LAB 4 BALANCE, PERCEPTUAL JUDGMENT, AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

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Anabel Mosley
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1 Introduction LAB 4 BALANCE, PERCEPTUAL JUDGMENT, AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT This lab consists of a series of experiments that explore various perceptual skills that help us understand how we perform motor skill. The first experiment involves examining factors that influence our balance using the stabilometer, the second experiment engages the student in examining how we made judgments when we move using different weighted canisters, and the last experiment involves examining fine motor skill development using a tapping task. You will complete all three experiments and you will use your data for each experiment in graphing and in answering the lab questions. Experiment 1: Balance As the author of your texts states, Balance is traditionally defined as a state of equilibrium maintained between opposing forces. Balance is an integral part of almost every movement task which is commonly referred to as postural control (Payne and Issac, 2005, p. 78). Balance depends on such factors of the size of the base of support, height, and training. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects of one s size of base of support across different stances with your eyes open and closed. Procedures & Equipment Researchers have studied balance by using a stabilometer. With stabilometer, the subject must balance on a platform suspended on a single axis across its midline. The subject places one foot one each side of this axis, similar to attempting to balance on the center of seesaw. While balancing, you will be asked to maintain your stance in the following body positions: hands on your hips, arms folded across your chest and bend over at a 90 degree angle at the waist with arms folded across your chest. You will perform each stance with eyes open and eyes closed with a narrow and wide base of support. You will attempt to balance in each position for as long as possible. The number of seconds that you are in balance will be your score. You will be given to attempts at each stance, randomly selected. Total time of the two attempts will be your score for each stance. Data Sheet 1

2 Wide Base EYES OPEN Hands on hip Arms extended above one s head EYES CLOSED Hands on hip Arms extended above one s head Narrow Base EYES OPEN Hands on hip Arm extended above one s head EYES CLOSED Data & Graphing: Hands on Hip Arms extended above one s head From the data form, determine the total time for each stance with a narrow and wide base when your eyes are open or closed. Graph your total time across the different base of supports for the three stances for the eyes open and closed on one graph. The title of graph should be named Balancing using different bases of support and stances with or with vision. The X axis should be labeled bases of support. The Y axis should labeled total balance time. The legend should identify the stances with or with vision. Experiment 2: Comparative and Absolute Judgment 2

3 (The authors of this lab are Douglas Young & William Husak (1995) found in the laboratory manual: A practice guide to motor learning) Two types of judgments are usually made when perceptual information is compared. First, a comparative judgment occurs in a situation where both the standard and the comparison stimulus are presented at the same time. Absolute judgments involve the standard stored in memory with the comparison physically present. For example comparing the different weights of bowling balls to determine which bowling ball to use is an example of absolute judgment. Absolute judgment is a common practice since it relies on memory. The purpose of this lab was to determine one s ability to judge the difference between weights using constant stimulus (comparative judgment) and the stimulus held inmemory (absolute judgment) techniques. Procedure and Equipment A set of weighted canisters that contain a series of light weights (75 to 125 grams) and heavy weights (175 to 225 grams) will be used to assess your judgments. You will be blindfolded during the absolute and comparative judgment trials. In the absolute judgment condition, the standard weight (100 grams for the light set and 200 grams for the heavy set) will be placed in the subject s preferred hand. He or she will memorize how heavy the weight feels, put it aside, then pick up each of the rest of the weights, at random, and judge whether the compare weight is lighter, heavier, or the same in weight as the standard held in memory. In the comparative judgment condition, in one hand will be placed the standard weight(100 grams for the light set and 200 grams for the heavy set) In the other hand will be placed at random a comparison weight from the same set. The subject is to determine whether the comparison weight is lighter, heavier, or the same in weight as the standard held in the other hand. You will perform 11 trials on each set of weights for each type of comparison. The percentage of correct responses will be recorded. Light Set ABSOLUTE JUDGMENT 3

