Videotape Replay and the Learning of Skills in Open and Closed Environments

Abstract

Female novice tennis players (N = 42) were randomly assigned to one of three videotape replay (VTR) conditions: Performance Information Feedback (PIF); Environmental Information Feedback (EIF); or a combination of both (PEIF) to ascertain whether the treatments differentially affected open (ground-strokes) and closed (serve) skills. Performance measures were obtained on a pretest and posttest as well as during session 4 and session 8. Cues appropriate to the VTR condition were employed to direct the subjects' attention. Two analyses were conducted: a MANOVA on the pretest/posttest improvement scores and a three factor ANOVA for the session 4/session 8 scores. For the first analysis, follow-up ANOVAs revealed that for forehand and backhand PEIF improved more than either PIF or EIF and that EIF improved more than PIF. For the serve PEIF improved more than PIF and EIF but the latter two were not significantly different. In the three factor ANOVA all main effects were significant: PEIF was better than EIF and both were better than PIF; serve scores were higher than those for groundstrokes; and session 8 scores were higher than those for session 4. In addition, all interactions except that for skill × session were significant. Based on the results it is recommended that in closed skills PEIF or PIF be used but not EIF and in open skills PEIF or EIF be used but not PIF. The results were also discussed with respect to the Gentile (1972)and Schmidt (1975) views on open and closed skills. While there is some support for Gentile's position it was concluded that further research is necessary.

Key Words:

• feedback
• videotape replay
• knowledge of performance
• knowledge of results
• tennis
• women
• open skills
• closed skills