Influence of Age, Sex, and Race on College Students Exercise Motivation of Physical Activity - Assignment Example

Influence of Age, Sex, and Race on College Exercise Motivation of Physical Activity Box 9 The main reason for carrying out this study is to create awareness among college students on how incidences of obesity have been on the rise. Since figures do not lie, it is evident that obesity was at a lower scale in the early 90s whereby only 12% of college-aged population was suffering from obesity. Fast forward to 2004 and the numbers have gone a notch higher whereby 36% of college-aged population was registered to be suffering from obesity. Even though not a lot of studies have been carried out since then by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, other studies have gone ahead to forewarn college students on the likelihood of being obese. This is largely due to the fact that students are likely to gain immense weight in the course of their studies and this might affect them negatively in future. The purpose of this study is to enlighten the youth on the health risk factors that come with obesity and/or being overweight. In this case, obesity creates an environment whereby one is susceptible to ailments such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease et cetera. In addition, the study goes further to illustrate that the main cause behind the prevalence of obesity among the college-aged population is largely due to lack of physical activity. Hence, the study aims to enlighten the youth not to look any further other than them not engaging in any form of physical activity. This study is being carried out by health professionals and their main respondents are youths within the college-aged population. By doing this, they have being able to come up with an alarming figure whereby 24.2% of college students do not in any way engage themselves in any form of physical activity be it moderate or not. Of concern is how this study is being done. This study is carried out by monitoring the life pattern of the college-aged population in Southeastern University. The researchers sampled students from different sections of physical activity classes. However, the method of sampling involved all the students who undertake physical activity classes. This study was a wakeup call to all youths out there on why they need to shed off those extra calories. To begin with, the study found out that the college-aged population was more susceptible to obesity and other related ailments. Furthermore, it was established that the lack of physical activity was the main contributing factor towards the increased cases of obesity among the college-aged population. Even though a significant number of 41.4% of the sampled population was found to be physically active, a good number of those sampled were considered not to be physically active. Based on the research studies, it would be healthy to participate in vigorous physical activity lasting up to 75 minutes or 150 minutes of moderate physical activity. Generally, everyone can benefit from the findings of this research study. However, the biggest beneficiaries would be those who are either obese or those who have gained extra weight. Since the statistics are alarming, perhaps this group of people would consider shedding off those extra calories if at all they would not want to aggravate the situation any further. Box 10 The literature review as presented in the introductory part provides the bigger picture such that it illustrates the prevalence, occurrence and incidence of obesity among the college-aged population. This is because it illustrates the incidence of obesity in the early 90s and the difference a decade later. Moreover, it goes further to register the occurrence of obesity among college students by registering the percentage of students who were considered to be either obese or overweight in 2009. In the case of prevalence, the research study is categorical that the high prevalence rate of obesity among the college-aged population is due lack of physical activity. The literature review is in itself balanced because it clearly illustrates prevalence, occurrence, and incidences of obesity. By doing this, it provides the reader with an overview of the research study as it is often required of a balanced literature review. Its rationale is apparent because it begins by elaborating on how the situation was before and how a decade later. In addition, the literature review as depicted in the research study outlines the target population being sampled making it easier for the reader to understand the whole concept behind the research study. The literature review has been presented in a manner that justifies the purpose of the study. From the onset, the literature review is elaborate on the purpose of this study. It does not in any way leave the reader hanging as to what the research study is all about. It makes it possible for the reader to grasp all the necessary details pertaining to the study and what it aims to achieve. Based on the contents and facts presented in the literature review, it can be said that it is adequate because it covers each and every bit of the research study. Based on the topic in question, it discusses the incidences of obesity and its prevalence among the college-aged population. It goes further to illustrate the body responsible for the research findings as presented in the study. Furthermore, it illustrates the side effects that can arise by virtue of one being obese and the main cause behind the increased cases of obesity among the college-aged population. Figure 11 The research study involved students answering a defined set of questions. The study was based on the use of surveys whereby 2,214 