Abstract

Is there a relationship between Data Management and Probability test scores and a particular sport?

A study performed by the California Department of Education
(http://www.cde.ca.gov/cyfsbranch/lsp/health/pecommunications.htm) found that there was a relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness. The study also said that the relationship between physical fitness and mathematics was greatest. Specifically, the most physically fit students had higher mathematics scores.

Last year, in my experiment (see appendix 1), I found a relationship between a preference for sports as a favourite activity, and higher math test scores in the strand of Data Management and Probability.

To find out if there is any relationship between the higher test scores in the Data Management and Probability strand of math and a specific sport, 23 grade six students were tested (12 male and 11 female) at the beginning and end of two gym units (hockey and volleyball). The tests consisted of five questions each and were taken from a grade six math text book. The tests were marked out of five.

My hypothesis was that if a number of grade 6 students perform a series of math tests, before and after a new sport is taught in gym class, there will be a higher score after the gym unit than before.

At the end of the hockey unit, the average difference in scores was a decrease of 10%. The boys showed an average increase of 5%, and the girls showed an average decrease of 22%.

At the end of the volleyball unit, the average difference in scores was an increase of 6%. The boys showed an average decrease of 3%, and the girls showed an average increase of 27%.

Students were also asked to report their favourite leisure activity. Of the students who chose Playing Sports as their favourite activity, there was an average increase of 20% for the volleyball unit and an average decrease of 3% for the hockey unit.

It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the girls’ test scores and the volleyball unit, and a relationship between the preference for playing sports and an increase in test scores after volleyball was taught. There is also a much smaller positive relationship between the boys’ test scores and the hockey unit.

The results of this experiment could be used in schools to raise data management test scores. Teachers could set up the year so that volleyball (or another sport if this area were to be investigated further) is taught at the same time a data management and probability.

If I were to investigate this area further, I would include subjects of different ages, use a larger sample size, and control many more of the variables

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