Research on Learning Satisfaction in Public Physical Education Courses at Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

This study investigates students’ satisfaction with public physical education courses at higher education institutions, aiming to understand their overall evaluations and the factors that influence them. Drawing on domestic and international literature, we designed a questionnaire encompassing four dimensions—teaching staff quality, course content, instructional organization, and facility infrastructure—and collected 500 valid responses from five universities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze respondents’ demographic characteristics and satisfaction distributions. Reliability and validity of the scale were assessed via Cronbach’s α and exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses. Group differences by gender, year level, and major were examined through t-tests and one-way ANOVA, and a multiple linear regression model was employed to explore the effects of each dimension on overall satisfaction. Findings indicate that overall satisfaction is above average, with significant differences across gender, year level, and major. Teaching staff quality, course content and organization, and facility conditions all have significant positive impacts on satisfaction. This research provides empirical support for reforming and enhancing public physical education courses, recommending improvements in faculty training, course design, and facilities to further enrich students’ learning experiences and course quality.