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Do Perceptual Instructions Lead to Enhanced Performance Relative to Behavioral Instructions?
Carla Brown-Ojeda1, Warren Mansell1
1a School of Health Sciences , University of Manchester , United Kingdom.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|August 26, 2017
Summary
Instructions focusing on the sensory results of actions improve task performance. Describing the perceptual outcome of a drawing task led to more accurate results than describing the physical movements involved.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Motor Control
- Human Perception
Background:
- Traditional instruction methods often focus on physical actions.
- Perceptual Control Theory posits that human action aims to control perception.
- The effectiveness of perception-based versus movement-based instructions requires empirical investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether instructions emphasizing perceptual outcomes enhance task accuracy compared to movement-focused instructions.
- To test the hypothesis derived from Perceptual Control Theory in a practical drawing task.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed a drawing task under two instructional conditions: describing perceptual effects versus describing physical movements.
- Image accuracy was quantitatively assessed to compare the two instruction types.
Main Results:
- Instructions detailing the perceptual outcomes of drawing resulted in significantly higher accuracy compared to instructions detailing the physical movements.
- This finding supports the principle that controlling perception is the primary goal of human action.
Conclusions:
- Instructional strategies should prioritize desired perceptual outcomes for tasks requiring precise execution.
- This approach is more effective than detailing the specific physical movements for skill acquisition and performance.
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