Question 3

List the direct methods of measuring physical activity

Answer 3

cheap
Heart rate monitors - Polar pacers
Pedometers - mechanical step counters
Accelerometers – records acceleration forces

expensive =
Calorimetry - Heat released during metabolism (aerobic energy expenditure)
Doubly labelled water – monitors production of CO2 through analysing urine
Oxygen uptake during activity - Physical Work Capacity (intensity of PA)

Question 4

list the indirect methods of measuring physical activity

Answer 4

• observations

- surveys

Question 5

what was the study done on PE in paris 1950? what were the outcomes?

Answer 5

• was conducted on 14 grade 6/7 students
• added 13 hours to school week (later finishes and saturday school)
• academic in morning PE in afternoon
• regular vitamin supplements

results - Academic achievement equivalent, & in some individual cases even surpassed, traditional program
Calm, attentive, fewer discipline problems
Fewer sick days

Question 6

what was the SHAPE study?

Answer 6

this was the first australian study - ‘School Health Academic Performance and Exercise’ (SHAPE)

• 519 grade 5 students from 7 schools
• split into two groups (experimental + control)
• experimental = 75min PE a day
• control = 3 x 30 min per week

results

• after 14 weeks both groups acheived equivalent academic scores (this means PE has no effect on academic ability)
• the experimental group had better classroom behaviour and higher gains in endurance

Question 7

what was the results of the 2 year follow up on the SHAPE study?

Answer 7

at the 2 year follow up math and reading had a slight advantage and higher classroom behaviour ratings from the experimental group and they maintained physical benefit

Question 8

why are self report tools such as surveys/questionnaires not suitable for children under 10?

Answer 8

because they are unable to reliably and accurately recall PA