<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim:</italic> External focus of attention is considered as a critical factor in the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning. This theory proposes that external focus of attention facilitates motor performance and learning because it promotes focusing on the task goal. However, the effects of external focus of attention on focusing on the task goal are not well understood. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of an external focus of attention versus an internal focus of attention on motor learning and promoting focus of the learner on the task goal.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> Thirty-six right-handed male students (mean age 21.16 ± 1.85 years old) with no prior experiences with the motor task were randomly assigned to three groups: external focus, internal focus, and control groups. Participants were asked to throw darts at a target during an acquisition phase (10 blocks of six trials each) and during subsequent retention and transfer tests. Throwing accuracy and focus on the task goal were measured as dependent variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures as well as a one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in accuracy scores between groups during the acquisition phase as well as retention and transfer tests, respectively. The significance level was set at <italic>p</italic> &lt; .05. The author supervised all phases of the experiment.<italic>Results:</italic> The results showed that adopting an external focus promoted a focus on the task goal and resulted in significantly better motor learning than adopting an internal focus and control conditions (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05).<italic>Conclusions:</italic> The findings of the present study provided support for the propositions of the OPTIMAL theory and showed that adopting an external focus of attention promotes focus of the learner on the task goal. The results are discussed in terms of benefits of external focus instructions for facilitating motor learning and goal-action coupling.</abstract>

Study aim: External focus of attention is considered as a critical factor in the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning. This theory proposes that external focus of attention facilitates motor performance and learning because it promotes focusing on the task goal. However, the effects of external focus of attention on focusing on the task goal are not well understood. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of an external focus of attention versus an internal focus of attention on motor learning and promoting focus of the learner on the task goal.Material and methods: Thirty-six right-handed male students (mean age 21.16 ± 1.85 years old) with no prior experiences with the motor task were randomly assigned to three groups: external focus, internal focus, and control groups. Participants were asked to throw darts at a target during an acquisition phase (10 blocks of six trials each) and during subsequent retention and transfer tests. Throwing accuracy and focus on the task goal were measured as dependent variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures as well as a one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in accuracy scores between groups during the acquisition phase as well as retention and transfer tests, respectively. The significance level was set at p < .05. The author supervised all phases of the experiment.Results: The results showed that adopting an external focus promoted a focus on the task goal and resulted in significantly better motor learning than adopting an internal focus and control conditions (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The findings of the present study provided support for the propositions of the OPTIMAL theory and showed that adopting an external focus of attention promotes focus of the learner on the task goal. The results are discussed in terms of benefits of external focus instructions for facilitating motor learning and goal-action coupling.

The effects of external and internal focus of attention on motor learning and promoting learner’s focus

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aliabad Katoul Branch

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Tabriz Branch

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Gorgan Branch

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Study aim: External focus of attention is considered as a critical factor in the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning. This theory proposes that external focus of...

The effects of external and internal focus of attention on motor learning and promoting learner’s focus

Published Online: Dec 02, 2019

Page range: 175 - 180

Received: Jul 29, 2019

Accepted: Nov 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2019-0024

Keywords
OPTIMAL theory, External focus of attention, Goal-action coupling, Motor learning

© 2019 Saeed Ghorbani et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The effects of external and internal focus of attention on motor learning and promoting learner’s focus

Published Online: Dec 02, 2019

Page range: 175 - 180

Received: Jul 29, 2019

Accepted: Nov 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2019-0024

KeywordsOPTIMAL theory, External focus of attention, Goal-action coupling, Motor learning

© 2019 Saeed Ghorbani et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
OPTIMAL theory, External focus of attention, Goal-action coupling, Motor learning