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Retention of bilateral performance as a function of practice order
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|February 1, 1978
Summary
Practice order significantly impacts learning a tracking skill. Sequential practice, regardless of hand preference, proved more efficient for skill acquisition and retention in undergraduate volunteers.
Area of Science:
- Motor Learning
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Performance
Background:
- Bilateral skill acquisition is crucial for motor control research.
- Understanding factors influencing skill retention is key for effective training protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how practice order and initial hand dominance affect bilateral tracking skill retention.
- To compare the efficacy of serial versus sequential practice orders.
Main Methods:
- 44 undergraduates practiced a tracking skill using a rotary pursuit apparatus.
- Participants were assigned to preferred/non-preferred serial or sequential practice groups.
- Performance was measured by trials to criterion, with retesting after one month.
Main Results:
- Retesting showed significantly superior performance compared to initial learning.
- Practice order had a significant effect, with sequential practice being more efficient.
- Initial hand dominance did not show a significant main effect.
Conclusions:
- Sequential practice order enhances both the learning and long-term retention of bilateral tracking skills.
- Training protocols should consider optimizing practice order for improved motor skill acquisition.
- Further research could explore different skill complexities and participant populations.