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Open research questions in Physical Education and Pedagogy

1,107 gap statements mined from Physical Education and Pedagogy papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 6,572 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The gap is the lack of investigation on the effects of a continuing professional development program on physical education teachers' self-efficacy and their students' physical fitness and educational outcomes.

    Physical Education Teacher’s Continuing Professional Development Affects the Physiological and Cognitive Well-Being of School-Age Children · 2024 · DOI

  • The development of game actions and decision making in invasive sports is a challenge. The assessment of sport learning is a challenge, as traditional methods do not address the development of game actions and decision making. The study had to ensure the ecological validity of the research design by not modifying the class groups.

    Analysis of Tactical Knowledge for Learning an Alternative Invasion Sport · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a lack of regard for student interest, value of content, and emotional connection with what is being learned in physical education. The degree to which PE courses and curricula are designed to meet the objectives of physical education is questionable. There is a need to evaluate student beliefs by content area within the PE curriculum.

    An Investigation of Content-Specific Unit Emotions in Secondary Physical Education · 2024 · DOI

  • Addressing the gap between the current emphasis on performance-oriented climate and the need for a more inclusive and supportive environment. Developing effective strategies for educators to foster a supportive and motivating environment in physical education.

    Primary School Students’ Relations to Physical Education in Northern Norway: Why Do Some Find the Subject Problematic? · 2024 · DOI

  • Research on teachers' socialisation years after they begin teaching in schools has not been extensively undertaken. There is a lack of understanding of how cooperating teachers perceive their role in the development of preservice physical education teachers' professional identities.

    Cooperating Teachers’ Perceptions and Contributions to Preservice Teachers’ Professional Identities · 2024 · DOI

  • The research highlights the need to develop effective educational interventions that can promote physically and socially sustainable learning. The study also notes the challenge of engaging various educational agents, including family members, teachers, and teacher-researchers, in promoting sustainable learning.

    Teaching Sustainability through Traditional Sporting Games · 2024 · DOI

  • The present self-study addresses these two important gaps in the literature by exploring an early-career HPE teacher educator’s process of identity construction while navigating the complexity of working in an international context and doing so without school teaching experience.

    Navigating identity development as an ‘international inexperienced’ early career health and physical education teacher educator: a self-study · 2025 · DOI

  • Whilst research examining transgender identities within educational contexts in recent years has increased, there is limited research focused specifically on transgender and non-binary (TNB) experiences in Physical Education (PE).

    ‘Like putting a puzzle piece in the wrong spot’: Transgender and non-binary experiences of physical education · 2024 · DOI

  • The original article lacks information on ethical approval, informed consent, and data availability. The addendum aims to address this gap and enhance transparency.

    Addendum: Improving learning performance in physical education through video-based presentations (VBP) approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Although this study strives for comprehensiveness, several limitations warrant careful consideration. First, although the levels, and sample encompasses different genders, educational regions, it remains distinctly urban-oriented overall.

    Between the school and the screen: how digital informal learning shapes Chinese novice physical education teachers' identity · 2026 · DOI

  • Adoption is limited due to cost and lack of training among journalists.

    Contemporary perspectives in social science commerce and physical education: Issues, Challenges and Future Direction · 2026 · DOI

  • Holistic Wellness Framework: PE is evolving into ―Health and Physical Education‖ that integrates mental health, nutrition, and mindfulness. Gamification and Engagement: Apps like Classrooms use reward systems to encourage daily activity among students. Policy Push: India’s NEP 2020 mandates 120 minutes of physical activity weekly, while the ―Fit India‖ movement promotes community fitness challenges.

    Contemporary perspectives in social science commerce and physical education: Issues, Challenges and Future Direction · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies should examine the effectiveness of AI-based systems in physical education. Research is needed to explore the potential of AI to support personalized learning and assessment in physical education. Studies should investigate the use of AI in physical education in different contexts and settings.

    Artificial Intelligence in Physical Education: A Systematic Review of Personalized Learning, Assessment, and Performance Analytics · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for a systematic review of the application of AI in physical education. Prior studies have explored the use of AI in education, but there is a gap in the literature on its application in physical education.

