Motor and Sensory Set Effects on Grab-Start Times of Champion Female Swimmers

Abstract

Requiring outstanding swimmers to consciously attend to the components of the grab-start rather than to the starting signal which evokes the response is referred to as enforced motor set. The present study tested the prediction that enforced motor set results in longer reaction, movement, and response times than does enforced sensory set. Fourteen, members of Arizona State University Women's (1974) AIAW National Champion Swimming Team performed the grab-start under each of the experimental conditions. The ANOVA revealed that the data supported the prediction being tested for response time. Statistical significance was not attained on either reaction time or movement time (the component parts of response time). It appeared, however, that the reduction in, response time under the sensory set condition was due primarily to shortened movement time, for the change in movement time was 9 times greater than the corresponding change in reaction time.