Motor Behavior

The effect of external focus attention and autonomy-support on learning of a motor targeting task

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Peyame Noor University

2 Department of Motor Behaviour, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran

Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the separate and combined effects of the external focus of attention and autonomy support on learning a targeting task, according to OPTIMAL theory of motor learning.
Methodology: 60 female students were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 15 participants in each group including external focus - autonomy support (provided a choice about the place of throwing along with a focus on target); external focus (focus on target); autonomy support (provided a choice about the location of throwing); and a control (without attentional instruction). The research motor task was a controlling throw of a coin with a dominant hand on targets placed on the ground consisting of ten concentric circles. Participants in a 2 * 2 design, (focus externally: Yes/No) (autonomy-support: Yes/No) completed the acquisition phase consisting of 60 trials. Retention test using with 2 hours and 24 hours' delay, were performed.
Results: The analysis of variance revealed that the main effect of external focus (p=0.38) and the interaction effects of external focus and autonomy support (p=0.69) are not significant. The main effect of autonomy support is significant (p=0.002). Participants in autonomy support groups performed better than those without autonomy support in retention phase.
Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the autonomy support separately and without the combination of external focus affects the learning of a targeting motor skill.

Keywords

  1. Lewthwaite R, Chiviacowsky S, Drews R, Wulf G. Choose to move: The motivational impact of autonomy support on motor learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & review. 2015;22(5):1383-8.
  2. Lewthwaite R, Wulf G. Grand challenge for movement science and sport psychology: embracing the social-cognitive–affective–motor nature of motor behavior. Frontiers in Psychology. 2010; 1:42.
  3. Sheldon KM, Filak V. Manipulating autonomy, competence, and relatedness support in a game‐learning context: New evidence that all three needs matter. British Journal of Social Psychology. 2008;47(2):267-83.
  4. Wulf G, Lewthwaite R. Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 2016;23(5):1382-414.
  5. Wise RA. Dopamine, learning and motivation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2004;5(6):483-94.
  6. Wulf G, McNevin N, Shea CH. The automaticity of complex motor skill learning as a function of attentional focus. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A. 2001;54(4):1143-54.
  7. Kim W, Chang Y, Kim J, Seo J, Ryu K, Lee E, et al. An fMRI study of differences in brain activity among elite, expert, and novice archers at the moment of optimal aiming. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 2014;27(4):173-82.
  8. Wulf G. Attentional focus and motor learning: a review of 15 years. International Review of sport and Exercise psychology. 2013;6(1):77-104.
  9. Wulf G, Su J. An external focus of attention enhances golf shot accuracy in beginners and experts. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2007;78(4):384-9.
  10. Marchant DC, Clough PJ, Crawshaw M. The effects of attentional focusing strategies on novice dart throwing performance and their task experiences. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2007;5(3):291-303.
  11. Zarezade M, Ansari O, Saberi Kakhaki A. The effect of external attentional focus instructions on learning tracking task under auditory secondary task condition. Motor Behavior. 2016;8(26):73-88.  
  12. Tahan A, Aghdai M, Farsi A. The effect of focus of attention in mental imagery on kinematics of basketball free throw. Motor Behavior. 2021. https://doi.org/10.22089/mbj.2020.9060.1895.
  13. Rienhoff R, Fischer L, Strauss B, Baker J, Schorer J. Focus of attention influences quiet-eye behavior: An exploratory investigation of different skill levels in female basketball players. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 2015;4(1):62.
  14. Lawrence GP, Gottwald VM, Hardy J, Khan MA. Internal and external focus of attention in a novice form sport. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2011;82(3):431-41.
  15. Pollok F, Cook DA, Shaikh N, Pankratz VS, Morrey ME, Laack TA. Autonomy and focus of attention in medical motor skills learning: a randomized experiment. BMC Medical Education. 2022;22(1):1-9.
  16. Deci EL, Ryan RM. The" what" and" why" of goal pursuits: human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry. 2000;11(4):227-68.
  17. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review. 1977;84(2):191.
  18. Legault L, Inzlicht M. Self-determination, self-regulation, and the brain: autonomy improves performance by enhancing neuroaffective responsiveness to self-regulation failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2013;105(1):123.
  19. Post PG, Fairbrother JT, Barros JA, Kulpa J. Self-controlled practice within a fixed time period facilitates the learning of a basketball set shot. Journal of Motor Learning and Development. 2014;2(1):9-15.
  20. Iwatsuki T, Abdollahipour R, Psotta R, Lewthwaite R, Wulf G. Autonomy facilitates repeated maximum force productions. Human Movement Science. 2017;55:264-8.
  21. Lemos A, Wulf G, Lewthwaite R, Chiviacowsky S. Autonomy support enhances performance expectancies, positive affect, and motor learning. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2017; 31:28-34.
  22. Chiviacowsky S, Martins LB, Cardozo P. Autonomy support facilitates team motor learning. International Journal of Sport Psychology. 2021;52(2):159-71.
  23. Wulf G, Chiviacowsky S, Drews R. External focus and autonomy support: two important factors in motor learning have additive benefits. Human movement science. 2015; 40:176-84.
  24. Abdollahipour R, Nieto MP, Psotta R, Wulf G. External focus of attention and autonomy support have additive benefits for motor performance in children. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2017;32:17-24.
  25. Wulf G, Lewthwaite R, Cardozo P, Chiviacowsky S. Triple play: Additive contributions of enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and external attentional focus to motor learning. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2018;71(4):824-31.
  26. Wulf G, Adams N. Small choices can enhance balance learning. Human Movement Science. 2014; 38:235-40.
  27. Sweller J. Cognitive load theory, evolutionary educational psychology, and instructional design. Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Development and Education. 2016:1;291-306.
  28. Lee W, Reeve J. Self-determined, but not non-self-determined, motivation predicts activations in the anterior insular cortex: an fMRI study of personal agency. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 2013;8(5):538-45.
  29. Aarts H, Bijleveld E, Custers R, Dogge M, Deelder M, Schutter D, et al. Positive priming and intentional binding: Eye-blink rate predicts reward information effects on the sense of agency. Social Neuroscience. 2012;7(1):105-12.
  30. Poolton JM, Maxwell J, Masters R, Raab M. Benefits of an external focus of attention: common coding or conscious processing? Journal of Sports Sciences. 2006;24(1):89-99.

 

 

Motor Behavior
Volume 15, Issue 53
April 2023
Pages 69-82

  • Receive Date 24 October 2022
  • Revise Date 08 January 2023
  • Accept Date 06 February 2023

Home

Reviewers

Submit Manuscript

Publication Ethics

news

Journal Metrics

Contact Us