Principles and Theories of Learning Movement Skills

• Operant Conditioning involves:

  Trial and Error

  Stimulus Response bonds

  Negative Reinforcement

  Positive Reinforcement

  Punishment

  Manipulation of the Environment

  Shaping
• Stimulus-Response bonds are when the performer learns the new motor skill by being conditioned by learning to link/connect a particular stimulus to the appropraite response. Once formed a response should be triggered automatically when the stimuli occurs.
• Punishment is when a coach presents an annoyer or removes a satisfier in order to break the S-R bond and prevent an incorrect response reoccuring.
• Positive reinforcement is when a coach gives a satisfier or a pleasant stimulus when a desired or successful response occurs which strenghtens the S-R bond. This increases the probability of the desired response occuring. This is the most powerful form of reinforcement and motivates performers as well as increases confidence.
• Negative reinforcement is when a coach removes an unpleasant stimulus when a desired or successful response occurs which strenghtens the S-R bond. This increases the probability of the desired response reoccurring.
• Trial and error is having a go and experimenting with actions. Successful outcomes will be repeated and unsuccessful actions will be changed.
• Shaping is when a coach tries to modify behaviour by positively reinforcing correct actions, or positively reinforcng actions along the right line if the skill is complex and ignoring incorrect actions.
• Manipulation of the environment is physically changing the performance situationn to make the skill easier to perform. This involves using a piece of equipment as a target to highlight a particular characterisitic of the skill that is being focused on. When the performer improves the target is made smaller and eventually the target is removed when the skill is learned.
• The advantages of operant conditioning are: positive reinforcement is motivating and increases confidence, it is effective with beginners adn youngsters, S-R bonds cause quick reactions.
• The disadvantages of operant conditioning are: punishment can cause stress, demotivation and a lack of confidence; punishment only tells you what not to do instead of what to do; overuse of praise can become ineffective.
• Thorndike's Law of Exercise states that the S-R bonds will be strenghtenes by practice and tiredness or lack of practice will weaken the S-R bond.
• Thorndike's Law of Effect states that if the response is followed by a satisifer then the S-R bond is strenghtened. If the response is followed by an annoyer then the S-R bond is weakened.
• Thorndike's Law of Readiness states that the learner must be physically and mentally able to complete the task in order to strenghten the S-R bond.
• Cognitive learning theory goes beyond operant conditioning and say that thinking processes come between the stimulus and the response.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: Gestalt, Intervening variables, Thinking and understanding, Perception, Problem solving, Past experience, Insight learning, Whole learning.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: Intervening variables operate where information is drawn together and made sense of. Mental processes occur between the stimulus and the response.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: Thinking and understanding are a key part of learning, as well as perception where learners interpret or use intelligence when solving problems.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: The learner will solve problems by using understanding from past experiences in the memory to gain an insight about what is required to complete a task successfully. So insight learning is problem solving involving memory.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: The problem is faced as a whole and thought about the whole situation is needed in order to learn successfully as well as skills or situations practiced as a whole.
• Cognitive learning theory involves: Gestalt means entirety or wholeness of form.
• Cognitive learning theory does not involve trial and error.
• The advantages of cognitive learning theory are: the development of kinaesthetic feel; easier to apply to game situations; performers learn to self correct and don't rely on others to learn.
• The disadvantages of cognitive learning theory are: it is unsafe for a dangerous skill to be learnt as a whole; it is difficult to learn complex skills as a whole for beginners; some people can't learn by undertsanding; some people require positive reinforcement and punishment in order to learn.
• Social and Observational learning happens when we watch, learn, copy other peoples actions. We are more likely to copy a role model.
• Modelling is more likely if the person we observe is; significant to us, similar to us and consistent.
• Modelling is more likely if the action we observe is: followed by positive reinforcement (vicarious reinforcement); not followed by punishment; is carrying out a socially acceptable action; also if we are praised by our role model we are more likely to repeat the action again.
• Bandura's model of observational learning states in order to replicate a performance, you need to (Observe), Attention, Retention, Motor Reproduction, Motivations, (Performance).
• The advantages of social and observational learning are: it is true that your role model is likely to be similar to you; it is true that lots of people will learn by watching and copying role models.
• The disadvantages of social and observational learning are: not everybody with the same role model will act in the same way; some people need positive reinforcement and punishment to learn; minority sports won't have role models or struggle to find a similar one; if the observed action is incorrect it will be copied incorrectly.