Skill Acquisition (2.1) Flashcards
(26 cards)
principle theories of learning
- Operant conditioning (Thorndikes laws)
- Cognitive theories of learning
- Social Learning/observational learning theory
Give an example of operant conditioning
Describe it
Skinner
- Skinner used a box with a rat inside it. If rat hit a lever inside the box, a food pellet would be released.
- Through trial and error, the rat eventually learned hitting the lever would produce food
- Hitting lever gave food (reward), which reinforced the hitting action
- Reinforcement strengthens stimulus-response (S-R) bond
The 3 characteristics of operant conditioning
- Positive reinforcement = The stimulus is given when the desired response occurs
- Negative reinforcement = An unpleasant stimulus is withdrawn when desired response occurs
- Punishment = An unpleasant stimulus given to prevent a response occurring
What’s complete reinforcement
Learning is faster this way; when a reward is given on every occasion
What’s partial reinforcement
Learning takes longer but lasts longer; a reward is given after a number of correct responses
Problems with use of rewards
- Rewards can lead to enjoyment of the activity to be lost. E.g. young swimmer being just interested in gaining the next badge, and loses thrill of swimming
- Partial reinforcement more effective long term, than complete reinforcement
What do the Thorndikes laws do
- Laws are linked to operant conditioning
- How fully we develop an S-R bond depends on extent the 3 laws are applied
- Laws on strengthening the S-R bond
What are the 3 thorndikes laws
Law of exercise
Law of effect
Law of readiness
What’s the law of exercise
Repeating or rehearsing the S-R connections is more likely to strengthen them.
E.g. Gymnast practises a floor routine repeatedly, the stimulus-response bonds are repeated or ‘exercised’
What’s the law of effect
- If response is followed by a ‘satisfier’, the S-R bond is strengthened.
- If response is followed by an ‘annoyer’, the S-R bond is weakened
Law of readiness
- Performer must be physically and mentally able to complete the task effectively
2) Cognitive theories of learning
Describe it
- We often learn taking into account our environment. E.g. Football player adapting play due to ground being slippery
- Work out what’s happening using our memories of past experiences, from long term memory
- Giving children lots of sporting experiences will help future learning, as they can draw from these experiences
3) Social learning/observational learning theory
Describe it
- Those we view as being high status to us, or significant others, are much more likely to be copied
- We observe and copy/imitate behaviour to help us be part of a group, and be more socially acceptable. This is called social learning.
- Observational Learning, the person being observed is the model
- This theory’s about imitating behaviour
Process of observational learning (According to Bandura)
Copying or modelling can affect our performance through 4 processes
1) Attention= To imitate, the performer must pay attention to demonstration and focus on important cues (cueing)
2) Retention= Observer must be able to remember the model that’s presented
3) Motor reproduction= Observer must be physically able to imitate the skill being observed.
4) Motivation= Level of motivation of observer is crucial, if they’re going to imitate performance.
Types of guidance
Verbal
Visual
Manual and mechanical
What’s verbal guidance
Advantages and disadvantages
- Used to describe the action and explain how to perform activity
Advantages: - Can be in form of feedback, identifying errors
- Can be used to motivate player, learn and develop motor skil
- Can hold attention of performer
- Effective for autonomous learners
Disadvantages: -Information overload, lead to confusion or getting distracted
- Guidance can be inaccurate, result in learning skills wrongly
- Limited to beginners
What’s visual guidance
Advantages and disadvantages
- Help cognitive learners build a mental image of how the skill should look
Advantages: - Performer find it easier to create mental image of skill
- Enable skill to be seen in different stages, easier to learn
- Encourages observational learning, drawing attention to important cues
Disadvantages: -Demonstration could be inaccurate
- Demonstration may be too quick to follow or unclear
- Coach may not be able to show accurate demonstration
What’s manual and mechanical guidance
- Mechanical guidance= Physical support for performer by another mechanical object. E.g. use of a twisting belt in trampolining
- Manual guidance= Performer being directed physically by another person. E.g. holding arms of a golfer and forcing them through motion of a drive
Advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and manual guidance
Advantages= -Give performers sense of safety, therefore increase confidence
- Can be used to isolate important aspects of the skill
Disadvantages= -Can be over-restrictive to performer who feels a lack of control over movement
- Can lead to a ‘false sense of kinaesthesis’. Feeling what the skill is like with the support, not without the support
Types of feedback
Intrinsic Extrinsic Positive Negative Knowledge of results Knowledge of performance
What’s intrinsic feedback
Advantages and disadvantages
- Involves information available to performer that is internal
Advantages: -Feedback occurs as movement is performed, therefore readily available
- Performer doesn’t have to rely on others
- Autonomous learners have accurate intrinsic feedback, can be interpreted correctly, leading improved performance
Disadvantages: -Cognitive learners will not have accurate interpretation of skill
-Some performers able to feel and interpret movements more effectively than others
What’s extrinsic feedback
Advantages and disadvantages
- Feedback from an external source from the performer
Advantages= -Coach can give coaching points that lead to improvements, as long as information is accurate and relevant.
- Can Increase motivation and performance
Disadvantages= -Inaccurate feedback can affect performance negatively
- If source of feedbacks unreliable, performers motivation can drop
- Doesn’t encourage as much kinaesthetic awareness than intrinsic feedback
What’s positive feedback
Advantages and disadvantages
-Involves information that’s extrinsic and rewards performer via praise or positive comments
Advantages= -Positive feedback, lead to positive reinforcement, enabling correct S-R bond formed
- Motivating, especially cognitive learners
- Build self-esteem and confidence
Disadvantages= -Underserved, performer may build inappropriate S-R bonds, deteriorating performance
-Performers don’t respond well to too much praise and may ignore feedback, hindering performance
What’s negative feedback
Advantages and disadvantages
-Can be in form of criticism, concentrate on poor aspects of performance and results
Advantages: -Some are motivated well by negative feedback, resulting in determined behaviour
- Clear what needs improving
- Good feedback for autonomous learners
Disadvantages: -Can be demotivating, especially if it’s a cognitive learner
-Can be detrimental to learning process, if feedback is inaccurate
