Prompt 1: Asking Questions and Breaking Assumptions

Asking Questions and Breaking Assumptions: Kinesiology

Preconceptions:

1. Kinesiology is physical therapy.
2. Kinesiology is the study of movement, therefore, is physical activity. 
3. Kinesiology is related to physical education.
4. Kinesiology deals with athletics and sports. 
5. Kinesiology strictly involves the physical activity portion and no other components. 

Introduction to Kinesiology: Studying Physical Activity by Shirl J. Hoffman

This textbook defines kinesiology in it's many parts and recognizes many of my preconceptions. 

1. Kinesiology is physical therapy: WRONG
• This statement isn't 100% incorrect, but the idea that kinesiology is only physical therapy is the idea that is wrong. Physical therapy is a branch of kinesiology and a career path that one could choose to pursue, but kinesiology is not just physical therapy. As described in the textbook, kinesiology is also related to health and fitness, therapeutic exercise, physical education, coaching, sport instruction, and sport management. These examples are still only a small fraction of paths one could take with majoring in kinesiology. 
2. Kinesiology is the study of movement, therefore, is physical activity: RIGHT
• Kinesiology IS the study of movement and is physical activity. "The discipline of kinesiology is physical activity" (Hoffman 5). This means that kinesiology's focus or theme is physical activity, also meaning that kinesiology revolves around physical activity. Physical activity can be defined as "intentional, voluntary movement, directed toward achieving an identifiable goal" (Hoffman 6). Movement is a little different than physical activity, being defined as "any change in the position of your body parts relative to each other" (Hoffman 7).
3. Kinesiology is related to physical education: RIGHT
• As previously stated, physical education is a career option one has when majoring in kinesiology. The textbook describes the idea that if one wanted to pursue a career in physical education, it would be a great idea to also have a background in pedagogy. Pedagogy "focuses on teaching behaviors and producing learning in students" (Hoffman 430). The textbook uses the example that an effective physical education teacher would know that practicing skills taught is more important than lecturing about the skills. They would also know about the importance of physical activity to children's health. 
4. Kinesiology deals with athletics and sports: RIGHT
• Kinesiology CAN deal with athletics and sports, but does not always. Physical therapy is a branch of kinesiology that does not deal with athletics or sports, but rather the movement of the body to create a pain-free and healthier lifestyle. Branches of kinesiology that do deal with athletics and sports can include sports management, athletic trainer, personal trainer, coaching, etc. 
5. Kinesiology strictly involves the physical activity portion and no other components: WRONG
• Kinesiology also involves the social aspect. "Kinesiologists with a background in sociology are aware of the dominant competitive model of sport as well as the kinds of daily human interactions that make particular ways of organizing and engaging in physical activities more socially valued than others" (Hoffman 185).

This textbook gave me a better idea of what kinesiology is and all of the aspects involved. As such a simple source, I found it gave better information that other sources I've previously been using to research such ideas. This source also got me more interested in my field, as well as taking the classes involved in increasing my knowledge related to my field. 

Source(s): 

Hoffman, Shirl J. Introduction to Kinesiology: Studying Physical Activity. 3rd ed. Champaign: 

           Human Kinetics. 2009. Print. 

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Stacie Kussro