A method of constructing learning curves for a motor skill involving total body speed and accuracy

Abstract

The fencing lunge was practiced twice a week for 12 weeks by 87 male college subjects. Speed and accuracy were measured for each subject once a week. Analysis of the data obtained leads to the following conclusions: 1. In experiments involving speed and accuracy of total body movements the construction of learning curves may be best accomplished by analyzing the data from three points of view, initial status, rate of learning, and maximum end points. 2. Curve fitting techniques should be examined and analyzed to see whether the function underlying any one curve adequately fits the data at hand. 3. Skills involving total body movement may not follow any particular curve, since pretraining may result in an origin other than at zero. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)