Heterogeneity in Practicing Sports: Results of the National Educational Panel Study

• In Event: Analyses on Nonformal and Informal Learning Environments in Educational Panel Studies

Abstract

In the paper we will investigate the relations between sports and the frequency and mode of sport practice at one time as well as in its chronological sequence on the one hand. On the other hand, the impact of social heterogeneity on these relations will be analyzed. Given the significance of sports for general society (e.g. media) as well as for individual lives sports was integrated as a learning opportunity within the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) of Germany. NEPS is covering educational developments across the life span by providing six nationally representative longitudinal cohorts starting at different ages with altogether 60,000 target persons and about 40,000 context persons (e.g., parents). The key task of NEPS is to publish Scientific Use Files for the international scientific community.
This paper employs NEPS data from Starting Cohort Grade 5 (SC3) that comprises 5778 target persons as well as additional context persons (parents, teachers, principals). Data from the first three waves will be used, following target persons from grade 5 to grade 7. Variables stem from students' paper and pencil questionnaires (PAPI) respectively the correspondent data file, mainly because context persons’ information is not always available thus reducing number of cases. The results show the high sports participation rate of this cohort. Only about 5 % of the targets report never exercising sports. Frequency, mode, and kind of sport are highly interrelated. For example, sports clubs are used more frequently than exercising alone and team sports such as football are followed mainly in clubs. There is a high degree of heterogeneity within the three sports variables and their relations in relation to gender, school track, cultural capital (number of books at home, cultural possessions) family constellation (single parent, number of siblings) and migration background. For example, students with migration background do sports more often than students without migration background. Boys are playing football more often in a club than girls do. Although general participation rates do not drop over the years in this cohort, changes occur depending on the sports variables themselves as well as the observed heterogeneous characteristics.
The paper will analyze these complex interrelations in detail using multivariate regression analyses or logistic regressions depending on the kind of criteria. It aims to show the richness of the NEPS data base for studies in the field of empirical educational research by using just a very small set of variables and demonstrating the complexity of possible analyses.

Authors

• Thomas Baeumer, LIfBi – Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsverläufe e.V.

• Kerstin Hoenig, LIfBi

• Hans-Guenther Rossbach, Otto Friedrich University Bamberg