Influence of past experience on sport participation of university system in Sri Lanka: with special reference to University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper discusses the influence of past experience on sport participation of university system in Sri Lanka, (with special reference the University of Kelaniya). In making a review of sport participation of undergraduates it was noted that there is a regular decline over past period. Hence, the focal problem was why such an unpleasant situation has taken place. The study attempted to achieve three objectives of which the key objective was to identify the influence of past experience for university students? sport participation and specific objectives were to recognize the degree of sport participation in University of Kelaniya, and to provide better suggestions enabling to set them motivated in this regard. To do this study in well manner the researcher constructed research model based on what hypothesis namely, past experience positively influence on sport participation of undergraduates. According to the research question was formulated that past experience positively correlated with sport participation. Consistence with this hypothesis a research question was also raised. There are so many researches done regarding university students? sport participation in the global context. However, there is a lack of researches done so far in respect of past experience and sport participation. So, then it was noted that there is a research gap to be filled up and that vacuum has been filled up by this study. In this particular case, for the inconvenience of the analysis a sample consist of 100 sport participants were selected having employed the stratified Random Sampling method. The reason behind selection of that sampling technique was facilitated to set the sampling population dispersed stratified. As this study is empirical in nature as far as possible an attempt was made to collect primary data. Meanwhile, secondary data were also associated with a view to collect more data and to make a deeper clarification. For presenting the data specially grafts, tables and percentage values were associated. In the case of analyzing the data correlation and simple regression were applied using statistical software (SPSS 19.0). Both quantitative and qualitative analysis were made under this study. The result shows that past experience of sport positively correlated with sport participation of undergraduates. As, the end of this study, six findings were made. Based on this findings ultimately, recommendations were produced in order to increased and stimulate the sport participation of undergraduates. Accordingly, suggestions for further researches have also been made at the end of the study.