Qualitative Analyses of a Fundamental Motor Skill Across the Lifespan: Linking Practice and Theory

Abstract

This study is an investigation of the sensorimotor mode of learning. This is facilitated by observations of individuals across a 44 year age range, performing the fundamental motor skill of the forward roll. This fundamental motor skill was selected because it has already been partially validated for developmental sequences. The participants comprised 28 males and 89 females. The cohorts were: children (n=48); young adults (n=24); and, older adults (n=45). All participants (N=117) were video taped whilst performing the forward roll. In addition, the adults were interviewed about their performance. The performances of all participants were analysed initially by comparing them to an "ideal". Following this analysis, nine participants were selected for further analysis, on the basis of their representative age group - children, young adults and older adults, as well as the quality of their performance - low, medium or high. The purpose of this approach was to assess whether three currently used instruments, each representing an alternative assessment perspective, could provide an accurate measure of quality when applied to the nine performances. In so doing, a movement domain specific comparison of the performances for the fundamental movement skill was provided. The results of this analysis showed that the instruments did not accurately assess the quality of the performance of the forward roll across the lifespan. A new instrument was developed from a fine-grained analysis of all participants' performances that addressed the identified deficiencies. This instrument was termed the Model for Assessing Movement Quality of the Forward Roll (MAMQ:FR). It was based upon incremental observational components, which were termed indicators and descriptors. These indicators and descriptors were applied to three hypothetical sequences within the forward roll - the beginning, bridging and end...