Skill Acquisition - Principles And Theories Of Learning And Performance

Question 1

Define learning.

Answer 1

A permanent change in behaviour as a result of practice

Question 2

Define performance.

Answer 2

A tempoary occurence that can change from time to time because of many internal and external influences.

Question 3

What are the three stages of learning?

Answer 3

1) Cognitive
2) Associative
3) Autonomous

Question 4

Provide 3 characteristics of the cognitive stage?

Answer 4

• You learn the actions required to perform a skill
• Frequent errors occur
• Require a lot of extrinsic feedback during this stage

Question 5

Provide 3 characteristics of the associative stage.

Answer 5

• Learners refine the accuracy and consistency of the skill
• There is a reduced number of errors
• Performer begins to become successful

Question 6

Provide 3 characteristics of the autonomous stage.

Answer 6

• Skills are efficient and accurate and feel effortless
• Performer analyses their own actions and performance
• Less attention is required to produce the skill effectively

Question 7

What is feedback?

Answer 7

• Information which is given to the performer to aid error correction.

Question 8

What is positive feedback.

Answer 8

Encouragement towards the player about what they did well.

Question 9

What is negative feedback.

Answer 9

Where the performer is told what they have done wrong and how to correct it.

Question 10

What is extrinsic feedback?

Answer 10

Feedback which is given from an outside source

Question 11

What is intrinsic feedback?

Answer 11

Feedback which is given to the performer via themselves

Question 12

What is a learning curve a representation of?

Answer 12

It is a visual representation of what happens when a closed skill is performed repeatedly by a novice.

Question 13

How many stages are there in the learning curve?

Answer 13

There are 4 separate stages within the learning curve

Question 14

What happens during stage 1 of the learning curve?

Answer 14

The rate of learning is slow and the performer is in the cognitive stage of learning

Question 15

What happens during stage 2 of the learning curve?

Answer 15

There is a rapid acceleration in the rate of learning and the performer has begun to master the task.

Question 16

What happens during stage 3 of the learning curve?

Answer 16

There is no improvement in the rate of learning and performance levels remain at the same level

Question 17

What happens during stage 4 of the learning curve?

Answer 17

The performance of the task begins to deteriorate, possibly due to fatigue.

Question 18

Define drive reduction.

Answer 18

An end of task period when performance may get worse

Question 19

What is a plateau.

Answer 19

A period of no improvement in performance

Question 20

List 3 causes which could explain the plateau of the learning curve.

Answer 20

1) Poor coaching
2) Performer lacks the motivation and drive to move on
3) The repetitive nature of a closed skill may have caused boredom

Question 21

3 solutions to prevent the plateau effect in the learning curve.

Answer 21

1) The player could attempt to find a more effective coach
2) The player could get more extrinsic feedback to increase motivation
3) More variety could be added so boredom can be avoided

Question 22

What are the 4 types of guidance a coach could use to help a performer?

Answer 22

1) Visual guidance
2) Verbal guidance
3) Manual guidance
4) Mechanical guidance

Question 23

What is visual guidance and provide an example.

Answer 23

Guidance which can be seen as a physical demonstration. For example, a football coach may show the players how to perform a skill through a physical demonstration.

Question 24

What is verbal guidance and provide an example.

Answer 24

An explanation of the task being performed. For example a basketball player being told verbally how to perform a lay-up.

Question 25

What is manual guidance and provide an example.

Answer 25

Where the coach offers physical support during performance, for example holding a gymnast during a handstand.

Question 26

What is mechanical guidance and provide an example.

Answer 26

Mechanical guidance is where a coach uses a device to aid performance. For example a novice swimmer using swimming armbands.

Question 27

What are the three factors which shape behaviour through operant conditioning?

Answer 27

• Positive reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement
• Punishment

Question 28

What is positive reinforcement and provide a sporting example.

Answer 28

A pleasant stimulus after the correct response, for example a coach gives a defender a man of the match award.

Question 29

What is negative reinforcement and provide a sporting example.

Answer 29

Taking away an unpleasant stimulus after the correct response, for example stopping criticising a players’s tackling after they are tackling well.

Question 30

What is a punishment and provide a sporting example.

Answer 30

An unpleasant stimulus to prevent incorrect action recurring, for example a red card in football.

Question 31

What did Bandura’s social learning theory state?

Answer 31

It suggested that both negative and positive behaviour can be learnt by watching and copying others.

Question 32

What are the 4 processes which the coach needs to fulfill to ensure their desired behaviour is copied by their player?

Answer 32

1) Attention
2) Retention
3) Motor production
4) Motivation

Question 33

Define retention.

Answer 33

Having the ability to recall important information from the memory system

Question 34

What is insight learning.

Answer 34

Using experience and understanding to solve problems relating to the whole skill