Evaluating the Pilot of Strong Girls: A Life Skills/Physical Activity Program for Third and Fourth Grade Girls

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to report on a pilot study of a physical activity/positive life skills program called Strong Girls. The program was framed within the theoretical tenets of achievement goal perspective theory. Evaluation consisted of the participants’ perceptions of the climate (i.e., caring, task- and ego-involving), and pre-post scores for their self-perceptions and goal orientations. Results revealed participants perceived the environment to be high caring and task-involving and low ego-involving. Participants also reported a positive increase in task-orientation. Results suggest that Strong Girls is a feasible, effective youth development program, ready for larger-scale evaluation or dissemination.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.

Theresa C. Brown is now at Health & Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa.