Award Date

2009

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Department

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences

Advisor 1

Gabriele Wulf, Committee Chair

First Committee Member

John Mercer

Second Committee Member

Richard Tandy

Graduate Faculty Representative

Louis Kavouras

Number of Pages

69

Abstract

Focus of attention manipulation has been shown to have an effect on learning and performance of movement tasks. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether inducing an external or internal focus of attention while learning a Pilates roll-up had an effect on movement technique acquisition. Movement form, movement time, and distance reached served as dependent variables. Participants (n=22) were assigned to either an external or internal focus group and verbally instructed through 2 sets of 6 repetitions of the roll-up per day over two practice days. A retention test on Day 3 consisting of 2 sets of 6 repetitions without instructions demonstrated the permanent effects of learning and produced no significant group differences. Further research is needed to establish a relationship between focus of attention and complex skill learning in which movement form is emphasized in execution.

Keywords

Body-mind connection; Concentration; Focus of attention; Movement; Pilates; Rater; Skill learning

Disciplines

Dance | Physical Therapy

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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