1 - Information Processing and Memory

Question 1

Define information-processing?

Answer 1

Information processing is the methods by which data from the environment are collected and utilised.

Question 2

Name the three parts of information processing?

Answer 2

Input stage
Decision making stage
Output stage

Question 3

Define the display?

Answer 3

The sporting environment

Question 4

Define the input stage?

Answer 4

The input stage is information picked up by the senses.

- The performer uses their senses to pick up information from the sporting environment.

Question 5

Name the five senses in sport?

Answer 5

Sight (or vision)
Auditory sense (hearing)
Touch
Balance
Kinesthesis

Question 6

Define kinesthesis?

Answer 6

The inner sense that gives information about body position and muscular tension.

Question 7

Define the receptor systems?

Answer 7

The senses that pick up information from the display ie; sight, hearing etc

Question 8

Name the internal senses?

Answer 8

Touch
Balance
Kinesthesis

Question 9

Name the external senses?

Answer 9

Sight

Hearing

Question 10

Define proprioceptors?

Answer 10

The senses that provide internal information from within the body.

Question 11

Explain the decision-making stage?

Answer 11

At this point the performer must make a decision based on all the information collected by the senses. In order to make such decisions, the process of selective attention and the use of the memory system are really important.

Question 12

Define selective attention?

Answer 12

Filtering relevant information from irrelevant information.

• Selective attention is essentially a filtering process that identifies the information needed by the performer and disregard the less important parts.
• For example it would help a badminton player focus on the position of the opponent and the flight of the shuttlecock while ignoring the crowd and the things in the display that are outside the court.

Question 13

Name ways of developing selective attention?

Answer 13

• Experience builds the effectiveness of the process.
• Selective attention can be developed by both coaches and performers.
• Sports performers can enhance the process of selective attention by learning to focus and concentrate on the important information, getting used to the idea of the stimulus.
• Making this stimulus more intense, loud or bright when the performer is training, it will help to develop the art of concentration.
• Improved motivation helps the process of selective attention.

Question 14

Name the benefits of selective attention?

Answer 14

- Improve your reaction time significantly.

• Focusing on relevant information improves the chance of making correct decisions.
• Selective attention helps the decision-making process.

Question 15

Explain in its entirety DCR?

Answer 15

DCR is the perceptual stage of information-processing which involves three aspects of activity called detection, comparison and recognition.

• detection means that the performer has picked up the relevant information and identified that information as important.
• The comparison aspect of information-processing involves trying to match the information identified as important to information already in the memory of the performer.
• Recognition means that the performer has used information from the memory to identify an appropriate response. The response can then be put into action.

Question 16

Define and explain the translatory mechanisms?

Answer 16

The translatory mechanisms is adapting and comparing coded information to memory so that decisions can be made.

• The translatory mechanism uses past experiences so that information received can be linked with these past experiences and sent to the memory system.
• actions are stored in the memory system in the form of motor programmes.
• The translatory mechanism uses coding information from the perceptual process to pick out an appropriate motor programme.
• For example a tennis return, The information about the flight of the ball and the position of the opponent are compared to an appropriate image of the backhand return.

Question 17

Explain the output stage of information processing?

Answer 17

The effector mechanism;

• the network of nerves that sends coded impulses to the muscles.
• this is so the muscles can perform the movement (output of information processing)

Feedback;
- the information used during or after the response to aid movement correction.

Question 18

Explain the order of Whitings information model (1969)?

Answer 18

The features of information processing occur in a specific order, Whitings model demonstrates this;

1) The environment
2) The display
3) Receptor systems
4) Perceptual mechanism (includes selective attention)
5) Translatory mechanism
6) Effector mechanism
7) Sensory organs
8) Output
9) Feedback