African-American children's representation of personal and social responsibility

Abstract

This study examines 12 grade five elementary school students' attitudes and beliefs concerning personal and social responsibility in physical education. Factors used to identify students' attitudes and beliefs were initially divided into the six levels of Hellison's Taking Personal and Social Responsibility Model (TPSR), namely: irresponsibility, respect for the rights and feelings of others, participation and effort, self-direction, helping and caring for others and transfer into real-life situations. Through a variety of data collection techniques such as drawings, narrations, interviews and observations, a representation of the students' attitudes and beliefs regarding personal and social responsibility was identified. Results from the study showed the emergence of the following themes: (1) an emphasis on one on one interactions; (2) a focus on negative actions; (3) responsibility is complying with teachers to avoid punishment; (4) responsibility is determined by the family and not the school; and (5) responsibility and race differences. Further research needs to be conducted to determine how children's entry characteristics can be used to strengthen behavioural change in models such as TPSR.