students completed the survey instruments. However, it can be said that the hypothesis of the article is clear to the reader because it vividly outlines the main factors of consideration when examining the differences between exercise motivation by age, sex, and race among the college-age population. Box 11 The total size of the sample used in the research study was 156 students. These students were sampled from a total population of 5,108 students who had initially volunteered to take part in the study. The students were recruited verbally by instructors while undertaking their physical activity classes. However, the process was voluntary and no student was compelled to take part in the study. The selection of the sample was driven by the purpose of the study. There was a positive relationship of the sample selection with the existing population because time was of essence and not all the students who had volunteered could be sampled. It took one year to collect the samples since 5,108 students were enrolled for the physical activity courses of the academic year. The sample had one notable unique feature since there was one student representing each of the 156 sections of physical activity courses. Box 12 It took exactly two semesters for the students to complete filling the survey instruments that had being posted in the online course learning management system. The students were divided into groups of males and females. The other grouping was based on the student’s year of study and age. The students were further divided based on their racial or ethnic groups. The design used to group the sample can be replicated but this is dependent on the research study being undertaken. The main form of internal threat that may exist is the fear of the students not being truthful while filling the survey instruments. In the case external threats, there are fears that the researchers might discriminate students based on the race or ethnic affiliation. Box 13 The research study can be described as quantitative-descriptive because it aims to determine the relationship between one variable (physical activity) and another variable (obesity) in a population. Box 14 The main objective of the study design is evaluation of practice. In the case of this research study, it aims to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and the prevalence of obesity. Box 15 The research study is characterized by a multiple group since it encompasses a set of male of female who are further divided based on their racial or ethnic groups as well as age. Box 16 The data was collected in Southeastern University. While in the process of collecting data, there is a group of students who did not provide a response on the survey instruments. On the other hand, 2,214 students completed the survey instruments. The data collected was primary data since it consisted of the original response collected from the respondents by the researcher. The researchers required two semesters to collect the data from each and every individual and one more year to compile data from the entire sample. The main area of research ethics that was evident in the research study was data acquisition and management. In this case, the researchers had to understand the ways and means of acquiring, selecting, analyzing and retaining data. The relationship between those who collected the data and the actual study subjects can be described as healthy since a significant number of students volunteered to take part in the research study. Box 17 In the course of the study, the researchers employed the use of EMI-2 to measure participant’s exercise motives. This instrument was made up of 51 items and 14 subscales. Other notable items that were used in the research study include mean and standard deviations. Means were used to determine group ranking of exercise motivations. All of the items used were reliable and valid because the researchers did not indicate any form of inconsistencies in the final results. All the materials cannot be replicated since each research design has a unique design that may be totally different to other research studies. No, the instruments were not pre-tested. Box 18 The numbers used in the charts correlated with those that were collected from the survey instruments. The sample sizes have being clearly noted throughout the charts. The charts are of a reasonable length based on the small population size that was sampled. The data as presented in the charts is clear and makes it easy for the reader to analyze it. Box 20 The sample data covers a wide range areas and its outcome is based on the results derived from the survey instruments. Hence, it is feasible to say that there is a correlation between the sample data and the results from the survey instruments. Box 21 The main areas of discussion in this research lean towards college-age population. In order to increase the prevalence physical activity within the college age population, it often calls for understanding the motivations to exercise. Hence, different programming strategies would come in handy when it comes to addressing variations that exist according to age, sex and race. Box 22 The sample that was obtained is representative of only one institution and may not represent the true picture of other institutions and/or geographic regions. The research study did not put in place to ensure that there were honest responses. Furthermore, this study was unable to measure exercise motivation versus the actual physical activity patterns. Box 23 The research can be described as that which descriptive knowledge. This is because the study intends to describe social phenomena by studying its form, activity, structure, and its relationship with other phenomena. Read More