Topic 3 Chapter 11: 3.2.1 - 3.4.2 - Learning Theories and Practices Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association. A neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.
How can classical conditioning be applied in sport?
A coach pairs a neutral cue (e.g., whistle) with a skill or positive outcome (e.g., catching a ball). Over time, the cue alone triggers the response.
Example of classical conditioning in sport?
A netball player hears a whistle (neutral) every time they catch a ball. Eventually, the whistle alone prompts them to prepare to catch (conditioned response).
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through consequences—behaviours are strengthened or weakened by reinforcement or punishment.
What are the three types of reinforcement?
- Positive reinforcement: Giving a reward (e.g., praise, medals).
- Negative reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant (e.g., stop shouting when skill improves).
- Punishment: Giving an unpleasant consequence to reduce behaviour (e.g., extra drills for mistakes).
How is operant conditioning used in coaching?
Coaches reward correct technique (positive), reduce pressure when athletes improve (negative), or apply punishment to discourage poor habits.
Example of operant conditioning in sport?
A basketball coach praises players who make accurate passes (positive reinforcement) and stops nagging when effort improves (negative reinforcement).
What are Thorndike’s 3 laws of learning?
- Law of Effect: Behaviours with positive outcomes are repeated.
- Law of Exercise: Practice strengthens the connection.
- Law of Readiness: Learning occurs when the learner is physically and mentally prepared.
How are Thorndike’s laws used in sport?
- Effect: Praise after good performance makes athletes want to repeat it.
- Exercise: Regular practice of skills reinforces them.
- Readiness: Don’t teach advanced skills until basics are understood.
Example of Thorndike’s laws in sport?
A coach praises a successful tennis serve (effect), the serve is repeated in practice (exercise), and only taught after the grip and stance are learned (readiness).
What are Fitts and Posner’s the 3 stages of learning?
- Cognitive stage – The learner understands what to do and makes many mistakes.
- Associative stage – Skill performance improves with fewer errors.
- Autonomous stage – Skill is automatic and can be performed under pressure.
Characteristics of each stage of learning?
- Cognitive: Needs lots of guidance and demonstrations.
- Associative: Learner practices, starts to self-correct.
- Autonomous: Little conscious thought, consistent performance.
Example of the stages of learning in sport?
In football:
- Cognitive: Learning how to shoot with coaching and demonstrations.
- Associative: Repeatedly practicing shots, improving accuracy.
-Autonomous: Can shoot instinctively during a match.
What is whole practice?
Whole practice is when the entire skill or activity is taught and practiced in its complete form, rather than being broken down into parts.
What are three key features of whole practice?
- Develops kinaesthetic awareness of the entire skill.
- Usually starts with a demonstration or explanation.
- Helps build a full cognitive picture of the movement.
- Allows for better positive transfer to competitive or real-life situations.
- Helps performers link key elements of the skill, making it more meaningful.
When is whole practice most effective?
- When the skill has low complexity and high organisation (e.g. bench press).
- For rapid or discrete skills (e.g. hitting a softball).
- When breaking the skill down would disrupt its natural flow.
Can whole practice be simplified for beginners?
Yes. Equipment and rules can be adapted (e.g. uni hoc, short tennis) to reduce decision-making and allow safe, full practice.
When is part practice most effective?
- When the skill is complex but low in organisation.
- When sub-routines are independent and can be practiced in isolation (e.g. front crawl arm action, breathing, body position).
What is part practice?
Part practice involves breaking a complex skill down into separate components or sub-routines and practicing each one individually.
What are three benefits of part practice?
- Allows focus on specific difficult areas.
- Enables learners to experience success and build confidence.
- Can make challenging skills more manageable.
What are the limitations of part practice?
- Can be time-consuming.
- May result in loss of kinaesthetic feel for the whole skill if not reintegrated.
- Especially important for technical skills (e.g. breaststroke timing) to return to the full movement.
What is progressive part practice?
Also called the chaining method, this approach teaches a skill by learning parts one at a time in sequence and gradually linking them together.
What are three benefits of progressive part practice?
- Combines the advantages of both whole and part practice.
- Helps build fluency and understanding of how parts link together.
- Allows weaknesses in specific sections to be identified and targeted.
When is progressive part practice useful?
- For complex skills with independent components (e.g. gymnastics routines: handstand → cartwheel → handspring → somersault).
- When smooth transitions between parts need to be developed.
