The Health-Related Physical Fitness Test: A Tri-State Survey of Users and Non-Users

Abstract

Abstract The Health-Related Physical Fitness Test (HRPFT) Opinionnaire (Safrit & Wood, 1983) was administered to a stratified random sample of physical education teachers in Illinois, Oregon, and Arizona. For the total sample across states, the return rate was 31%. The responses were analyzed by total sample, state, and school level. Where appropriate, an item analysis was conducted to examine the internal consistency of items within clusters. In the total sample, 19% of the teachers had used the HRPFT and 81% had not. The major reasons for using the HRPFT were motivation, evaluation, and diagnosis of students. Eleven percent of the teachers in the users group did not feel health-related physical fitness was an important part of the physical education curriculum. Only half of the users agreed that the HRPFT measured overall physical fitness. Approximately 25% of non-users had read about the test, and very few had heard presentations about it. Generally, the results of this survey pointed to limited use of the HRPFT in these three states. Indeed, there is limited knowledge of the test among the majority of physical education teachers surveyed. Suggestions are outlined for enhanced implementation of the test.