Preferences toward sports of students at the Faculty of Philosophy
1.MSc Jelka Gošnik, 2. Ksenija Fučkar, BEd., 1.Vesna Alikalfić, BEd.
1.Faculty of Philosophy, Univesitiy of Zagreb, Croatia
2. Faculty of Natural Science, Univesitiy of Zagreb, Croatia
ABSTRACT
This survey was conducted with an intention to determine preliminary result on preferences toward sports of students at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb. A survey group of 1681 students at the Faculty of Philosophy has ranked 62 sports on the scale from 1 to 5. Female students from 1st to 4th years and male students from the 1st to the 3rd years ranked swimming as the most preferred sport. Dance takes up the second place on the list of female students, while yoga and weekend field trip holds the third position. Male students tend to favor also table tennis, weekend field trip and backpacking. Wrestling and weightlifting are the least preferred sports to female students, while male students mostly keep away from synchronize swimming, rhythmic gymnastic and aerobics, i.e. sports that are perceived as feminine.
Key words; sport preference, student, gender difference
INTRODUCTION
Physical and health culture is a core course on the 1st and 2nd years of undergraduate program (Art.148 of the Statute of the University of Zagreb, 1997) established by the Law on Universities. Article 68 in the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia states that ‘state endorses and encourages care of physical culture and sport’. Part of the article 128 in the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia refers to the needs and interests of citizens, and physical culture and sport.
Student population is specific due to its diverse anthropological characteristics. Students have various initial motoric skills as well as motorical and functional capabilities. Their attitude towards physical activities, health, acquired habits and world in general fits a wide spectrum.
A purpose and goal of physical and health culture is an adoption of certain set of motoric information and skills necessary for effective maintenance and improvement of health, to organize more comprised free time and resolving everyday motoric tasks.
It is established that aptitudes are forged and directed from an early childhood. An adequate offer of sports is an important factor that enables participation in beneficial physical activities. An appropriate guidance of interest towards any sport activity demonstrates that any individual can achieve personally significant results.
In order to make physical education class more attractive and effective we strive to pay attention to opinions of students and to introduce new programs such as aerobics, yoga, dance, …
Positive response of students to such improvements is reflected in more frequent and numerous participation in class activities.
SAMPLE AND METHODS
The survey was conducted during on a sample of 2681 students (2206 female and 475 male) during the academic year of 2001/2002. 1138 students were attending the 1st year of study, 710 the 2nd year, 509 the 3rd year and 324 the 4th year. 91.7% of them were between the age of 18 and 23.
The survey addresses preferences of students towards 62 sports through the scale of behavioral aims (F. Prot).
Every student has ranked a sport on the scale with five levels. Mark 5 represents a sport in which a student would definitely like to participate if there is a possibility. Mark 4 stands for a sport in which a student would gladly participate. Mark 3 belongs to a sport in which a student would occasionally participate (or if circumstances are favorable). Mark 2 is a proxy for a sport in which students do not want to participate, or maybe would take part if there is nothing else available. Mark 1 determines a sport in which a student would never and under no conditions participate.
In processing of data we applied standard methods of descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Tables 1 through 4 show results of 10 most and least favorite sports from the viewpoint of students at the Faculty of Philosophy. The results are ranked on the base of average mark.
Table 1. List of the first 10 sports from the viewpoint of female students at the Faculty of Philosophy based on average arithmetic mark.
TABLE 1
No. / 1. year / 2. year / 3. year / 4. yearSPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M
swimm. / 842 / 3,70 / swimm. / 547 / 3,65 / swimm. / 410 / 3,70 / swimm. / 300 / 3,81
dance / 834 / 3,60 / dance / 538 / 3,63 / dance / 411 / 3,63 / dance / 297 / 3,78
yoga / 824 / 3,40 / yoga / 533 / 3,52 / excurs. / 411 / 3,30 / excurs. / 291 / 3,50
aerobics / 828 / 3,15 / skateing / 545 / 3,19 / yoga / 408 / 3,20 / badmin. / 296 / 3,37
tennis / 835 / 3,15 / diving / 535 / 3,10 / badmin. / 409 / 3,20 / yoga / 293 / 3,28
badmin. / 832 / 3,10 / excurs. / 528 / 3,07 / skateing / 412 / 3,11 / tennis / 295 / 3,27
volleyb. / 845 / 3,07 / badmin. / 535 / 3,07 / tennis / 410 / 3,10 / cycling / 296 / 3,12
cycling / 835 / 3,07 / aerobics / 536 / 3,04 / roll.skat. / 407 / 3,10 / roll.skat. / 295 / 3,21
excurs. / 819 / 3,06 / roll.skat. / 543 / 3,03 / mounta. / 411 / 3,09 / aerobics / 295 / 3,21
skateing / 844 / 3,02 / cycling / 533 / 3,03 / volleyb. / 410 / 3,03 / skateing / 297 / 3,18
Table 2. List of the last 10 sports from the viewpoint of female students at the Faculty of Philosophy based on average arithmetic mark.
