Developing a Scale for Subjective Easiness: Using Pullover Exercise as an Example

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a scale to evaluate subjective easiness in instructing the pullover exercise. We have questionnaires corresponding visual instructions, verbal instructions and assist methods. We include “easiness” subjectively felt by the examinees as the possible answers.

This survey was conducted from October to December of 2017. The number of subjects is 705, 321 males and 384 females. In our exploratory factor analysis, the principal factor method and promax rotation was employed. We conducted research on the difference in the degree of skill acquisition in the pullover exercise by sex. The answer options given are “constantly possible”, “possible but unstable”, “possible in the past,” “impossible.” In data analysis, we employed a two-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests, with α set at p<.05.

The results are as follows: (1) Factor analysis indicated four factor structure scales; Subjective easiness felt in instructions using onomatopoeis, in methods using verbal instructions, in instruction making use of visual instructions, and in using of support. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the subscales were 0.661–0.885. Each of the subscales indicated satisfactory. (2) We detected the difference of subscale score in the degree of skill acquisition in the pullover exercise in the methods using onomatopoeis and those using visual instructions. When the average score of subscales are concerned, group a, constantly possible, group b, instable, and group c, able in the past, showed significantly higher score than group d, not possible. As of subjective easiness in instruction making use of visual instructions, “constantly possible” scored higher than “instable,” and “able in the past” than “not possible.” (3) We recognize difference by sex in the subscale score in subjective easiness in instruction using verbal instructions and in using support. In terms of the verbal instructions, males shows higher points than females and in using support, females than males.