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Is size misperception of targets simply justification for poor performance?
1Department of Psychology, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, 200 Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, USA. rkwesp@po-box.esu.edu
Perception
|February 1, 2013
Summary
Poor performance in sports may lead individuals to perceive targets as smaller. This study suggests target size underestimation could be a memory-based justification for poor performance, influenced by motivational factors.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Sports Science
- Perception Research
Background:
- Studies indicate poor performers in target-based sports recall targets as smaller than skilled performers.
- Action-specific perception theory suggests perception is directly influenced by object interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if underestimation of target size serves as a justification for poor performance.
- To explore the role of motivational factors in perceptual distortions.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a dart-throwing task.
- Target size recall was assessed.
- An excuse (poor dart quality) was provided to a subgroup of inaccurate throwers.
Main Results:
- Inaccurate dart throwers who received an excuse were less likely to recall the target as smaller.
- This suggests a motivational influence on perception and memory.
Conclusions:
- Target size underestimation may be a memory distortion used to justify inadequate performance.
- Perception is influenced by motivational factors, impacting size estimates and memory accuracy.
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