TABLE 2
No. / 1. year / 2. year / 3. year / 4. yearSPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M
acrobat. / 835 / 1,81 / football / 536 / 1,75 / football / 408 / 1,83 / acrobat. / 293 / 1,79
triatlon / 815 / 1,77 / triatlon / 533 / 1,75 / acrobat. / 408 / 1,80 / field hoc. / 291 / 1,79
sp.fish. / 820 / 1,73 / sp.fish. / 530 / 1,73 / field hoc. / 406 / 1,79 / softball / 292 / 1,78
field hoc. / 820 / 1,72 / bawls / 536 / 1,67 / triatlon / 409 / 1,77 / bawls / 294 / 1,74
bawls / 827 / 1,71 / field hoc. / 534 / 1,66 / sp.fish. / 404 / 1,76 / football / 297 / 1,74
box / 830 / 1,68 / box / 532 / 1,66 / box / 410 / 1,65 / ruggby / 293 / 1,68
ruggby / 818 / 1,61 / ice hoc. / 542 / 1,59 / ice hoc. / 410 / 1,63 / ice hoc. / 297 / 1,61
ice hoc. / 834 / 1,60 / ruggby / 534 / 1,54 / ruggby / 406 / 1,60 / weightlif / 293 / 1,56
weightlif / 832 / 1,52 / wrestling / 535 / 1,48 / weightlif / 411 / 1,53 / box / 294 / 1,50
wrestling / 828 / 1,46 / weightlif / 533 / 1,46 / wrestling / 409 / 1,51 / wrestling / 294 / 1,44
Table 3. List of the first 10 sports from the viewpoint of male students at the Faculty of Philosophy based on average arithmetic mark.
TABLE 3
No / 1. year / 2. year / 3. year / 4. yearSPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M
swimm. / 233 / 3,09 / swimm. / 122 / 3,42 / swimm. / 76 / 3,37 / table ten / 8 / 3,50
basketb. / 232 / 3,04 / mounta. / 122 / 3,07 / table ten / 74 / 3,20 / excurs. / 9 / 3,00
football / 229 / 2,97 / parachut. / 123 / 3,07 / football / 73 / 3,10 / chess / 9 / 3,00
table ten / 227 / 2,89 / diving / 120 / 2,98 / basketb. / 75 / 3,01 / cycling / 10 / 2,80
diving / 230 / 2,80 / football / 122 / 2,98 / rafting / 73 / 2,90 / football / 10 / 2,80
parachut. / 228 / 2,78 / cycling / 120 / 2,92 / mounta. / 74 / 2,81 / skiing / 9 / 2,78
tennis / 227 / 2,73 / basketb. / 122 / 2,91 / tennis / 73 / 2,81 / swimm. / 11 / 2,73
volleyb. / 230 / 2,72 / table ten / 121 / 2,91 / badmint. / 74 / 2,80 / basketb. / 10 / 2,70
cycling / 228 / 2,66 / climbing / 120 / 2,87 / excurs. / 73 / 2,78 / badmint. / 9 / 2,67
mounta. / 232 / 2,64 / rafting / 122 / 2,86 / cycling / 74 / 2,74 / mounta. / 9 / 2,67
Table 4. List of the last 10 sports from the viewpoint of male students at the Faculty of Philosophy based on average arithmetic mark.
TABLE 4
No / 1. year / 2. year / 3. year / 4. yearSPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M / SPORT / N / M
softball / 228 / 1,86 / body buil / 123 / 1,98 / ruggby / 73 / 1,86 / sp.gym. / 9 / 1,33
body buil / 229 / 1,86 / field hoc. / 121 / 1,98 / body buil / 74 / 1,84 / ice hoc. / 9 / 1,33
weightlif / 229 / 1,86 / ruggby / 121 / 1,98 / wrestling / 74 / 1,78 / wat. skii. / 9 / 1,22
field hoc. / 227 / 1,85 / softball / 120 / 1,96 / weightlif / 74 / 1,66 / wrestling / 9 / 1,22
wrestling / 228 / 1,81 / wrestling / 122 / 1,89 / softball / 74 / 1,64 / taekwon. / 9 / 1,22
sp.gym. / 230 / 1,62 / aerobics / 120 / 1,77 / sp.gym. / 75 / 1,55 / aerobics / 9 / 1,11
aerobics / 226 / 1,54 / acrobat. / 121 / 1,74 / synch.sw / 74 / 1,45 / synch.sw / 9 / 1,11
acrobat. / 226 / 1,48 / sp.gym. / 121 / 1,69 / rhyt.gym / 74 / 1,43 / box / 9 / 1,11
synch.sw / 227 / 1,48 / synch.sw / 122 / 1,60 / aerobics / 73 / 1,41 / rhyt.gym / 9 / 1,11
rhyt.gym / 227 / 1,37 / rhyt.gym / 120 / 1,59 / acrobat. / 74 / 1,36 / acrobat. / 9 / 1,00
The elementary need for movement, expression, socialization and creativity in sport is different between male and female students. Swimming is the most appealing sport of all the students during the first three years of study. This finding could be related to simplicity of movement, health aspect and individuality of the sport. Sports with a focus on a ball, such as basketball, soccer and volleyball, receive various ranks from the 1st to the 4th years in relation to a number of factors like an intention to socialize, popularity of particular sport in Croatia and worldwide, etc.
