Cognitive and dynamic ecological approach compared for improving countermovement jumping

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 179 - 185
• Main Author: Di Domenico, Felice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pitesti Universitatea din Pitesti 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Behavioral psychology; Cognitive style; Control Groups; Dependent sample; Diagnostic Teaching; Exercise; Heuristic; Learning; Performance evaluation; Physical education; Skills; Sports training; Teachers; Teaching methods; Training
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2023.01022

Problem statement: Two motor learning approaches are used, in various ways, in the field of physical activity and sports training both for the promotion of psychophysical health and for the improvement of sports performance: cognitive and ecological-dynamic. Coaches and teachers of physical and sports activities prefer to use orders and commands that have behaviorism and cognitive theory as their theoretical basis and, therefore, there is a wealth of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the dynamic ecological approach. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the differences in efficacy between the prescriptive method and the heuristic method in improving vertical jump with countermovement. Method: A sample of 50 subjects, recruited for territorial convenience in the municipality of Fisciano, was divided into 2 groups. The experimental group (HEUR; N=25) followed a training protocol based on the heuristic learning method. The control group (CON; N=25) followed a protocol characterized by the prescriptive teaching method. The duration of the protocols was 8 weeks with a frequency of 3 one-hour training sessions per week. CMJ jump height data were acquired with Optojump instrumentation. The test was applied 2 days before and 2 days after the end of the training period. Dependent sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used to analyze pre-post differences for individual groups and differences between groups, respectively. The alpha level was set at 0.05. Results: Statistically significant improvements in jump height were shown for both groups (p<0.05). The protocol applied to the HEUR group was more effective (p<0.05). These results would demonstrate that heuristic methods, which do not provide exercises prescribed in the form of a command, stimulate the student to solve the various problems that arise. Conclusion: The data from this study confirm the effectiveness of both approaches. Having demonstrated a greater effectiveness of the protocol based on the dynamic ecological approach provides new certainty and tools for wellness and training practitioners to use in their training programmers.