4 COMPARATIVE JUDGMENT Heavy Set ABSOLUTE JUDGMENT COMPARATIVE JUDGMENT Data & Graphing: From the data form, determine the average correct comparison for absolute judgment and for comparative judgment for both the light and heavy set of weights. Graph your averages of absolute and comparative judgment for both heavy and light weight on one graph. The title of graph should be named Absolute and Comparative Judgment of Light and Heavy Weights. The X axis should be labeled absolute and comparative judgment. The Y axis should labeled % of correct. The legend should identify light and heavy set. Experiment 3: Repetitive and Successive Movements in Fine Motor Development Finger trapping has contributed to the understanding of fine motor development. Finger tapping is an important index of fine motor coordination. Finger tapping are categorized into repetitive and successive movements. Repetitive tasks are repetitions of the same movement, such as tapping the thumb and forefinger together as rapidly as possible. Successive movements are a series of similar movements performed in rapid succession, such as rapidly taping thumb to each same hand finger until all finger of the hand are touched. 4

5 Tapping speed is usually measured every 10 seconds for a total of 30 consecutive seconds. The total number of taps across the three 10 second trials is then reported. The purpose of this experiment is comparing your fine motor coordination by completing a tapping task involving repetitive and successive movements. Procedure & Equipment; You will be seated in front of the Moart front panel. The Moart multi operational apparatus has been developed for tapping and reaction time tests. In the repetitive tapping movement condition, you are to rapidly tap the button corresponding to your forefinger found on the upper left corner of the panel with your forefinger for three 10 second trials. Record the number of taps for each 10 second trial. Then complete this same tapping exercise with the forefinger of the right hand using the button on the upper right side of the panel with your forefinger for another. After you have completed the fore finger tapping with both hands, complete the same procedure but only use your ring finger of each hand. You should have data for both right and left forefinger and ring fingers. In the successive tapping movement, you are to rapidly tap alternating the left and right forefingers (dual key tapping) for three 10 second trials then complete the procedure using the ring fingers. The number to taps involving the right and left fore finger and ring fingers for the three 10 second trials are to be recorded on the data sheet. The light above the button will appear which indicates when to start tapping. The Moart Apparatus has been preprogrammed for 10 second trials and has recorded the number of taps. In the dual key tapping conditions, your right and left finger tapping are recorded separately. Data Form Repetitive Tapping Right Fore finger Left Fore finger Right Ring finger 5

6 Left Ring finger Successive Tapping Right Fore finger Left Fore finger Right Ring finger Left Ring finger Data and Graphing From the data form, determine the total number of taps across the three trials for each finger for the repetitive and successive tapping conditions. Graph the total number of taps for each finger for the repetitive and successive tapping conditions. The title of graph should be named fore finger and Ring Finger Repetitive and Successive Tapping. The X axis should be labeled repetitive and successive tapping. The Y axis should labeled total number of taps. Questions: 1. Researches have found that wider base of support with eyes open across the various stances should be better than narrow base of support with eyes shut? Do your results support these assumptions? Explain your answer by using your data as support. (4 points) 2. In the text (pages 93 95), the author discusses the topic of balance what conclusions did they indicated related to the following questions: (4 points) 1. Does static and dynamic balance improve or decline with age? 2. How is balance ability related to one height? 3. What sense does children rely upon to balance? 4. If I asked to balance on the preferred versus non preferred foot, would it make any difference in your on balance ability? 6

7 3. Discuss the differences you found between absolute and comparative judgment of heavy and light weights. Use your data in explaining your results. (4 points) 4. Discuss the differences you found between repetitive and successive movements of tapping with the forefinger and ring finger. Use your data in explaining your results. (4 points) 5. In examining your tapping data was your dominate or non dominate hand fingers better in repetitive or successive tapping? Explain using your data as support. What does your text indicated (p 140) about dominate versus non dominate superiority when it comes to repetitive versus successive tasks? (4 points) This Lab is worth 35 points (20 points for the questions and 15 points for graphing) 7

Visual & Auditory Skills Lab

Visual & Auditory Skills Lab Name: Score: Introduction This lab consists of a series of experiments that explore various perceptual, vision, and balance skills that help us understand how we perform motor