Charles H. Imwold

A Comparison of Selected ‘Serious’ and ‘Popular’ British, Canadian, and United States Newspaper Coverage of Female and Male Athletes Competing in the Centennial Olympic Games: Did Female Athletes Receive Equitable Coverage in the ‘Games of the Women’?

This study compares how selected ‘serious’ and ‘popular’ newspapers from three countries covered female and male athletes during the Centennial Olympic Games, 1996. From Canada, the Globe and Mailand Toronto Star; from Great Britain, The Timesand the Daily Mail; and from the United States, the New York Timesand USA Todaywere examined. Content analysis was used to compare all the articles and photographs of female and male athletes on the front pages and the sports sections of all six newspapers. Although differences were found, generally the results showed that, compared to their respective participation rates, female and male athletes competing in the Centennial Olympic Games received an equitable amount of coverage. Qualitative analyses indicated that female athletes received a comparable coverage with their male peers in article descriptors of their ‘physical appearance/attire’, ‘strength/athleticism’, ‘psychological characteristics’, and ‘family role’, and in ‘competing’, ‘non-competing’, ‘active’, and ‘posed’ photographs. This study confirmed that female athletes receive more newspaper coverage when they compete in major international competitions such as the Olympic Games. Reasons for the reasonably equitable amount of newspaper coverage of female athletes are outlined, with suggestions for improvement of newspaper coverage of female athletes.

Visual Recognition of a Gymnastics Skill by Experienced and Inexperienced Instructors

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between teaching experience and selected factors involved in skill analysis, namely, perceptual recognition and visual inspection strategy. Specifically, the study compared three groups with different levels of gymnastic teaching experience in the ability to recognize components of previously presented gymnastic performances. The nature of the recognition task also made it possible to test certain tentative hypotheses regarding strategies employed by the groups. The recognition accuracy of 20 gymnastic coaches (Specialists), 20 veteran physical education teachers (Generalists), and 20 pre-service physical education teachers (Novices) were assessed using a unique film/slide testing technique which permitted variation of the information load imposed upon the observer. Results indicated that Specialists were significantly more accurate than Generalists and Novices, but that Generalists were not different from Novices. There was no statistic...

Accuracy and Prediction in Throwing: A Taxonomic Analysis of Children's Performance

Abstract The throwing and prediction performances of first, third and fifth grade boys and girls were analyzed within the framework of a four-part taxonomy originally conceived by Fitts (1965). Throwing performance was assessed under task conditions which varied the motion states of the throwers body and the target (stationary or moving) by use of a dual pendulum apparatus. Accuracy scores were highest in a condition where both body and target were stationary, and lowest where both body and target were moving. Task conditions requiring motion of only target or of body were of intermediate difficulty, and scores for these tasks were not significantly different from each other. There was evidence of learning across trial blocks for all tasks, but no indication that rates of acquisition differed for the task types. Likewise, significant main effects were observed for age levels but no age X task type interactions were disclosed. Boys were more accurate than girls across task conditions, most noticeably on t...

Comparison of Hand Preference in Trainable Mentally Handicapped and Nonhandicapped Children

Hand preference was compared in 22 trainable mentally handicapped and 22 nonhandicapped children (Mage 78.00 mo.). Significant differences were found, showing the nonhandicapped group had a stronger preference when presented 10 hand-choice items from The Harris Tests of Lateral Dominance. In addition, stronger lefthandedness characterized the handicapped group, supporting previous research.

Comparison of Selected Gait Parameters of Trainable Mentally Retarded and Nonretarded Males

Although there were no significant differences in the single support phase of gait for 6 trainable mentally retarded boys (Mean age 9.6 yr.) and 6 nonretarded boys (Mean age 9.5 yr.), total gait time and time in double support were significantly different for the two groups, supporting previous research which showed gait was deficient in trainable mentally retarded individuals.