Alessandro Teodoro Bruzi

The effects of autonomous difficulty selection on engagement, motivation, and learning in a motion-controlled video game task

This experiment investigated the relationship between motivation, engagement, and learning in a video game task. Previous studies have shown increased autonomy during practice leads to superior retention of motor skills, but it is not clear why this benefit occurs. Some studies suggest this benefit arises from increased motivation during practice; others suggest the benefit arises from better information processing. Sixty novice participants were randomly assigned to a self-controlled group, who chose the progression of difficulty during practice, or to a yoked group, who experienced the same difficulty progression but did not have choice. At the end of practice, participants completed surveys measuring intrinsic motivation and engagement. One week later, participants returned for a series of retention tests at three different difficulty levels. RM-ANCOVA (controlling for pre-test) showed that the self-controlled group had improved retention compared to the yoked group, on average, β=46.78, 95% CI=[2.68, 90.87], p=0.04, but this difference was only statistically significant on the moderate difficulty post-test (p=0.004). The self-controlled group also showed greater intrinsic motivation during practice, t(58)=2.61, p=0.01. However, there was no evidence that individual differences in engagement (p=0.20) or motivation (p=0.87) were associated with learning, which was the relationship this experiment was powered to detect. These data are inconsistent with strictly motivational accounts of how autonomy benefits learning, instead suggesting the benefits of autonomy may be mediated through other mechanisms. For instance, within the information processing framework, the learning benefits may emerge from learners appropriately adjusting difficulty to maintain an appropriate level of challenge (i.e., maintaining the relationship between task demands and cognitive resources).

Efeitos do conhecimento de resultados autocontrolado na aprendizagem motora

The purpose of this study was to examine three different strategies to provide knowledge of results (KR), yoked paired by trial and yoked paired by average of total frequency of KR in random practice. The sample was composed by 45 volunteers, distributed into three groups (n=15 subjects). The task consisted of press three keys, 2, 4, 8 and 6 in the numeric keypad of the computer in three different total time (700, 900 and 1100 ms) in random practice. The experiment consisted of acquisition phase and delay retention and transfer test. The data analysis was conducted by ANOVA and the results were not demonstrated difference between groups. The results showed no effect of self-controlled frequency of KR to the motor learning when using random practice. In addition, a new possibility to be used the yoked group was presented.

Comparison of reaction time between Basketball players, Artistic Gymnasts and non-athletes

The purpose of this study was to compare the reaction time between Basketball players (group Basketball), Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics group) and non-athletes (control group). The subjects were evaluated in simple and choice reaction time through the instrument MULTPSY 821 and Viena Test System, respectively. The results showed only significant difference between groups in the measure of simple reaction time. The control group showed higher reaction time compared to other groups. These findings indicate that the practice of Basketball and Artistic Gymnastics can improve the reaction time which is a perceptual ability needed in daily living activities.

Comparación de tiempo de reacción entre los atletas de Baloncesto, Gimnasia Artística y no atletas

The purpose of this study was to compare the reaction time between Basketball players (group Basketball), Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics group) and non-athletes (control group). The subjects were evaluated in simple and choice reaction time through the instrument MULTPSY 821 and Viena Test System, respectively. The results showed only significant difference between groups in the measure of simple reaction time. The control group showed higher reaction time compared to other groups. These findings indicate that the practice of Basketball and Artistic Gymnastics can improve the reaction time which is a perceptual ability needed in daily living activities.