Examining the Multiple Intelligence Types Based on Academic Success, Age, Gender and Job Experience of Physical Education Teachers in State Schools in Turkey

Levent Bayram1*; Deniz Özge Yüceloğlu Keskin2  

1,2Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversity Yaşar Doğu, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Turkey.

Abstract

The current approach to education has highly changed compared to the past approach where individual differences and potentials were overlooked. Today, there is an education system that reveals the potentials of individuals, shapes the strong sides and supports the weak sides. This approach is based on the multiple intelligence theory. The aim of this study is to examine the profiles of educators based on the multiple intelligence theory. This is a scan model descriptive research. It was carried out in 2017 in four cities in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Samsun, Gaziantep) with the participation of 110 physical education teachers (46 female, 64 male) whose ages were 22-42 (an average age of 31,98).  To collect data, the reliability index was determined as .81, and the “Multiple Intelligences Inventory”, translated into Turkish by Oral (2001) was used. The significance level was considered as (p<0.05). To compare the multiple intelligence type points based on the gender and age variables, the t test and Mann Whitney U test were used for paired comparisons while the Kruskal Wallis and OneWay ANOVA test was used for multiple comparisons. The significance level was considered as (p<0.05). As a result of the study, a statistically significant difference was not detected in multiple intelligence point averages based on gender, job experience and academic achievement variables while a positively significant difference was found in the social intelligence type based on the age variable.

Keywords:Multiple intelligence theory, Intelligence types, Education system, Sports, Teaching physical education, Academic achievement.

Contribution of this paper to the literature
This study contributes to the existing literature by investigating the multiple intelligence types of physical education teachers working in state schools in Turkey and examining how these intelligence types are affected by the academic success, age, gender and job experience variables.

1. Introduction

Education is an important term for the development of individuals, society and the world. The rapid change that is taking place in the world today deeply affects individuals and society. In order to keep up with this change, it is necessary to be equipped in many different ways. Indeed, it is not enough for individuals to be equipped only cognitively.  This will only cause the individual to be crushed under enormous amounts of information. Thus, it is necessary for individuals to be satisfied and equipped both cognitively and affectively. Education is the determinant of the future, so more attention should be given to its affective aspect. This can be done by focusing a little more on the affective aspect of the functionality of educational activities that are mainly directed towards cognitive goals (Gömleksiz and Kan, 2012). Modern education considers the individual as a whole with all aspects such as physical, mental, emotional and social. In this sense, what is expected from education is to reveal the hidden power in individuals and help to improve it to the best extent. Thus, it is possible to integrate productive and physically and mentally happy individuals into society (Yenal et al., 1999). Fast technological developments are raising the importance of physical education and sports in human life. Due to this, it is the only discipline that can help gain most of matters that make up the aims of education because physical education and sports is a field that improves an individual physically, emotionally and socially.

Every function and action that is required for human life is formed in the body of an individual. There is a close connection between physical development and human behavior. Disorders, instabilities and declining in physical development affect behavior (Başaran, 1991).  Movement, on the other hand, is the best way to improve as a whole and adapt to society. Humans use their senses to activate perceptions and thoughts, and they use these thoughts to control their bodies. In this system, muscles are affected by thoughts and feelings. In other words, muscles are affected by psychology while psychology is affected by muscles. This interaction and communication continues throughout life. Therefore, developing the ability to move to do sports is the biggest contribution to the overall development of a child (Camlıyer and Camlıyer, 1997). Besides playing an important role in child development, physical education and sports activities contribute to the social and emotional development of the child. These activities functionalize abilities such as creativity and leadership, and they develop certain personality traits like being competent, determined, compatible, productive, hardworking, respectful and understanding, following rules, cooperating, and being independent and self-disciplined.

The teacher is one of the main components of the teaching-learning process. They are people who constantly interact with students, apply the education program and instruct it, and evaluate both students and teachers. The qualifications of the teacher affect the quality of these processes to a great extent.

