Scheduled for Motor Behavior and Measurement Posters, Wednesday, April 2, 2003, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall A


Effect of Specific and Specific + Variable Practice and Subjective Estimation on Movement Bias, Consistency, and Error-Detection Capabilities

Jeff E. Goodwin, The Citadel, Charleston, SC and Colleen E. Donakowski, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of supplementing specific practice with variable practice and subjective estimation on movement bias, consistency, and error-detection capabilities in a coincident anticipation task. Forty-eight students volunteered to participate. Two practice conditions were examined. The Specific condition practiced a total of 270 acquisition trials at 3.1 m/s. The Specific + Variable condition practiced a total of 270 acquisition trials with 90 trials performed at 2.2 m/s, 3.1 m/s, and 4.0 m/s. Two estimation conditions were also examined. The 100% estimation condition verbally estimated subjective error 5 s after each movement in the acquisition phase, whereas the 0% estimation condition did not estimate subjective error. At the beginning of the investigation, participants were instructed to depress a hand-held thumb control button at the same time the final light of the runway illuminated. There were three phases: the acquisition phase of 90 trials for three consecutive days; a 24-hr no-KR retention test of 10 trials at 3.1 m/s; and a 24-hr no-KR transfer test of 20 trials with 10 trials at 1.3 m/s and 4.9 m/s. Absolute constant error (|CE|), mean absolute difference between objective and subjective (|O-S|) error, and variable error (VE) for trials in acquisition phase, retention phase, and transfer phase were calculated into trial blocks of 10 trials. Trials in the retention phase were analyzed in a 2 x 2 (Practice Condition x Estimation Condition) factorial ANOVA and revealed no significant differences between practice conditions or estimation conditions for |CE| and VE. For mean |O-S| error, there were no significant differences between practice conditions in the 100% estimation condition. The Specific + Variable condition performed with significantly smaller error than the Specific condition in the 0% estimation condition. Transfer trials were analyzed in a 2 x 2 x 2 (Practice Condition x Estimation Condition x Velocity) factorial ANOVA with repeated measures on the third factor and revealed the Specific + Variable condition performed with significantly smaller |CE| and VE than the Specific condition. For mean |O-S| error, there were no significant differences between practice conditions in the 100% estimation condition. The Specific + Variable condition performed with significantly smaller error than the Specific condition in the 0% estimation condition. Retention and transfer results support the finding that supplementing specific practice with variable practice in acquisition strengthens error-detection capabilities and may explain the benefit of supplementing specific practice with variable practice.

Back to the 2003 AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition