Keeping Adolescent Girls Engaged in Physical Activity

By
Allison Sinclair

A research paper submitted in conformity with the requirements

For the degree of Master of Teaching
Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto

Copyright by Allison Sinclair, April 2015

Abstract
Research shows that adolescent girls (aged 12-15 years old) are experiencing a
decline in physical activity. Research shows that adolescent girls are more likely to opt
out of physical education programming when it is no longer mandated in schools
(Landolfi, 2013; Statsistics Canada, 2011).
The purpose of this study is to inquire how a sample of intermediate physical
educators are eliciting greater participation from female students through formal and
informal opportunities in physical activity.
The main research question guiding this research project is: How is a sample of
intermediate physical education teachers eliciting greater participation from female
students in formal and informal opportunities in physical activity? Subsidiary questions
include: What do these teachers observe as outcomes from these students participation in
physical activity? What are these teachers perspectives on why adolescent female
students may be reluctant to participate in physical activities in school?
This research is a qualitative study where three educators were chosen to take part in a
45 min semi-structured interview. The findings from this study are that positive teacher
strategies in physical education classes such as: motivation, encouragement and
modeling, can help increase student engagement, and foster self-efficacy in physical
activity.
Key Words
Physical Education, Physical Activity, Adolescent Female Engagement