Age Differences in Children's Ability to Model Motor Behavior |
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| Authors: | Jerry R Thomas Caryl Pierce Susan Ridsdale |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Health, Physical, Education, and Recreation , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge , LA , 70803 , USA;2. The Movement Science Program , Florida State University , Tallahassee , FL , 32306 , USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract In order to investigate the effects of modeling behavior for seven- and nine-year-old children, 30 seven-year-old and 30 nine-year-old females were randomly assigned within age level to three groups. These groups differed according to whether a model was presented at the beginning, midway, or not at all during 12 trials on the stabilometer. Both age groups were found to be similar in performance in the no model condition and, for both age groups, the beginning model condition was found to facilitate performance. However, the introduction of the model after six trials had a detrimental effect on the performance of younger children but facilitated older children's performance. These findings were interpreted in light of a likely increase in the processing capacity of nine year olds as well as an increase in the number of movement schemes that were previously stored in the older girls. |
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