Effects of an Intervention Strategy Aiming to Improve Pupils’ Social Behaviour during Physical Education Lessons

Abstract

The objective of the research project was to assess the effectiveness of a specially designed Strategy which aimed to improve pupils’ social behaviour (using as criteria groups’ social climate). This strategy was designed to be delivered at the same time as the designated PE curriculum and to be used as a method of delivery. It was hypothesised that the social behaviour would progress more within groups attending the Strategy than in groups that experienced the lessons in the usual way. Five groups of between fourteen and seventeen boys attended the lessons in which the Strategy was introduced through PE lessons during a period of one school year. There were also five control-matched groups that did not experience the Strategy in their PE lessons. Using the questionnaire technique, the social behaviour within the groups was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the school year. A Mann-Whitney, non-parametric test showed that the difference between the progress of experimental and matched control groups was significant. This led to the conclusion that the Strategy was effective in improving pupils’ social behaviour. The fact could be seen in the social development of boys who attended PE lessons in which this was implemented.