The attitudes of physical education teachers towards teaching students with disabilities: a qualitative research in Turkey

ABSTRACT

This qualitative research examines the attitudes of physical education teachers in schools towards people with disabilities using the theory of planned behaviour. Fourteen (eleven male, three female) physical education teachers who work in a province in Turkey and have 6–25 years of teaching experience participated in the study. An interview form with semi-structured questions was used to collect the data for the study. The interviews focused on the in-class attitudes of the participants towards students with disabilities. The data of the study were analyzed thematically. It was determined that most of the participants exhibited negative attitudes towards students with disabilities while teaching them in physical education classes. In addition to the emergence of culture-specific themes, it was observed that even though the participants received adequate support from their administrators and colleagues, they failed to include students with disabilities in their classes through inclusive education philosophy in the field of adapted physical education.

KEYWORDS:

• Teaching method
• special educational needs
• inclusive education
• physical education

Acknowledgement

This article is based on the PhD thesis of the first author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) with the application number 1059B141800311.

Notes on contributors

Gamze Beyazoğlu

Gamze Beyazoğlu is a assistant professor at Usak University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Coaching Training. Dr. Beyazoğlu’s primary area of research focuses on the philosophy and practice of including students with disabilities in general physical education. Her other area of research is promoting physical activity to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Oğuz Özbek

Oğuz Özbek is a professor at Ankara University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Sport Management. He studies in the fields of sport management, sports consumption, sport ethics and physical education. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in sport management.