Efeitos da demonstração com diferentes dicas de foco de atenção na aprendizagem do malabarismo em crianças.

Abstract

he objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of demonstration with different focus of attention cues on the learning of a complex continuous motor skill in children. Eleven years old participants practiced 20 trials of a juggling task. A video of a model was used for task demonstration. All participants watched the video before and during practice, after every block of five trials. During the model observation, participants of the external focus group had their attention directed to the beanbags movements, while participants of the internal focus group had their attention directed to the movement of the model’s hands. Participants of the control group did not receive specific focus of attention instructions. Learning was assessed one day after practice, through retention and transfer tests (using official juggling balls), both consisting of 5 trials each, without demonstration or attention cues. The results showed no significant differences in learning between the different conditions. The results of a questionnaire, applied after the practice phase, demonstrated that most part of the children did not follow the specific focus of attention instructed by the experimenter.