An External Skill Focus is Necessary to Enhance Performance

Russell, Robert; Porter, Jared; Campbell, Olivia

doi:10.1123/jmld.2014-0038

Cited by 25Sport Psychology and PerformanceSports and Physical Education ResearchMotor Control and Adaptation

An External Skill Focus is Necessary to Enhance Performance

Russell, Robert, Porter, Jared, Campbell, Olivia·2014·Journal of Motor Learning and Development

DOI 10.1123/jmld.2014-0038

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Abstract

This study examined the interaction between a skill/extraneous attentional focus and an internal/external focus of attention using a dual-task paradigm. Thirty-two low-skill participants completed a primary dart-throwing task with their dominant arm while simultaneously performing a secondary arm-stabilizing task with their nondominant arm. Two aspects of the participants’ attentional focus were manipulated: skill versus extraneous focus and external versus internal focus. Participants completed 120 trials across four conditions created by combining the dimensions of the two variables. Performance on the primary task was assessed by measuring throwing accuracy and the kinematics of the throwing action. Results indicated that accuracy improved under the external, skill-oriented condition relative to all other conditions; no differences between the remaining conditions were observed. These findings suggest that an external, skill-oriented focus of attention is needed to facilitate performance improvements in novices.

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An external focus on the primary task is necessary to enhance performance, whereas an external focus on a secondary task does not enhance performance.
“Indeed, a recent study by Russell, Porter, and Campbell (2014) showed nicely that an external focus on the primary task (dart throwing) was necessary to enhance performance, whereas an external focus on a simultaneously performed secondary task-which should have directed attention away from the self-was not able to enhance performance (similar to internal foci on either task).”
From Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (2016) · cites this paper as Russell, Porter, and Campbell (2014)

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Authors: Russell, R., Porter, J., & Campbell, O.
ORCID: Porter, Jared
Venue: Journal of Motor Learning and Development
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Published: 2014-06
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 37-46
ISSN: 2325-3193 (ISSN-L)
2325-3215
DOI: 10.1123/jmld.2014-0038
OpenAlex: W2169329715
Cited by: 25
References: 28
Citations by year: 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3
FWCI: 4.69
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Motor Learning and Development (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Sports and Physical Education Research
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Keywords: attentional focus, external focus, internal focus, dual-task performance, dart throwing, throwing accuracy, throwing kinematics, motor skill learning

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An External Skill Focus is Necessary to Enhance Performance

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