Autonomy and focus of attention in medical motor skills learning: a randomized experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The 'OPTIMAL' (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning suggests that autonomy, external focus of attention, and perceived competence can improve learning of simple motor tasks. The authors hypothesized that enhanced (vs. routine) autonomy and external (vs. internal) focus of attention would improve first-try performance of two medical motor tasks.

Methods

The authors conducted a randomized two-by-two factorial design study with high school students as participants. Task instructions promoted either enhanced or routine autonomy, and either external or internal focus of attention. These conditions were replicated in a crossover design for two common medical tasks (chest compressions on a manikin and a

SUBMITTER: Pollok F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8772150 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature