Zonta, Laura (2022) A Comparative Study of Children’s Motor Abilities Between Brazil and the Netherlands. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Many different motor skill instruments are used nowadays (Bardid et al., 2015). Therefore, children from different countries are rarely compared with the same assessment on their motor abilities. To contribute to cross-cultural literature, the main focus of this study was to investigate motor differences between children from the Netherlands and Brazil using the Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery for children. Moreover, gender differences regarding motor skills were analyzed, especially in relation to power items. The sample consisted of 37 children from the Netherlands and 40 children from Brazil aged 7-12 years old. The results showed no significant difference on the total outcome of the PERF-FIT assessment between Brazilian and Dutch children. When considering every subscale and each item of the test, significant differences were found for the subscale ball skills, the items overhead throwing, bouncing and catching, and throwing and catching, whereas the Brazilian sample performed better than the Dutch sample in all listed items. While boys were faster on the ladder running task, girls outperformed boys on the throwing and catching item in both countries. No significant gender differences were found on the power items. Additionally, an interaction effect on the side jumping item showed that Brazilian boys jumped more often than girls, but in the Dutch sample the reverse was true. The findings displayed that children from countries with different socioeconomic statuses might not be as different as assumed. This study stressed the importance to further investigate cross-cultural research, also regarding gender differences. Keywords: PERF-FIT assessment, cross-cultural comparison, gender differences, motor skills
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Jelsma, L.D. and Leeuwestein, H. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Developmental Psychology (DP) [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Feb 2022 08:16 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2022 08:03 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/152 |
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