Practice variability and whole practice

Practice variability

Involves practicing a skill in various contexts and with multiple characteristics rather than in a fixed manner.

Constant practice

only one variation of skill

variable practice

many variations of skill

practice variability implementation

1. Physical Context Characteristics: Attributes of the environment where practice occurs.

2. Skill Characteristics: Traits intrinsic to the skill itself.

Closed skills

• If no inter-trial variability, regulatory conditions should remain constant while non-regulatory conditions can vary.

• If inter-trial variability exists, both regulatory and non-regulatory conditions should be varied.

Open skills

• Inter-trial variability is essential; each performance can differ based on situational factors. Regulatory and non-regulatory conditions must vary between attempts.

Contextual interference

Refers to the disruption in memory and performance caused by varying skills and conditions during practice.

High CI results

results in lower practice performance but better performance on retention and transfer tests

High CI practice performance

cognitive load and confusion from switching tasks

Blocked practice

learners overestimate their learning during practice

Low CI

used for beginners and low skill levels

High CI

used for skills with lowest level of difficulty and more skills induviduals

Challenge point hypothesis

Suggests that the difficulty level of practice conditions should be matched to the learner's skill level

CI explained

• Elaboration Hypothesis: Enhances memory representation of movement variations.

• Action Plan Reconstruction Hypothesis: Suggests refining motor programs through forgetting, leading to stronger memory representation.

Skills that would benefit from fractionization practice?

sports skills like serving a tennis ball and shooting a basketball or cognitive skills such as problem solving and language learning.

Massed practice

Longer and fewer sessions that have short or no rest

Distributed practice

shorter but bigger number of sessions and rest between trials are longer

Distributed practice better learning

1. Fatigue Hypothesis: Accumulated fatigue from massed practice hinders performance.

2. Cognitive Effort Hypothesis: Distributed sessions promote better attentional focus.

3. Memory Consolidation Hypothesis: Increased rest allows for better consolidation of memories between trials.

Lab 7 procedure

Printing the alphabet in capital letters rotated in 180 degrees

massed group

16 trials no rest and 30s writing and then 30s rest

Distributed group

16 practice trials and 8 min rest before retention trial

lab 7 hypothesis

The massed group would perform better because they are constantly focused on the task

Lab 7 examines

relationship between rest and performance on learning