ABSTRACT
An initial question to ask is: what do we mean by ‘beliefs’? Beliefs are propositions, ideas or
views that individuals hold to be true (Matanin and Collier 2003). According to Pajares (1992),
they can be learned implicitly or taught explicitly at any time during your life. Beliefs relate
to very many aspects of life. For example, you may have a belief about the fundamental goal
of PE or about the purpose of education. You might have a belief about, for example, the
desirability or otherwise of a democratic form of government or the responsibility of the
developed world to support third-world countries or streaming learners according to ability
throughout schooling. Beliefs are important because they provide a reference point against
which to make judgements. They guide your actions and serve to justify your attitudes.
