Ken Murfay
- Assistant Teaching Professor
- Program Director of the Physical Education Plus Program
- School of Education and Human Sciences, Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences
Contact Info
1301 Sunnyside Ave
Lawrence, KS 66045-7520
Personal Links
Biography —
Ken Murfay, Ph.D. is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Program Director of the Physical Education Plus Program. Dr. Murfay started in the fall of 2021 at the University of Kansas and previously taught at the University of Kentucky, Emporia State University, and Benedictine University. Before starting to teach at the college level, Dr. Murfay taught physical education for grades kindergarten through eighth grade in the Chicago Public School System and Phoenix Public School System. Dr. Murfay has a passion for physical education and assisting in training future physical education teachers.
Education —
Research —
Dr. Murfay’s research focus has been on increasing high school students’ motivation to participate in physical education and be physically active. Specifically, he examines physical activity self-efficacy which is the study of a person’s confidence to be physically active. Dr. Murfay believes that increasing students’ physical activity self-efficacy in physical education is important because of previous research which has found that it is often positively associated to physical activity.
Research Interests
- Physical Activity Self-Efficacy ·
- Motivation in Physical Education
Selected Publications —
Murfay, K., Pyszczynski, S., & Erwin, H. (2023). A qualitative examination of online practices during the Covid-19 pandemic and observational preferences within physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
Cornett, K., Murfay, K., & Fulton, J. E. (2023). Physical Activity Interventions During the School Day: Reviewing Policies, Practices, and Benefits. Journal of School Health, 93(9), 778-787.
Murfay, K., Beighle, A., Erwin, H. E., Aiello, E., & Pyszczynski, S. (2022). Examining physical education teaching practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1(3), 2.
Murfay, K., Erwin, H., Beighle, A., & Aiello, E. (2022). Examining high school students’ perceptions of physical education. European Physical Education Review, 28(3), 704-719. doi:10.1177/1356336X211072860
Manley, J., Murfay, K., Erwin, H., & Beighle, A. (2022). Authentic learning through PEAK conditions in secondary physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 93(9), 26-32.
Murfay, K., Beighle, A., & Erwin, H. (2021). Motivating high school students with PRAISE. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 92(1), 27-35.