Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1981

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major Professor

Craig A Wrisberg

Committee Members

B Don Franks, Schuyler Huck, Patricia A Beitel

Abstract

The current study investigated Schmidt's (1975) schema theory as it relates to a discrete subject-paced task involving different patterns of spatial variability. Subjects performed a movement of 74.93 centimeters from a specified pushbutton location to a hinged barrier. The spatial pattern of the movement was designated by templates placed on the response platform between the pushbutton and the barrier. Subjects conformed their arm movement to the specified template designs as they attempted to complete the movement distance in 450 milliseconds.

During the experiment subjects (N=36) received 3 practice trials, 30 training trials, and 10 transfer trials. After each trial subjects received quantitative and qualitative knowledge of results regarding their movement time (milliseconds) relative to the desired movement time of 450 milliseconds. Two treatment groups received different training experiences. The high variability treatment group practiced using three different template patterns during the practice and training trials. Subjects in the low variability treatment group practiced and trained using only one of the template patterns. An equal number of males and females were assigned to each group. After training trials both groups transferred to a novel template pattern for the transfer trials while attempting to hold movement time constant at 450 milliseconds.

Absolute error (AE), algebraic error (CE), and variable error (VE) were calculated on blocks of five trials for both the training and transfer trials. Spatial variability was the independent variable and movement time error (AE, CE, VE) the dependent variable. The AE measurement for the training trials was significantly lower for the low variability treatment group than the high variability group. The AE, CE, and VE measurements computed on the movement time data during the transfer trials indicated that the high variability group performed with significantly less error than the low variability group. This finding suggests that high spatial variability training is beneficial on spatial timing tasks when having to perform a novel movement of a related movement class. Perusal of the data revealed that females had significantly lower AE measurements as compared to males on the transfer trials.

The results of this study supported the variable practice prediction of Schmidt's schema theory. Discussion included how this information can be of benefit to the motor behavior theorist and to teaching practitioners.

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