Abstract

WALTER, Cinthya et al. Practice schedule and freedom of choice in motor skill learning. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2008, vol.8, n.3, pp.337-346. ISSN 1645-0523.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of practice schedules with different levels of freedom of choice on learning of motor skills. One experiment was carried out, consisting of two phases: stabilization and adaptation. In the stabilization phase 120 children were assigned into six groups formed by the association between constant and constant-random practice schedules and different kinds of freedom of choice -of the sequence or of some components to form a sequence. In the adaptation phase, the learners were tested on their capacity to adapt to a perceptual-motor task modification. The group that performed in a constant practice schedule with freedom in choice of some components was more accurate than the other groups regarding absolute error, it was one of the most accurate regarding constant error, and it was among the most consistent groups (variable error) in the adaptation phase. These results indicate that constant practice schedule with freedom in choice of components to form the sequence allowed better adaptation to the new task.

Keywords : Practice schedule; freedom of choice; motor learning; adaptive process.

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