The Effect of Constant or Variable Training Distance on the Generalization of Throwing Skills

Abstract

Background: Generalization is a vital aspect of real-life motor learning. We asked whether in a realistic skill (bean bag throwing) generalization occurs within or beyond the range of trained movements and whether this is different for constant or variable practice.Methods: what was your outcomes? How you measured them? In two experiments participants threw beanbags at a target at various distances. In the first experiment (n=24), two training groups threw beanbags to a constant near or far target and were examined at an intermediate transfer test. In the second experiment (n=80), participants trained either at a single target (constant), or two targets alternatingly (variable) with targets placed at different distances and they were tested for transfer within and beyond the training range. A control group was included which only performed the transfer tasks.Results: For the near transfer target, no group outperformed controls (P>.05), whereas all groups except the near constant group (P=.072) performed better than the control group at the intermediate target, and only the far constant training group performed better than controls at the far target (P