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Does trait cognitive anxiety influence the learning of perceptual-motor skills in a contextual interference paradigm?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Does trait cognitive anxiety influence the learning of perceptual-motor skills in a contextual interference paradigm?

P. A. Shewokis, V. Krane, J. Snow and C. Greenleaf
Journal of human movement studies, v 41(3), pp 225-245
2001
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Shewokis-JHumMovStud-DoesTraitCognitive-20017.20 MB
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Abstract

Contextual interference is a learning paradox associated with enhanced long-term memory and transfer when learning multiple, similar skills. The performance benefits of contextual interference have been demonstrated frequently. This study examines the influence of a participant characteristic (trait cognitive anxiety) on the learning of multiple related skills in a contextual interference paradigm. Contextual interference effects were tested by controlling for individual differences in trait cognitive anxiety when learning sport-oriented computer games. Undergraduate sport management majors (N = 20) completed the Sport Anxiety Scale (Smith et al, 1990). Then they played a computer game simulating the events of the winter Olympics. Participants were randomly assigned to either a random or blocked practice schedule, practicing 72 training trials of three events in two testing sessions. Delayed retention and transfer tests were performed after a four-day interval. The dependent variable was time taken to complete an event. An ANCOVA model, using trait cognitive anxiety as a covariate, showed participants in random (M(adjusted) = 247sec) were significantly faster (p less than 0.05) than participants in blocked practice schedules (M(adjusted) = 281 sec) during transfer. However, during acquisition and retention, random and blocked participants performed similarly. Results extend previous contextual interference findings and are discussed in terms of the implications of these findings on contextual interference and cognitive anxiety in an interdisciplinary framework.

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4 citations in Web of Science

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychology, Experimental
Sport Sciences
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