TitleExploring preschoolers’ engagement and perceived physical competence in an autonomy-based object control skill intervention
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsLogan, SW, Robinson, L, E Webster, K, Barber, L
JournalEuropean Physical Education Review
Volume198480431026541411155823821401318080821356912383
Issue33352111264351221332412535
Pagination302 - 314
Date Published10/2013
ISSN1356-336X
Abstract
 

The purpose of this study was to describe children’s engagement during two (high and low) autonomy-based climates. Twenty-five preschool children participated in a nine-week object control skill intervention. Children completed the object control subscale of the Test of Gross Motor Development 2nd Edition and the perceived physical competence subscale of Harter and Pike’s Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance (1984). Skill attempts were tallied by video analyses. A skill attempt was considered appropriate if the movement was consistent with the correct execution of the skill and the goal of the task. Findings indicate (a) no significant difference in appropriate skill attempts between each climate, (b) no significant difference in appropriate skill attempts of low- and high- skilled children in each climate, (c) regardless of climate, children improved in object control percentile and low-skilled children improved significantly more than high-skilled children, and (d) high-autonomy group children significantly improved in pre- to post- intervention on perceived competence compared to the low-autonomy group, regardless of skill level. High-autonomy climates provide variations of task difficulty that may promote the development of perceived physical competence of preschool children.

DOI10.1177/1356336X13495627
Short TitleEuropean Physical Education Review