Students Perceptions of Enjoyment in Physical Education

This study investigated middle school students` perceptions of specific factors related to enjoyment in physical education (PE). Middle school-aged students (269 males, 349 females) responded to an Likert type question on general enjoyment in PE and an open-ended question regarding the factors underlying enjoyment in PE. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analyses revealed that approximately 85.3% of the students reported that they like PE. Gender differences in the level of enjoyment in PE were found with higher enjoyment for male students (75.0%) compared to female students (30.1%). A total of 1399 response on the open-ended question were content-analyzed. 12 general dimensions of enjoyment were emerged: (1) specific types of activities (e.g., soccer, basketball), (2) PE is fun and enjoyable, (3) PE is a break from classsroom work, (4) PE affords contact with friends, (5) PE is not theory subjects, (6) PE helps to release stress, (7) PE provides for health and fitness, (8) learning new skills is enjoyable, (9) feelings of achievement, (10) PE teachers, (11) easy to get high grade in PE, and (12) others (e.g., good facilities). The dimensions generally fit into the students` experience categories (Kwack & Park, 1998; Luke & Sinclair, 1991) and reasons for participating in PE (Baker et al., 1982; Browne, 1992; Butcher, 1976, 1980; Earl & Stennett, 1983). However, some unique aspects of enjoyment in PE (e.g., PE is not theory subjects and easiness to get high grade) reflect the nature of middle school PE in Korea. Gender differences in the dimensions of PE enjoyment were also identified. The findings provided greater understanding for the specific aspects of enjoyment in PE.