A teacher should be an individual who can make use of certain conditions in the best way in order to meet the constantly-changing needs of society and educational institutions, works for perfection, uses creativity and flexibility, and does not have ideological obsessions that can harm the main principles of the society. Being open to cooperation and sharing are among the characteristic traits of a modern teacher. As teachers are people who educate students with different intelligence and personality types from different socio-culture backgrounds, and encourage and support them to learn, creativity is perhaps one of the most important traits of a modern teacher (Yetim and Göktaş, 2004).

Howard Gardner brought a new aspect to the discussion about intelligence with this Multiple Intelligence Theory in 1983. According to Gardner, intelligence is the ability to create a product that is valued within one or more cultural settings, to find effective solutions to real life problems, and to discover new or complex problems that need to be solved (Saban, 2001). In the multiple intelligence theory, which states that intelligence differs based on biological and cultural effects, there are 8 different intelligences: Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial-Visual, Musical-Rhythmic, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal-Social, Intrapersonal and Naturalist (Gardner, 1993). Besides being different in terms of producing information, adapting to the environment, reasoning and thinking, these intelligences can show difference in problem-solving (Kiremitci and Canpolat, 2014). According to the multiple intelligence theory, a healthy individual possess all of these intelligences but not at the same level. When the individual encounters a problem, they use the dominant intelligence type to solve the problem. However, the intelligences work in cooperation with one another (Temiz, 2007). If the educator does not consider personal traits while preparing educational activities, it is not possible to serve all intelligence types. Due to this, not all students will be able to comprehend, and this will prevent the interest and abilities of individuals to be revealed. In this situation where individual abilities and intelligences do not have the chance to improve, there will not be equality in education. Thus, students will have jobs which are not convenient for themselves, and this will eventually cause unfavorable issues in the future (Güleryüz, 2002).

Since physical education and sportive activities in school highly support student development in many ways, the significance of the physical education teacher, who plans, applies, instructs and evaluates the lessons and activities, can be seen more clearly. Due to the fact that they are responsible for the physical development young students who have different abilities, personalities, interests, social and cultural backgrounds, mental and emotional structures, and also experience social conflict and dilemma, the physical education teacher has a significant role. Being able to apply forms of education based on different kinds of personal interests, needs and learning styles, and knowing how to communicate effectively and solve problems based on personal traits in situations of conflict shows the synthesis of the intelligence and creativity of an educator. Physical education teachers can help students benefit from lessons and activities by using their own multiple intelligence potentials in their teaching and problem-solving methods. This study aims to examine the multiple intelligences of physical education teachers in state schools based on academic success and certain demographic features.

2. Method

2.1. Sample and Procedure

This research was conducted in 2017 in four cities of Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Samsun, Gaziantep) with a total of 110 physical education teachers (46 female, 64 male) in state schools whose ages range between 22-42, with an age average of 31.98. This research is a descriptive study.

2.2. Measures

To collect data, the “Multiple Intelligences Inventory”, which was translated into Turkish by Oral (2001) was used along with descriptive questions to the participants such as age, gender, job experience, education of mother and father, and Bachelor’s degree GPA in order to determine academic success.

2.3. Multiple Intelligences Survey

The reliability of Multiple Intelligences Inventory (MII) was calculated as .79 by Oral (2001). This coefficient shows that MII has high reliability. The reliability of the MII applied in this research was found as .81. MII is a 5-point Likert-scale that is made up of 80 items. It consists of statements based on the eight intelligences introduced by Gardner. The total point received by the marked items of a single intelligence type shows the sufficiency of an individual in that area. The participating teachers read certain statements based on intelligence types and marked the option which best described them. Each intelligence type is represented by 10 statements. The point range that can be received from one of the eight intelligence types is 10-50, and the point range that can be received from the entire inventory is 80-400 (Aşçı, 2003).

2.4. Data Analysis

The data was analyzed with the SPSS 22 packet program. The Kolmogorow test was used to determine whether the data showed a regular range or not. The t test and Mann Whitney U test were used for paired comparison while the Kruskal Wallis and OneWay ANOVA test was used for multiple comparisons to compare the multiple intelligences points of the physical education teachers based the gender and age variables. Then the descriptive statistics of the variables (average, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values) were made. The level of significance was accepted as (p<0.05).

