Task and ego orientation and self-control feedback in motor skill acquisition

• Grant number: 10/17401-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: June 01, 2011
• End date: February 20, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Cassio de Miranda Meira Junior
• Grantee: Cassio de Miranda Meira Junior
• Host Investigator: Jeffrey T Fairbrother
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Tennessee (UT), United States

Abstract

The project aims to investigate the relationship between goal perspectives (task- and ego-oriented) and the self-controlled knowledge of results (KR) in motor skill acquisition of athletes and non-athletes. 48 college-age volunteers will perform the task of standing on a stabilometer while trying to maintain the platform in a level position for as long as possible during each 90-s trial. The stabilometer is equipped with a potentiometer and interfaced with personal computer that records the angular deviation of the platform. Each trial will be scored using the root mean square error of the angular deviation from horizontal. Participants will complete the "Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire" and the "Task Evaluation Questionnaire" of the "Intrinsic Motivation Inventory"; these questionnaires which will assess goal perspectives (task and ego) and subjective experience of performing the stabilometer task, respectively. Four experimental groups will be formed according to the receiving of KR (self-controlled and externally controlled-yoked) and to sport experience (athletes and non-athletes). On acquisition, each participant will perform 14 trials on the first day and 14 trials on the second day. On the third day, retention and transfer tests will be administered. The task on transfer will be performed sideways using a staggered stance. Both tests will have seven trials with no provision of KR. Data will be analyzed by means of analyses of variance and chi-square tests. (AU)