Information Feedback and the Learning of Multiple-Degree-of-Freedom Activities

• Published in: Journal of motor behavior Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 187 - 195
• Main Authors: Kernodle, Michael W., Carlton, Les G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.1992; Heldref
• Subjects: Activity levels. Psychomotricity; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; knowledge of performance; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychomotor activities; skill learning; throwing; videotape feedback; Learning; Human; Handedness; Acquisition process; Manual aptitude; Body movement; Feedback regulation; Information; Performance; Motricity; Knowledge
• ISSN: 0022-2895; 1940-1027
• DOI: 10.1080/00222895.1992.9941614

The influence of information feedback on the learning of a multiple-degree-of-freedom activity, the overhand throw, was investigated. During learning, feedback was presented in the form of knowledge of results, knowledge of performance, knowledge of performance with attention-focusing cues, or knowledge of performance with error-correcting transitional information. Across 12 practice sessions, performance was assessed with respect to both throwing distance and throwing form. Subjects provided with knowledge of performance along with transitional information demonstrated significant gains in throwing distance, compared with subjects receiving knowledge of performance or knowledge of results alone. Movement form ratings followed the same trend. Providing learners with cues to focus their attention on the relevant aspects of knowledge of performance or directly providing transitional information was a better aid to the acquisition of throwing form than providing knowledge of results or knowledge of performance alone. These results support the hypothesis that knowledge of results may not be the most potent form of feedback in multiple-degree-of-freedom activities and that knowledge of performance, when combined with additional information, can lead to significant gains in skill acquisition.