An Analysis of Chinese Preservice Physical Education Teachers’ Beliefs About the Physical Education Profession

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated beliefs about the physical education (PE) profession of Chinese preservice physical education teachers (PPETs).Methods: Chinese PPETs (N = 660) from six universities participated in the study. Data were collected using a prevalidated survey—a scale of measuring Chinese PPETs’ beliefs about the PE profession, which consists of two domains: a sense of calling and the value of the PE profession. Analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance were used to examine the differences in overall beliefs and the two subdomains by gender and year in college, respectively.Results: The overall beliefs were positive. The sense of calling and value of the PE profession varied significantly by the year in college. Senior students had the lowest score in value of the PE profession, whereas sophomores showed the lowest score in sense of calling.Conclusions: PE teacher education programs had limited effects on changing Chinese PPET beliefs about the PE profession.