Roy Paul Daniels Professorship - Director
Dr. Solmon's research focus centers on achievement motivation in physical activity settings. To gain a better understanding of how individuals are motivated to learn, she has investigated students' goals in physical education classes, as well as their perceptions of teachers' actions. She is involved in research projects with teachers in schools with the intent of discovering ways to increase student motivation through the creation of an appropriate learning environment. Melinda is active professionally, as demonstrated by numerous presentations at national conferences, including annual meetings of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). She has served as a Pedagogy Section Editor for Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. She has also represented the National Association for Sport and Physical Education on the New Professional Teacher Standards Development Project directed by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and completed terms as the Chair and the Program Chair for the Special Interest Group/Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education for AERA and as Secretary of the Research Consortium of AAHPERD. She has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education since 1995 and recently completed a four-year term as co-editor. She has also served as a referee for a number of journals such as Journal of Applied Social Psychology, the International Journal of Sport Psychology, Medicine and Science in Exercise and Sport, and the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Melinda received the 2003 Scholar Award from the Southern District of AAHPERD, and was selected as the 2007 Scholar for the Special Interest Group/Research on Learning and Instruction in Physical Education for AERA. She is an active Fellow in the Research Consortium AAHPERD and was elected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education in 2006. In 2011, she received the Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award from the National Association for Physical Education and Sport, the H. M. “Hub” Cotton Award for Faculty Excellence, and the Distinguished Faculty Research Award from the College of Education. She is currently the President-elect of the Research Consortium of AAHPERD.
Achievement Motivation and Physical Activity
Student and Teacher Perceptions in Physical Education Classes
Cognitive Mediation of Instruction
Roy Paul Daniels Professorship
2011 Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award
National Association for Sport and Physical Education of AAHPERD
2011 H. M. “Hub” Cotton Award for Faculty Excellence
Louisiana State University
2011 College of Education Distinguished Faculty Research Award
Louisiana State University
2009 Research on Learning and Instruction SIG/American Educational Research Association Exemplary Paper Award: Domangue, E. A., & Solmon, M.A. (2009). A feminist poststructuralist examination into the President’s Challenge Physical Fitness Test Awards Program. Gender and Education.
2008 LSU Rainmaker: Celebrating Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship
2007 Scholar Lecturer, Research on Learning and Instruction SIG/American Educational Research Association
2006 Elected as Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Garn, A. C., Baker, B., Beasley, E., & Solmon, M. A. (in press). What are the benefits of a commercial exergaming platform for college students? Examining physical activity, enjoyment, and future intentions. Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
Domangue, E. A., Solmon, M. A. (in press). Gender disparities in fitness testing: Students' explanations of the discrepant expectations. Sport, Education and Society.
Gu, X., Solmon, M. A., Zhang, T. & Xiang, P. (2011). Group cohesion, achievement motivation, and motivational outcomes among female college students. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology,23,175-188.
Garn, A. C., Ware, D. R., & Solmon, M. A. (2011). Student engagement in high school physical education: Do social motivation orientations matter? Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 30, 84-98.
Zhang, T., Solmon, M. A., Kosma, M., Carson, R. L., & Gu, X. (2011). Need support, need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, and physical activity participation among middle school students. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 30,51-68.
Bryan, C. L., Solmon, M.A., Zanovec, M., & Tuuri, G. (2011). Body mass index and skinfold thickness measurements as body composition screening tools in Caucasian and African American youth. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82, 345-349.
Samson, A., & Solmon, M. A. (2011). Examining the sources of self-efficacy for physical activity within the sport and exercise domains. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 4, 70-89.
Domangue, E. A., & Solmon, M.A. (2010).Motivational responses to fitness testing by award status and gender. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81, 310-318.
Hendry, P., Solmon, M., Choate, L., Autrey, P., & Landry, J. (2010). Midlife Women’s Negotiations of Barriers to and Facilitators of Physical Activity: Implications for Counselors. Adultspan Journal 9 (1), 50-64.
Azzarito, L., & Solmon, M. A. (2009). An investigation of students’ embodied discourses in physical education: A gender project. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 28, 173-191.
Domangue, E. A.,, & Solmon, M.A. (2009). A feminist poststructuralist examination into the President’s Challenge Physical Fitness Test Awards Program. Gender and Education,21, 583-600.
Tuuri G., Zanovec, M., Silverman, L., Geaghan, J., Solmon, M., Holston, D., Guarino, A., Roy, H., & Murphy, E. (2009). “Smart Bodies’’ school wellness program increased children’s knowledge of healthy nutrition practices and self-efficacy to consume fruit and vegetables. Appetite (52), 445-451.
Solmon, M. A. (2009). How do doctoral candidates learn to be researchers? Developing research training programs in kinesiology departments. Quest, 61, 74-83.
Selected Presentations
Gu, X., Zhang, T., & Solmon, M. A. (2011, April). Using expectancy-value model to examine students’ physical activity engagement and cardiovascular fitness in physical education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
Gu, X., Solmon, M. A., & Zhang, T. (2011, March). Examining students’ motivation, physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, San Diego, CA.
Gu, X., Zhang, T., & Solmon, M. A. (2011, March). Expectancy-value model, situational motivation, and motivational outcomes in physical education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, San Diego, CA.
Zhang, T., Solmon, M. A., & Gu, X. (2011, March). Promoting students’ physical activity: The role of social cognitive variables. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, San Diego, CA.
Zhang, T., Solmon, M. A., & Gu, X. (2011, March). Teachers’ support, students’ self-efficacy, and achievement outcomes in physical education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, San Diego, CA.
Bryan, C. L., & Solmon, M. A. (2010, March). Perceptions of fitness and physical education: A qualitative approach. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Domangue, E. A., & Solmon, M. A. (2010, March). Students’ gendered constructions of fitness knowledge through fitness testing experiences. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American
Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Domangue, E. A., & Solmon, M. A. (2010, March). Students’ motivational responses to norm- and criterion-referenced fitness testing programs. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Samson-Givens, A., & Solmon, M.A. (2010. March). Physical educators’ perceptions of obesity and performance expectations. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Gu, X., Solmon, M.A., & Zhang, T. (2010, March). Teachers’ support, students’ motivation, and motivational outcomes in physical education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Gu, X., Solmon, M.A., & Zhang, T. (2010, March). Using the expectancy-value model to examine motivation and achievement outcomes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Zhang, T., & Solmon, M.A. (2010, March). Promoting school students’ physically active lifestyles: A social ecological perspective. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.
Zhang, T., & Solmon, M.A. (2010, March). Social ecological correlates of physical activity in middle school students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Indianapolis, IN.