Non-major physical education students' and department chairpersons' perceptions of current physical education activity curriculum in the nine state supported universities in Arkansas

This study examines perceptions of the department chairpersons and non-major physical education students at seven Arkansas state supported universities. The research study was based on two parts. Part I included a 16 item questionnaire survey to the physical education department chairpersons. The results of this study were analyzed using a qualitative clustering approach. The research was grounded in the department chairperson's questionnaire. Part II included a 26 item questionnaire survey to the non-major physical education students enrolled in physical education activity classes to meet the general education requirement. Twenty four questions were analyzed using a chi-square test to determine differences in perceptions existed. The two remaining questions were analyzed using a qualitative approach. The research was grounded in the non-major physical education students perceptions of the curricular. The outcome of Part II of the study indicates there were significant differences in four (4) of the survey items, and there were no significant differences in twenty (20) of the survey items regarding the perceptions of the non-major physical education students enrolled in physical education activity courses.