Researching the perspective of physical education and sports teachers and academics on mixed and single-sex education

The aim of the research is to examine the perspectives of physical education and sports teachers and academicians working in the faculty of sports sciences on mixed and single-sex education. Physical education and sports courses were evaluated on the basis of gender, and it was investigated what the positive and negative effects of mixed and single-sex education were on this course, and which education system would help students develop a positive perspective on sports and courses and would benefit education.The participants of the study consist of six physical education and sports teachers working in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Turkey and six academicians working in the Faculty of Sports Sciences. In the research, semi-structured interview technique, which is one of the qualitative research method techniques, was used. The open-ended questions answered by the participants were analyzed using thematic analysis method. According to the analysis results, a total of 87 valid codes were revealed regarding the single and mixed gender education model of the participants. These codes were evaluated according to 10 separate conceptual categories (the effect of co-educational education, the effect of co-educational education on female students, the effect of co-educational education on male students, the perspective of female students in co-educational education on lessons and sports, the perspective of male students in co-educational education on lessons and sports, the effect of single-sex education, the effect of single-sex education on female students, the effect of single-sex education on male students, the perspective of female students in single-sex education on lessons and sports, the perspective of male students in single-sex education on lessons and sports). All data obtained from the research were evaluated under two headings, with their positive and negative aspects for the two education models. The most repeated codes by the participants are; providing extracurricular learning (13), increasing motivation in students (8), providing socialization (8), and discovering different branches (5). By comparing the research findings and the existing literature, consistent data was obtained and the results supported each other.The common opinion of physical education teachers and academics who contributed to the research is that co-education has social and spiritual benefits for students, but in some sports that require strength or involve contact, single-sex education is thought to be more effective due to physical differences and cultural factors. When classroom environments are designed in accordance with students' needs, abilities, and differences, students who develop a positive perspective on lessons and sports can make sports a part of their lives.