Motor Learning - Final Exam

Does practice make perfect?

Practice does not guarantee that a learner will become more proficient. Careful practice design can lead to gains in skill proficiency.

What needs to be considered in practice design?

nature of the skill, capability of the learner

What are the advantages of part practice?

- Simplifies the skill

- Allows learners to experience early success

- increased motivation

- Allows learners to practice problem areas without wasting time on what's already been mastered

Task complexity

- How many subcomponents make up a skill

- Information-processing demands of the task

- More components + greater attention, memory, and decision-making requirements=more complex

Task organization

- Degree to which the subcomponents are interdependent

- Very dependent = high in organization

- Skills are low in organization

Do we need to consider the learner when deciding what type of practice to use?

Learner must be considered before making a final decision on the approach

Part Practice techniques

segmentation(into parts), fractionization(forward/backward chaining), simplification(master part of skill)

What is attention cueing?

Practice technique in which the learner directs attention to a specific aspect of the skill during performance as a whole.

What is the speed-accuracy tradeoff?

An emphasis on speed in performance negatively affects accuracy and vice versa. Applies to Spatial accuracy.

What does SMART stand for?

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely

Outcome goals

concerned with the final result of a competition relative to one's opponent(win a championship)

Performance Goals

focused on performance improvements(increase shooting accuracy)

Process goals

goals that direct the performer's focus to achieving some technical element during skill execution(practice correct form)

What us variable practice?

Practice in which multiple variations of a given task are practiced

When is variable practice used?

when a sport is mainly made up of open skills because the situation is often changing

What are the benefits of variable practice?

Learners acquire schemas when they practice; variable practice enhances their development, allowing more effective novel task performance in the future

What is constant practice?

repeat same skill, same parameters

When is constant practiced used?

During the initial stages of learning, When developing an understanding of the task

Which practice is preferred when we are considering learning vs performance?

Constant practice has a greater influence on performance, but variable practice has a greater influence on learning.

What is contextual interference?

Motor skill learning is facilitated by practicing tasks in random order

Is contextual interference helpful or harming?

helpful

What is blocked practice best for?

Superior short-term performance during practice

What is random practice best for?

Greater long-term learning gains

What is serial practice?

repetition of a set sequence of trials practiced consistently

What is repeated block practice?

A form of serial practice where a set sequence of practice blocks is repeated

What is random practice?

No variation is performed twice in a row, and there is high contextual interference.

What is practice distribution?

Ratio of time that the learner is physically engaged in practice vs resting

What is massed practice?

a practice schedule in which the amount of rest between practice sessions or trials is very short

Is massed or distributed practice preferred (when it can be controlled)?

Distributed practice

What are some things to consider when trying to maximize time on task?

New skills or technical skills should be done first

What is a key element?

Specific body movements that are observable and affect the performance of the skill

What are the considerations of planning an observation?

Need to understand the skill & biomechanics

What is the optimal viewing position for an observation?

- May need various positions

- Entire movement: positioned farther away

- Specific focus (ex, eye movement): closer

- Minimize distractions

What are the 5 causes of errors?

- Errors due to constraints

- Comprehension errors

- Response selection errors

- Execution errors

- Sensory errors

Errors due to constraints

Equipment(size, ball), structure of task, changes in environment, Fear(failure),

Comprehensive errors

Occurs when the learner does not understand the requirements of the skill or what is expected. Addressed by explaining the skill again.

response selection errors

Perceptual errors, Decision-making errors, Recall errors. Addressed by ability to find critical cues, develop strong cause-and-effect relationship between cue and response

Execution errors

Selects appropriate response but lacks correct execution, Insufficient practice, Performing skill too quickly.

Sensory Errors

-visual errors

-proprioception errors

Do all errors need to be corrected?

no

What questions need to be answered when an error should be corrected or not?

- Is the learner capable of making the correction?

- How much time is needed?

- Is the learner motivated?

What are the types of corrections?

retry the skill, refine the skill, Rebuild the motor program or pattern of coordination

What is intrinsic feedback?

Response produced info available to learners via sensory system during and after performance

Augmented feedback

Information received from an external source that supplements the learner's sensory information

Terminal vs Concurrent Feedback

Concurrent Feedback is more useful when learning a new task

Knowledge of results

provides learner with info about the outcome of a response

Knowledge of performance

information regarding specific characteristics that led to the outcome

What are the 3 functions of augmented feedback?

Error correction, motivation, Reinforcement

What are the sources of augmented feedback?

- Auditory sources

- Biofeedback

- Visual displays

- Equipment and drills

Error-based feedback

Facilitate skill acquisition- provide error-based feedback, Information regarding a performance error-allows the learner to modify future performances

Correct feedback

confirm progress, encourage persistence-provide feedback based on correct aspects of performance, Achievements and correct features

What is the sandwich approach to feedback? Can you give an example?

starting with a positive comment, delivering constructive criticism, and ending with another positive comment

Descriptive feedback

describes the nature of the error, Only effective if the learner understand the implication of the error

Prescriptive feedback

offers a suggestion of how to correct the error, Better for beginners

Can we give too much feedback?

yes

What happens if we don't give an optimal amount of feedback?

Learner can becomes reliant on external feedback

Does feedback need to be given right away? Why or why not?

No, to see if the learner can fix the error themselves, too much feedback can lead to them relying on fixing something every trial.

Is feedback to the only way to shape movement patterns?

No, mental imagery, environment