The impact of an awareness session in Physical Education class on students’ attitudes towards the inclusion of peers with disabilities

Authors

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/cpd.569931
Keywords: Perceptions, Inclusive Activities, Physical Education, Awareness Intervention

Abstract

Students' perceptions are a key factor for the successful inclusion of their peers with disabilities. Considering the teaching challenge of developing facilitating strategies for the inclusion process, this study implemented an awareness program to investigate the impact on students' attitudes toward including colleagues with disabilities in their Physical Education (PE) classes. The Portuguese version validated by Campos et al. (2014) of the instrument “The Children's Attitudes Towards Inclusion in Physical Education – Revised” (CAIPE-R) by Block (1995) was used, in two moments, before and after the awareness program. The awareness intervention comprised a 90-minute PE class. Participants were 94 students, between 15 and 18 years old (M = 15.45, SD = 0.65), 52.1% female (n = 49), 43.6% male (n = 41), and 4.3% identified with non-binary (n = 4). Participants were divided into two groups, the experimental group (n = 44) and the control group (n = 50). The results revealed that the experimental group after the intervention showed differences in attitudes on a global scale and both subscales, thus the awareness program resulted in more positive attitudes regarding the inclusion of peers with disabilities in PE classes.

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Author Biographies

Maria Campos, Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física – Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; 2CIDAF- FCDEF-UC

Maria João Carvalheiro Campos obtained the PhD degree in the FCDEFUC (2014) and within their doctoral studies, earned a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and studied in the University of Virginia, United States of America (2010), under the supervision of Professor Martin Block. In 2005 finished the master program in Adapted Physical Activity, at the Faculty of Sport, University of Porto. She completed the undergraduate program in Sport Science and Physical Education (2002) at the FCDEFUC. 

Since 2002 performs teaching duties at the University of Coimbra. Currently teaches at the undergraduate program in sport sciences, at the master programs in teaching physical education in primary and secondary education and in exercise and health in special populations and in specialization course in exercise and health in special populations (e-learning).  Coordinates the master in exercise and health in special populations and the NEAFA FCDEF - Center for the Study of Adapted Physical Activity and acts as coordinator of the 2nd year of the undergraduate program.

Current research interests focus on coaches and PE teacher's and student's perceptions towards inclusion of students with disabilities in Physical Education as well as inclusive physical activity and exercise for special groups.

Maria João Entresede, Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física – Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; 2CIDAF- FCDEF-UC

Mestre em Exercício e Saúde em Populações Especiais - FCDEF-UC

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Published
02-01-2024 — Updated on 03-01-2024
Versions
How to Cite
Campos, M., & Entresede, M. J. (2024). The impact of an awareness session in Physical Education class on students’ attitudes towards the inclusion of peers with disabilities. Sport Psychology Notebooks, 24(1), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.6018/cpd.569931 (Original work published January 2, 2024)
Issue
Vol. 24 No. 1 (2024): CPD1(2024)
Section
Psicología del Deporte

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