The Relative Permanence of the Decrement in Motor Performance After Practice Under Massed Conditions

Authors

Robert Seibel, State University of Iowa

Document Type

Research

Abstract

Several studies have shown that on a motor task the performance of a group practicing under relatively massed conditions is poorer than the performance of a group practicing under distributed conditions. Subsequent to rest, the performance of the massed-practice group is nearer the level of the distributed-practice group, but a residual difference remains (hereinafter referred to as residual difference) no matter how long the rest period is. However, a study by Bilodeau (3) obtained results which are interpreted as indicating the lack of such residual difference. After overnight rests the initial rate of responding on each of ten days was similar for both massed-and distributed-practice groups. The task used was the manual crank. This task may be classified as a "self-paced" task, that is, the rate of responding is set by the performing subject. It is also pointed out that the task involves a minimum of learning.

Publication Date

1955

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

62

Issue

1

First Page

457

Last Page

461

Copyright

©1955 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Seibel, Robert (1955) "The Relative Permanence of the Decrement in Motor Performance After Practice Under Massed Conditions," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 62(1), 457-461.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol62/iss1/55