The Student Activity and Sport Study Ireland (SASSI) research was commissioned by Student Sport Ireland (SSI) to investigate sport and physical activity participation, preferences and provision in third-level colleges on the island of Ireland. Colleges have invested significantly in sports provision over the past 20 years and the sector has considerable potential to impact on physical activity and health at an institutional and wider community level. However, there was a lack of information available about the participation levels of students as they progress through college and the factors within the college environment which impact on participation. Given the number of young adults progressing to third-level education, the potential of these colleges to influence participation in physical activity is vast. The study was undertaken in 2014 - 2015 with the report being drafted and finalised during 2015 - 2016. A representative sample of 9,000 students from 31 colleges participated in an online survey administered during class time. The survey included self-reported participation in sport and domain specific physical activity within and outside the college, and the determinants, motivators and barriers to participation and a number of health-related behaviours and outcomes. The research was supported by SSI, the colleges themselves, Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland. It was overseen by a group comprising representatives of these bodies. It was delivered by a consortium of researchers from Dublin City University, Ulster University, University of Limerick, Waterford Institute of Technology and University of Wolverhampton assisted by key individuals within each college which took part.
Probability: Simple random. Sampling was undertaken using student data for the academic year 2012 – 2013. In order to achieve a nationally representative sample and also a meaningful sample from individual institutions, a total of 3.9% of the student population in large institutions (i.e. 15,000+ students; 7 institutions), 5% of the population in medium sized institutions (4000 – 15000 students; 12 institutions) and 6.1% of the population in smaller institutions (less than 4000 students; 13 institutions) was sought. An All – Ireland representative sample, weighted to achieve a meaningful sample in smaller colleges was achieved by randomly selecting class groups from fields of study in each institution (n=32). These class groups were accessed by the SASSI champion. One institution did not adhere to the sampling protocol and was omitted from the dataset. This protocol resulted in high response rates, but biased the sample in favour of full - time undergraduate students. The sample was weighted to account for variations from national statistics. The sampling procedure was undertaken independently at each of the 32 institutions who consented to participate in the survey. In each institution random sampling of student groups was undertaken in proportion to the numbers of students studying at each year of study within each broad ‘field of study’, as established by the HEA. When selected, the list of randomly selected class groups was given to the ‘SASSI champion’ in the institution who sought permission to access the group during college hours. Previous surveys conducted in Irish third level institutions have been unsuccessful in achieving high response rates (e.g. the HEA student satisfaction survey 2013 had a response rate of 10.9%). In order to maximise response, the online survey was administered to the entire class group (chosen using an online random number generator) in the appropriate year group and field of study during a timetabled hour. Since it was difficult to access part time and distance learning students in this way, and since response rate via email introduces self-selection bias and has been previously proven to result in much lower response rates, these students were omitted from the sample.
Self-administered questionnaire: Computer-assisted (CASI)