3. Findings

Table-1. Comparison of the score averages of multiple intelligence types according to gender variable.

Intelligences Area Gender
N
Mean
Sd
Median
Min
Max
P
Verbal – Linguistic Female
46
33,65
4,691
34,00
22
42
,819
Male
64
33,88
5,245
33,00
22
46
Logical – Mathematical Female
46
34,61
4,982
36,00
23
44
,159
Male
64
35,92
4,651
36,50
24
48
Visual – Spatial Female
46
35,87
4,534
37,00
27
46
,444
Male
64
35,16
4,983
35,00
21
45
Musical – Rhythmic Female
46
33,50
6,221
35,00
20
43
,876
Male
64
33,30
7,019
34,00
16
44
Naturalistic Female
46
35,74
3,672
36,00
28
42
,161
Male
64
36,66
3,123
37,00
28
42
Interpersonal Female
46
34,63
4,814
35,00
21
44
,098
Male
64
36,20
4,909
36,00
20
45
Bodily – Kinesthetic Female
46
37,48
4,510
38,00
28
47
,651
Male
64
37,86
4,231
39,00
30
46
Intrapersonal Female
46
35,35
4,223
36,00
27
48
,442
Male
64
35,91
3,360
36,00
27
44

Note: p>0.05.

According to Table 1 there is not a statistically significant difference between the intelligence type point average of male and female teachers. (p>0.05).

According to Table 2 a statistically significant difference was found in the interpersonal intelligence point average of the participants based on age (p<0.05). The interpersonal intelligence point average in teachers aged 34-42 was found to be higher when compared to the younger group.
Table 3 shows the comparison of intelligence type and job experience. Based on this, there is not a statistically significant difference between job experience and intelligence type point averages (p>0.05).

According to Table 4, a statistically significant difference was not found in the intelligence type point average of the participants based on their graduation academic average (p>0.05).

4. Discussion

As it can be seen in the table that shows the multiple intelligence types of the physical education teachers based on gender, there is not a significant difference between genders based on intelligence type. On the other hand, it can be seen that the social intelligence points of male physical education teachers are higher when compared to their female colleagues. Among researches that compare genders based on intelligence types, there are studies that show both similar and opposite results compared to our study.

Table-2. Comparison of the score averages of multiple intelligence types with regard to age group variable.

Intelligences Area
Age
N
Mean
Sd
Median
Min
Max
P
Verbal – Linguistic
22-28 age
35
34,00
6,005
34,00
22
46
,615
29-33 age
31
33,03
3,665
33,00
24
42
34-42 age
44
34,14
4,991
34,00
24
45
Logical – Mathematical
22-28 age
35
34,00
5,325
35,00
23
44
,109
29-33 age
31
35,68
4,908
36,00
24
48
34-42 age
44
36,25
4,138
37,00
28
44
Visual – Spatial
22-28 age
35
34,51
5,933
34,00
21
46
,170
29-33 age
31
35,06
4,211
36,00
24
42
34-42 age
44
36,48
4,014
37,00
27
44
Musical – Rhythmic
22-28 age
35
34,43
6,951
36,00
16
44
,232
29-33 age
31
33,77
5,881
35,00
18
44
34-42 age
44
32,27
6,936
33,00
18
44
Naturalistic
22-28 age
35
35,89
3,332
37,00
28
40
,280
29-33 age
31
35,81
3,459
36,00
30
42
34-42 age
44
36,91
3,333
37,50
28
42
Interpersonal
22-28 age
35
35,91
4,901
36,00
27
45
,045
29-33 age
31
33,74
5,680
34,00
20
42
34-42 age
44
36,52
4,020
36,00
26
44
Bodily – Kinesthetic
22-28 age
35
38,67
4,690
38,00
28
47
,454
29-33 age
31
37,42
4,015
39,00
30
45
34-42 age
44
38,41
4,250
38,00
29
46
Intrapersonal
22-28 age
35
34,97
3,815
36,00
27
44
,381
29-33 age
31
35,81
3,280
36,00
27
42
34-42 age
44
36,14
3,968
36,00
28
48

Note: p>0.05.


