The "personal equation" in serial pursuit performances

Abstract

50 sophomores at the University of Oregon participated in the experiment. A baton was strapped to each foot and hand. The task involved a response to a light by striking a mental plate or key through an octagonal aperture in a continuous sequence. The mean score of correct responses was 5% smaller (significant differences) for the legs than for the arms. Correlations among scores for legs and arms are .84 ± .03. Right and left scores for arms and legs correlate respectively .98 ± .01 and .95 ± .01. "Under these conditions and where speed alone was emphasized in the four performances, the existence of a high degree of 'general' motor ability seems to have been demonstrated." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)