Weekend field trip, mountaineering and bicycling present sports in which students can fulfill their need for activities in nature and release of stress from study.
The so-called extreme or adrenaline sports, such as diving, parachuting, rafting, alpinism and skiing draw more attention of student body today. These sports require high physiological and psychophysical capabilities, demanding training, contain significant factor of danger, often cause increase of adrenalin level and offer opportunity to build confidence of students. Limiting factors of these sports pertains are financial and time requirements. To the certain extent tennis is also related to this group of sports. Table tennis is highly ranked through all 4 years of undergraduate program due to its simplicity and accessibility in physical education class setup.
Male students of all 4 years of study equally tend to avoid the so-called female sports with an expressive esthetic component such as synchronic swimming, aerobics and rhythmic gymnastics, as well as sports with an emphasized coordination component; acrobatics and sport gymnastics.
Weight lifting, body building and sport gymnastics are very demanding in training of power and thus can be unpopular among students.
Wrestling, tea-kwon-do and box most likely present rudeness and a constant contact with the opponent make these sports unappealing to students of the Faculty of Philosophy.
Field hockey, ice hockey and rugby stands for dynamic and aggressive sports that contain a level of danger and thus are also not very interesting to our students.
Female students in the 1st to the 4th years of study, the total of 2206 in this survey, find swimming and dancing as the most attractive on the list (1st and 2nd place respectively). It may be argued that water as a medium enables relaxation, provides peace and quietness as well as some sort of new expanse that lures.
Dance is an activity with an emphasized esthetic component and movement accompanied by music.
Weekend field trip, mountaineering and cycling can be perceived as sport and recreational activities during which female students fulfill a need for movement in nature, alone or in a company. Also attractive sports to female students are tennis, badminton and volleyball – all characterized by lack of a direct contact with an opponent.
Ice skating and roller skating are sports that offer to female students rapid motion in indoor and outdoor space.
Yoga takes up the 3rd place three times and the 4th place once on the lists. Yoga can be effective tool to improve health and mitigate impacts of modern rapid pace of life.
Cycling and diving sports are becoming more attractive to female students. Female students are becoming more engaged in sports that break gender division stereotype, e.g. tennis, badminton, swimming, volleyball, while at the same time they are still active in typically feminine style activities such as dance and aerobics.
It is becoming obvious that female students tend to choose sports activities where they have opportunity for a subjective accomplishment and success. Team games among female students are gradually replaced by individual sports, particularly sport and recreation in water. Only volleyball still holds a high position on the list.
The last 10 places on the list take up sports in which female students most likely never take part and probably do not intend to in the future. These are sports that typically require fighting spirit, risk, aggressiveness, in other words characteristics which society typically assigned more to men than women. Expressing aggressive, direct contact in wrestling and weight lifting is what female students dislike the most in relation to these activities.
Typical male sports such as team sports with a ball are not so popular sports like field hockey, softball, rugby, which are mostly very unattractive to female students. Acrobatics and triathlon require too demanding training and intense individual involvement to be interesting to female students.
Fishing and boccie are most likely rather unfamiliar sports to female students and are typically perceived as activities for senior people.
CONCLUSION
The survey shows that there are no major differences in preferences towards sports from the 1st to the 4th year of studies within the same gender. Female and male students mostly represent homogenous groups in respect to the classification of the most and the least attractive sports. In other words the most significant difference in sports preferences is based on a gender difference.
Swimming is the most attractive sport for female and male students at the Faculty of Philosophy during the entire undergraduate program. On the top of the list it is followed by weekend field trip and mountaineering, which indicates preferences of students towards active outdoor health development. Almost all demanding and intensive sports that include close contact with the opponent are very low on the list and equally unattractive to female and male students.
Today the entire student body is significantly controlled by current social, economical and cultural environment, and such will exert governing influence of the characteristics of future society. In this context students at the Faculty of Philosophy are also exposed to extensive physical and mental demands. Therefore kinesiology and health culture (physical education) is very important for development of every individual and at the same time it is most likely the final stage of active sports activities in their education. Considering the fact that interest towards physical activities of students at the Faculty of Philosophy depends on possibility and conditions for a particular activity it is required to survey and monitor current state as well as plan for the future activities.
LITERATURE
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