The Effects of Using the CrossFit Kids Program on Academics and Fitness

420 Pages·2014·2.45 MB·English

The Effects of Using the CrossFit Kids Program on Academics and Fitness
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University

By

Kate Moran
Master in Education
University of Virginia, 2001
Bachelor of Arts
The Catholic University of America, 1998

Director: Frederick J. Brigham, Professor
Department of Education

Fall Semester 2014
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
This work is licensed under a creative commons
attribution-noderivs 3.0 unported license.

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DEDICATION
This is dedicated to my mother, Patty Moran; my father, Jack Moran; and my step-mom,
Cathy Costantino, who have supported and loved me through this journey.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the many friends, relatives, and supporters who have made this
happen. My advisor and chair, Rick, who assisted me in my research. My mom, Patty,
who helped me with word processing and notes. My step mom, Cathy, who kept me on
track and my Dad, Jack, who helped me get to the finish line. Liz, Paul, Henry, Charlie,
Chris, Dan and Melissa you are the most supportive family, and I am forever grateful for
your love and support. My good friend Kathy, who listened and supported me along the
way. To Becky and Sheila for your amazing talents and observations. And all of the
special people at our site school, from the front desk to the principal you were amazing!
To Drs. Baker, Evmenova, Grillo, and Dieker, who helped to guide, troubleshoot, and
complete this program. Drs. Shantha Preston, Lauren Bonnet, and Ernest Solar, who
walked with me along this crazy doctoral journey, your support has meant the world to
me. To my constant observers, you know who you are and know that this would not have
happened without your amazing love! A HUGE thank you to CrossFit OldTown, Jerry
and Candee Hill, whose support, coaching, love, and family, made this research possible.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix
List of terminology and acronyms ...................................................................................... x
Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xi
Chapter One ........................................................................................................................ 1
Health Reports ................................................................................................................ 1
Fitness and Academics .................................................................................................... 3
Special Education Gap .................................................................................................... 4
CrossFitTM ....................................................................................................................... 6
CrossFit Kids .................................................................................................................. 7
Delimitations ................................................................................................................. 10
Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 11
Definition of Terms....................................................................................................... 12
Chapter Two...................................................................................................................... 15
The Science of Fitness .................................................................................................. 15
Fitness and Performance ............................................................................................... 16
Fitness and Academics .................................................................................................. 17
Fitness and Behavior ..................................................................................................... 19
Fitness and Students with Disabilities .......................................................................... 21
Summary ....................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter Three.................................................................................................................... 26
Sample........................................................................................................................... 26
Protection of human participants and informed consent ........................................... 26
Participants ................................................................................................................ 27
Setting and Instructional Arrangement ..................................................................... 38
Variables ....................................................................................................................... 41
Dependent Variables ................................................................................................. 41
Independent Variable ................................................................................................ 48
Research Design............................................................................................................ 50
Single-Subject Design ............................................................................................... 50
Data Collection ............................................................................................................. 52
Baseline ..................................................................................................................... 52
Intervention ............................................................................................................... 53
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Visual Analysis of Data ............................................................................................ 54
Reliability and Fidelity ................................................................................................. 56
Social Validity .............................................................................................................. 58
Qualitative Purpose and Questions ........................................................................... 59
Personal Interest ........................................................................................................ 61
Qualitative Data Collection....................................................................................... 61
Summary ....................................................................................................................... 62
Chapter Four ..................................................................................................................... 64
Results ........................................................................................................................... 65
Results for Research Question 1 ............................................................................... 65
Results for Research Question 2 ............................................................................... 70
Results for Research Question 3 ............................................................................... 82
Results for Research Question 4 ............................................................................... 88
Burpees ..................................................................................................................... 89
Sit-ups ....................................................................................................................... 94
Jump Rope ................................................................................................................ 99
Social Validity ............................................................................................................ 104
Qualitative Analysis ................................................................................................ 105
General impressions CFK ....................................................................................... 105
What Changed ......................................................................................................... 107
What Did You Not Like .......................................................................................... 109
What Teachers Felt Should Happen Next ............................................................... 109
Chapter Five .................................................................................................................... 111
Summary of Findings .................................................................................................. 111
Conclusions and Implications ..................................................................................... 112
Academic Engagement ........................................................................................... 113
Working Memory.................................................................................................... 116
On-Task Behavior ................................................................................................... 119
Physical Fitness ....................................................................................................... 120
Limitations .................................................................................................................. 123
Implications for Practice ............................................................................................. 125
Future Study ................................................................................................................ 127
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 128
Appendix ......................................................................................................................... 130
A. Informed Parental Consent Form ....................................................................... 130
B. Informed Assent Form ....................................................................................... 132
C. Waiver and Release ............................................................................................ 134
D. The RAPS-SE Questionnaire ............................................................................. 136
E. BehaviorLENS ................................................................................................... 139
F. Observation Notes .............................................................................................. 140
G. Fitness Test Activities ........................................................................................ 350
H. Student Record Sheet ......................................................................................... 352
I. Sample of CrossFit Kids WODs Completed ....................................................... 353
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J. Interview Questions ............................................................................................. 363
K. Interview Transcriptions .................................................................................... 364
L. Procedural Reliability Checklist ......................................................................... 399
References ....................................................................................................................... 400
Curriculum Vitae ............................................................................................................ 406

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Logic Model. ..................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2. RAP-SE Student Engagement Scores. ............................................................. 69
Figure 3. TOMAL Standard Scores on Subtests. ............................................................ 80
Figure 4. TOMAL Core Index Scores. ............................................................................ 81
Figure 5. On-task behavior observations. ........................................................................ 86
Figure 6. Burpee Physical Fitness Performance. ............................................................. 92
Figure 7. Sit-ups Physical Fitness Performance. ............................................................. 97
Figure 8. Jump rope Physical Fitness Performance. ...................................................... 102

viii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Summary of Characteristics of Participants ........................................................ 38
Table 2 Methodology Summary ........................................................................................ 63
Table 3 Antonio’s Standard Scores TOMAL-2 ................................................................. 72
Table 4 Benito’s Standard Scores TOMAL-2 ................................................................... 74
Table 5 Carlos Standard Scores TOMAL-2 ...................................................................... 76
Table 6 Dora Standard Scores TOMAL-2 ........................................................................ 78
Table 7 On-Task Student Behavior Percentages .............................................................. 88
Table 8 Fitness Performance on Burpees ......................................................................... 93
Table 9 Fitness Performance on Sit-ups ........................................................................... 98
Table 10 Fitness Performance on Jump Rope ................................................................ 103

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