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Structural equation modeling involving latent interaction has garnered much attention from researchers in many disciplines. Interestingly, Becher & Trowler (2001) described academics as living in a tribe sharing a common set of practices and led by a stable elite. To provide an overview of psychological and educational studies using the latent moderated structural equations approach (LMS), we produced a scoping review from three databases (ERIC, PsychInfo, and Érudit) and selected 78 articles. The goal of this study is to examine the nature and extent of practices regarding the use of the LMS method in order to recommend good practices. Our results show that there are some discrepancies in the way researchers analyze data using LMS.

Purpose: To gain a better understanding of the assessment practices currently implemented by Quebec physical education teachers regarding reporting and grading. Method: Exploratory mixed-methods study using semistructured interviews (n = 13), interviews to the double (n = 12), and a questionnaire (n = 164) with elementary and high school physical education teachers. Results: Participants use different strategies to report student performance. When grading, their strategy is to combine a mathematical approach with their professional judgment. They often consider all the marks taken during a learning and assessment situation and not only those taken at the end of it. Discussion/Conclusions: The main finding of this study is that teachers' reporting and grading practices are subjective. We discuss how our results show the subjectivity in teachers' practices and possible explanations for it, and then conclude by trying to understand how to make assessment in physical education more objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pre-service physical education (PE) teachers have concerns about how to sustain pupils' motivation. A training titled Learning how to motivate was designed to address these concerns. Objectives: The aims of the study were (1) to compare the perceptions of high school pupils of pre-service PE teachers who had completed the training [experimental group (EG)] and pre-service PE teachers who had not completed the training [control group (CG)] about motivation; (2) to verify changes in the perceptions of EG and CG high school pupils with regard to motivational variables between the beginning and end of the internship; and (3) to compare observations of the motivational climate established by the pre-service PE teachers and of their pupils' engagement between EG and CG. Methods: The study involves a sample of four French-Canadian pre-service PE teachers (EG = 2; CG = 2) and their high school pupils (n = 89) during the pre-service PE teachers' final internship. Data were collected using observations and questionnaires at the start (T1) and end (T2) of the internship. Results: Findings revealed no significant differences between groups at T1. At T2, the EG exhibited higher levels of pupils' perceived dimensions of an empowering motivational climate than the CG. Notably, between T1 and T2, performance-approach goals decreased, and external regulation increased in the EG. As for the CG, pupils' perceived dimensions of an empowering motivational climate, competence satisfaction, and performance-approach goals decreased. Finally, there were some trends (p ≤ 0.15) related to differences between the groups for observed motivational climate and pupils' engagement. Conclusion: The training shows promise with regard to helping pre-service PE teachers apply theory to practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Physical education teachers use motivational strategies that can (positively or negatively) affect their students' level of motivation and engagement. Indeed, according to their experiences and beliefs, some teachers may focus on strategies that thwart, rather than support, students' psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Effective professional development represents an excellent opportunity to help teachers use research-supported motivational strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to discover if attendance at a 2-day training course could positively affect PE teachers' beliefs regarding empowering motivational strategies. Specifically, 11 PE teachers (experimental group = 6 [attending the training]; control group = 5 [no training]) from primary school (n = 6) and secondary school (n = 5) expressed their beliefs (effectiveness, feasibility, and normality) regarding 31 empowering motivational strategies proposed during training at the beginning (October) and the end (April) of the school year. Results of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for related samples indi cated no significant differences for the belief regarding effectiveness in either group. However, some positive significant changes (p = .05) occurred in the experimental group for two motivational strategies supporting students' need for autonomy and one supporting their need for competence. Given the small sample, positive trends (p = .10) are also considered results of interest. In conclusion, the training appears likely to impact teachers' beliefs. However, future professional development should provide additional feedback and follow-up time with teachers during experimentation with students to allow teachers to refine their understanding and use of the motivational strategies proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]