Author(s)

Jamie McGann^1*, Sarah Meegan¹, Elaine Murtagh², Christina Duff¹, Sarahjane Belton¹

¹School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
²Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Effectiveness of school-based physical activity (PA) initiatives is not only measured by short term impact on PA levels, but on modifiable determinants of PA such as perceptions and motivations towards PA engagement. These determinants predict more long-term effects and, when it comes to PA promotion, are potentially influenced not only by “what we do” but “the way that we do it”. “The Active School Flag” is a whole school process-oriented physical activity initiative that aims to get more schools, more active, more often. In this exploratory study, a mixed methods research approach is taken to examine the differential impact of the Active School Flag compared to the outcome-oriented PA initiative “The Daily Mile” on measured PA and perceptions of PA, in Irish primary school children. Accelerometry data (n = 124; 41% girls) and focus group data (n = 24; 50% girls) were collected from four schools of low socio-economic status at baseline and follow up (eight months later). Two schools implemented the Active School Flag initiative and two implemented the Daily Mile initiative. Contrasting trajectories in PA levels were observed over time with Daily Mile participants demonstrating a significant decrease in PA levels from baseline to follow up (P = 0.004), and Active School Flag participants demonstrating a significant increase (P < 0.001) over the same timeframe. This meant that while Daily Mile participants had significantly higher levels of PA at baseline compared to Active School Flag participants (P < 0.001), Active School Flag participants experien ced a positive trajectory which saw them to “catch up” to TDM participants by follow up.From a qualitative perspective, 4 key themes, 1) Affordance of choice, 2) An appropriate level of challenge, 3) Importance of social interactions and 4) Belief that an experience is of value were identified as underpinning participant’s perceptions and motivations towards PA engagement. Themes were identified as more positively associated with Active School Flag participation compared to Daily Mile participation. Findings suggest that a process-oriented initiative, as opposed to an outcome-oriented initiative, presents as a more viable way of positively impacting children’s PA levels, perceptions and motivations towards sustained PA engagement over time.

Active Schools, Elementary Education, Health Promotions, Self-Determination Theory, PA Interventions

McGann, J. , Meegan, S. , Murtagh, E. , Duff, C. and Belton, S. (2020) “…The Way That You Do It”: An Exploratory Study Investigating a Process- versus Outcome-Oriented Approach to School-Based Physical Activity Promotion. Advances in Physical Education, 10, 262-281. doi: 10.4236/ape.2020.103022.