A survey on participation and attitude to sports among undergraduate students in junior residences at the University of the Free State
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Date
2016-01
Authors
Mangoejane, Patricia Kekeletso
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The main objective of this study is to assess and quantify participation in sporting activities by students and to determine the factors influencing students’ intentions to participate or not to participate in sports at the University of the Free State. The data are obtained from interviewing students participating or not participating in various sporting codes available at the University of the Free State (main campus in Bloemfontein, South Africa). A systematic random sampling technique was used as the interviewing team knocked on every fifth door in a given residence to ensure that all corners of each residence were reached. The students found at the residence at that particular time, were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Tables and charts are used for illustration of results. T-tests, F-tests, Principal component analysis, Cluster comparison analysis and Item analysis are also performed for further analysis. Three hundred and eight students (308) (61% females and 39% males) living in junior residences were interviewed for this research. The majority of participants (75%) were non-whites (blacks, coloured, and Asians); this was in line with the University of the Free State enrolment structure of the year 2011 (75% non-whites and 25% whites). The reasons provided by the participants for their participation in sporting activities were indicated as keeping fit (91%), releasing of stress (89.35%), gaining a feeling of wellbeing (83%), increasing in physical abilities (81%) and previous school sports involvement (67%). Students from second academic year upwards mostly raised the positive response that they relied on regular exercise to achieve academic success. The researcher concludes that certain variables, namely gender, age group, race, marital status preferred language of study, faculty of study, academic year of study, previous school sport participation, current sport participation, participated sporting codes, reasons for sport participation and reasons for non-sport participation for students, are the most important variables that the Kovsie Sport and management of sports, should focus on in order to encourage students to participate in sporting activities.
Through sports, students are also able to interact with one another and participate in different sporting codes offered by the university.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.Sc. (Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science))--University of the Free State, 2016, Sport participation, Undergraduates