Abstract

BRUZI, Alessandro et al. Effect of the number of demonstrations on a motor skill learning: An exploratory study. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2006, vol.6, n.2, pp.179-187. ISSN 1645-0523.

The effect of the number of demonstrations on motor skill learning isn’t clear. This originated the present research about the effect of the number of demonstrations on a dart throwing learning task. Fourteen subjects were randomly divided into four groups: one (D1), two (D2), four (D4) and eight (D8) demonstrations. This study had three phases: (1) acquisition, with 70 trials of "professional" dart throwing, 2,37m far from the target; (2) transfer test after three minutes, 10 trials with "V" dart throwing, 3,37m far from the target; (3) acquisition retention test, 10 trials, after ten minutes. Kruskal-Wallis test didn’t show significant differences (p>0,05) among the movement patterns of the different groups. However, differences among the movement pattern variability index (IVP) of the different groups in the first block of retention test were found, corresponding the best performances to D4 and D8 groups. Results also evidentiated that all groups were similar on the motor skill learning. Despite of this, groups D4 and D8 showed more movement pattern flexibility.

Keywords : number of demonstrations; motor skill; motor learning.

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