    Artificial Intelligence in Physical Education: A Systematic Review of Personalized Learning, Assessment, and Performance Analytics · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of comprehensive analysis of teachers' roles in optimizing the School Health Program. The study identifies a gap in the integration of educational, preventive, curative, and managerial aspects of teacher roles.

    Enhancing School Health Program Effectiveness: The Strategic Role of Physical Education, Sports, and Health Teachers in Senior High Schools · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the development of tactical and assessment competencies in pre-service coaches.

    Tactical and assessment competency gaps in pre-service coaches: evidence from a game-based implementation · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of professional identity challenges and burnout risks among physical education teachers in county-level middle schools. The study aims to fill this gap by exploring the experiences of physical education teachers at Siyuan Middle School.

    Professional Identity Challenges and Burnout Risks among Physical Education Teachers in County-Level Middle Schools: A Case Study of Siyuan Middle School · 2026 · DOI

  • Traditional teacher-centred, direct instruction approaches have faced criticism for their limited effectiveness in promoting long-term motor learning, transfer, and sustained motivation. The review identifies a need for evidence-based, student-centred pedagogical models in physical education programming.

    Sport Pedagogy Approaches for Enhancing Motor Skills and Learning Motivation in Physical Education: A Systematic Literature Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited training, insufficient instructional resources, lack of digital tools, time limitations, and inadequate institutional support can hinder the full implementation of learner-centered teaching strategies.

    Pedagogical Knowledge in teaching grade 7 physical education and health in the revised K to 12 curriculum · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap is related to the constraints encountered by teachers in applying various teaching strategies.

    Pedagogical Knowledge in teaching grade 7 physical education and health in the revised K to 12 curriculum · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited to a specific age group (Primary Education and first year of Secondary Education). Limited to a specific sport (alternative invasion sport 'Rosquilla').

    Analysis of Tactical Knowledge for Learning an Alternative Invasion Sport · 2024 · DOI

  • The total population was limited to 31 teachers. The study only focused on public senior high schools in Bantul Regency.

    Enhancing School Health Program Effectiveness: The Strategic Role of Physical Education, Sports, and Health Teachers in Senior High Schools · 2026 · DOI

  • Research on motor learning and neuroplasticity, such as Dayan and Cohen (2011), posit that motor skill development entails neural activity modifications across various cerebral regions, including but not limited to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, primary motor cortex, and supplementary motor area.

    A quasi-experimental study of the video-based “Did You Know?” blended learning model in physical education: Impact on motor skills, knowledge acquisition, and motivation in gymnastics · 2026 · DOI

  • Traditional Physical Education often perpetuates systemic inequities - Certain students tend to be excluded from full participation in Physical Education - There is a need for targeted pedagogical interventions to reduce gender disparities…

    “The Game Changers”: How Equity-Driven Pedagogical Scaffolding Reduces Participation Disparities in Physical Education · 2024 · DOI

  • The development of smarter environments, intelligent virtual coaches, and more sophisticated data analysis tools. The refinement of in-person instruction and online and remote physical education programs.

    A Study on Innovations and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Physical Education · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Physical Education and Pedagogy

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Adoption is limited due to cost and lack of training among journalists (“Contemporary perspectives in social science commerce and physical education:…”, 2026); (2) Future studies should examine the effectiveness of AI-based systems in physical education (“Artificial Intelligence in Physical Education: A Systematic Review of…”, 2026); (3) There is a lack of comprehensive analysis of teachers' roles in optimizing the School Health Program (“Enhancing School Health Program Effectiveness: The Strategic Role of Physical…”, 2026); (4) There is a lack of research on the development of tactical and assessment competencies in pre-service coaches (“Tactical and assessment competency gaps in pre-service coaches: evidence from a…”, 2026); (5) There is a lack of understanding of professional identity challenges and burnout risks among physical education teachers in county-level middle schools (“Professional Identity Challenges and Burnout Risks among Physical Education…”, 2026). 1,107 gap statements have been mined from Physical Education and Pedagogy papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 6,572 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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