The Effect of High Intensity Physical Education Instruction on the Cardio-Respiratory Fitness of Middle School Students
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2010-07
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Masters of Education
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of intensified physical education
instruction on the cardio-respiratory fitness of middle school students. This study
occurred over an eight week period and utilized a pre-test/post-test design. All
participants in the study received daily physical education. The treatment group received
intensified physical education instruction over the course of a thirty day intervention
period. During the intensified physical education instruction, students were engaged in
activities designed to elicit a heart rate intensity level within a personal target heart rate
zone for ten minutes. The control group received normal physical education instruction
during the same time period. Attainment of target heart rate zone was assessed and
recorded through a series of self-reported pulse checks using heart rate monitor watches.
Cardio-respiratory fitness was measured pre and post-intervention using the FitnessGram
PACER test. The results of the study revealed that there was no statistically significant
increase in the average PACER score of the treatment group. However, a small increase
was noted by the researcher, prompting the recommendation for additional research over
a longer period of time to continue the evaluation of intensified physical education
instruction as a method to increase the cardio-respiratory fitness of middle school
students.