Table-3. Comparison of the score averages of multiple intelligence types with regard to job experience variable.

Intelligences area Vocational time
N
Mean
Sd
Median
Min
Max
P
Verbal – Linguistic 1-4 years
53
33,40
5,436
33,00
22
46
,536
5-9 years
28
33,57
4,606
34,00
24
41
10-14 years
14
33,79
3,556
34,00
28
40
15+ years
15
35,53
5,317
36,00
27
45
Logical – Mathematical 1-4 years
53
34,55
5,483
36,00
23
48
,355
5-9 years
28
36,45
3,825
36,50
29
42
10-14 years
14
35,71
4,159
36,50
28
42
15+ years
15
35,93
4,367
36,00
30
44
Visual – Spatial 1-4 years
53
34,53
5,507
34,00
21
46
,214
5-9 years
28
36,50
3,854
37,00
30
44
10-14 years
14
35,43
4,201
35,50
27
42
15+ years
15
36,80
3,707
37,00
30
42
Musical – Rhythmic 1-4 years
53
34,04
6,796
35,00
16
44
,275
5-9 years
28
33,46
5,607
34,50
20
44
10-14 years
14
30,43
7,643
29,00
19
43
15+ years
15
33,67
7,017
36,00
18
43
Naturalistic 1-4 years
53
36,19
3,229
37,00
28
42
,348
5-9 years
28
35,68
3,732
36,00
30
42
10-14 years
14
37,71
2,335
38,00
34
42
15+ years
15
36,33
3,922
37,00
28
42
Interpersonal 1-4 years
53
34,89
5,567
35,00
20
45
,081
5-9 years
28
34,96
4,757
35,50
24
44
10-14 years
14
38,50
3,276
39,00
34
44
15+ years
15
36,20
2,731
36,00
31
42
Bodily – Kinesthetic 1-4 years
53
37,17
4,318
38,00
28
47
,599
5-9 years
28
37,82
4,555
39,00
29
46
10-14 years
14
39,14
3,939
38,00
34
45
15+ years
15
38
4,392
37,00
31
44
Intrapersonal 1-4 years
53
35,32
3,694
36,00
27
44
,100
5-9 years
28
34,93
2,567
35,50
30
40
10-14 years
14
36,43
3,817
37,00
28
42
15+ years
15
37,60
5,068
39,00
30
48

Note: p>0.05.


Table-4. Comparison of the score averages of multiple intelligence types with regard to their graduation academic average variable.

Intelligences Area
Graduation academic average
N
Mean
Sd
Median
Min
Max
P
Verbal – Linguistic
2.50 – 2.99
36
33,72
5,086
33,50
22
44
,326
3.00 – 3.49
46
33,13
5,036
32,00
22
46
3.50 – 4.00
28
34,93
4,799
35,00
24
45
Logical – Mathematical
2.50 – 2.99
36
35,31
4,653
36,00
24
44
,972
3.00 – 3.49
46
35,50
5,328
36,00
23
48
3.50 – 4.00
28
35,25
4,257
35,00
28
44
Visual – Spatial
2.50 – 2.99
36
35,72
5,568
37,00
21
45
,592
3.00 – 3.49
46
34,91
4,613
34,50
27
46
3.50 – 4.00
28
36,00
4,018
36,50
26
42
Musical – Rhythmic
2.50 – 2.99
36
34,64
6,015
35,00
19
44
,431
3.00 – 3.49
46
33,43
6,807
34,50
16
44
3.50 – 4.00
28
31,68
7,087
33,00
18
43
Naturalistic
2.50 – 2.99
36
36,25
3,451
37,00
28
42
,883
3.00 – 3.49
46
36,13
3,250
37,00
30
42
3.50 – 4.00
28
36,54
3,595
37,00
28
42
Interpersonal
2.50 – 2.99
36
35,61
4,871
35,50
21
45
,973
3.00 – 3.49
46
35,61
5,331
36,00
20
44
3.50 – 4.00
28
35,36
4,373
36,00
24
42
Bodily – Kinesthetic
2.50 – 2.99
36
37,78
4,065
39,00
31
47
,431
3.00 – 3.49
46
37,15
4,331
37,00
28
44
3.50 – 4.00
28
38,50
4,686
39,50
29
45
Intrapersonal
2.50 – 2.99
36
35,50
2,793
35,50
31
44
,103
3.00 – 3.49
46
35,04
4,351
36,00
27
48
3.50 – 4.00
28
36,93
3,516
38,00
30
44

