A task constraint framework for the attentional focus effect in sensorimotor tasks: A systematic review and meta-analyses
Year: 2015
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: A systematic search of English articles in electronic databases (i.e. PubMed, CINAHL, Proquest Nursing and Allied Health Source, PsychINFO, and SPORTDiscus) was implemented using search terms (i.e. attentional focus, focus of attention, motor learning, motor performance, external foc*, internal foc*, constrained action hypothesis, instructions, movement effects, and body movements).Three separate meta-analyses yielded Hedge’s gs of adopting an external focus relative to an internal focus in the acquisition of tasks of 0.409 (n = 64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.295-0.522), in retention of learning of 0.569 (n = 28; 95% CI, 0.404-0.733), and in transfer of learning of 0.556 (n = 15; 95% CI, 0.233-0.879). Heterogeneity was observed for the acquisition and transfer phases, I2 = 59.984 and 58.815, respectively. Subgroup analyses between discrete and continuous task dimensions revealed heterogeneity only in the acquisition phase, p = 0.031. R2 index for acquisition phase revealed R2 < 0.0.
Author: Benjamin Franklin Phalavong
Institution: University of Windsor
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2254624928