Abstract

To know the interest shown towards the practice of physical sporting activity by analysing the evolution it has produced, over a period of two academic courses, in the students of Almeria University, is one of the objects of this research. On the other hand, we try to evaluate the repercussion it has had, both in the interest in the practice of physical sporting activity in free time, and in the P.E. received as an obligatory subject in school and the attitude of the parents with respect to this type of practices. the population consists of university students from Almeria. The sample of the first cycle (96-97 course) is 1376 students and the second cycle (course 98-99) is 878. The possible degree of error is 3% and a reliance level of 95.5%. The collection of data was carried out by quantitative methodology through public opinion polis (self administered questionnaire with massive application —through classrooms¬and presence of tester). The analysis of the data by quantitative techniques with the computer programme SPSS/PC+ (V 7.52), allows us to present descriptive results of th different variables, as well as the inferentials. To all the people subjected to our questionnaire, independently from the active or passive situation (taking part or not in physical sporting activities in free time) we asked a simple question to find out their interest in the practice of physical sporting activity: “With reference to the practice of physical sporting activity in all its forms, that is to say, as a spectacle, game, physical exercise and diversion and independently as to whether you practice physical activity or not, ¿would you say that you are interested very much sufficiently, a little or not at all, in physical and sporting activity?” The data we get from our study coincides on the whole with data from other similar investigations, which confirm the growing interest in physical sporting activity, and the position it is occupying as one of the ideal forms and with a greater variety of manifestations among leisure activities. We present also the results of the inferential analysis of the variable interest with reference to the variables of age, sex, civil state, faculties, studies, academic course, academic file, PE received, personal practical experience and parents attitude towards physical sporting practice in spare time.