Note: p>0.05.

In the research conducted by Tekin (2007) significant differences were not found in terms of verbal-linguistic intelligence, spatial intelligence, social intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence and naturalist intelligence while a significant difference was found in terms of musical-rhythmic intelligence and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. In this study, the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence of females was found to be higher. There is a similarity between this study and ours in terms of verbal-linguistic intelligence, spatial intelligence, social intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence and naturalist intelligence. However, there is no similarity between the two studies in terms of musical-rhythmic intelligence and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. In the study conducted by Loori (2005) male and female participants were examined separately according to the logical-mathematical intelligence type. Based on the averages, it was found that this intelligence type was higher in male participants. The result is not parallel to our findings. Kocabaş (2003) carried out a research with 46 preschool teacher candidates and did not find a significant difference between genders based on musical-rhythmic intelligence. Hamurcu et al. (2002) conducted a study to determine the profiles of 362 senior students studying Science Teaching and Elementary School Teaching based on the Multiple Intelligence Theory. This study did not find a significant difference between genders based on verbal-linguistic intelligence. In the research done by David (2003) a significant difference was not found between genders in terms of naturalist intelligence. These results are similar to our findings.

When intelligence types are examined according to age groups Table 2 we can see a statistically significant difference among age groups in terms of social intelligence points (p<0.05). The social intelligence points of teachers aged 34-42, which is the oldest age group, are higher compared to younger groups. It was also found that the social intelligence points of teachers aged 22-28, which is the youngest group, is higher than the points of teachers in the 22-33 age group. Gracious and Shyla (2012) carried out a study with prospective teachers and found that the verbal-linguistic intelligence and naturalist intelligence points of the participants aged 22 and above were higher. A difference was not found in the points other intelligence types in terms of age. These results are similar to our findings.

It was found that students mainly took teachers aged 22-28 as role models and preferred to communicate more with this age group compared to older teachers. It can be considered that the teachers in this group are not responsible for a family due to their age and have more time to spend with their peers. This anticipated situation may cause social intelligence to be more dominant in that period of life. The reason why the 34-42 age group has higher social intelligence compared to younger groups can be due to the fact that they have more experience in social interaction, they can effectively convey their life experience, they play a role as a guide and counselor, and they are at an age where they are consulted, and their thoughts are valued.

Based on Table 3, which examines intelligence type points based on job experience, there is no significant difference in this area. Despite this, it can be seen that the social intelligence points of teachers with 10-14 years of experience are higher. It can be said that the amount of time given to the job, increasing experience and communication skills tend to boost social intelligence, and this will begin to happen after the tenth year of teaching. 

Table 4 compares the intelligence type points of teachers based on graduation academic average success. It can be seen in this table that there is not a statistically significant difference among intelligence types based on different academic success levels. People who have been successful enough to become a physical education teacher in Turkey already had a sports-based life style before they began studying in the field at university. Many of them previously studied in a sports high school before university, or they were athletes who were a part of various sports clubs when they entered university with a special talent exam based on their athletics background and sportive talents. With the education they receive in the faculty of sports sciences, they can ground the sportive abilities they already possess on scientific bases and specialize in sportive teaching methods. They come from a sports-based background and continue living according to this lifestyle through their studies in university. In fact, the academic success they achieve during their education is highly affected by their athletics background. As a result of this study, it was found that there is not a significant difference among the levels of intelligence types based on the academic success levels of physical education teachers.

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