Task characteristics and the contextual interference effect

Percept Mot Skills. 2011 Aug;113(1):19-37. doi: 10.2466/22.PMS.113.4.19-37.

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the influence of blocked and random practice on the acquisition and retention of a criterion multisegment motor task practiced alongside either two similar-distractors tasks or two different-distractors tasks. The random-practice similar-distractors group made more decision-making errors and performed the criterion task more slowly than the blocked-practice similar-distractors group during the acquisition phase. Following a brief filled retention interval, the blocked-practice similar-distractors group demonstrated a loss of acquired performance capabilities, whereas the random-practice similar-distractors group did not. The blocked- and random-practice different-distractors groups performed similarly throughout the experiment. Results are interpreted within Glenberg's component-levels theory, in which it was argued that random practice must stimulate the differential storage of multilevel contextual components associated with the multiple motor tasks being learned to produce a contextual interference effect. The theoretical and practical implications of differential storage versus nonrepetition as a function of random practice are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Attention*
  • Cues
  • Decision Making
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Practice, Psychological*
  • Problem Solving
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Reaction Time
  • Retention, Psychology*
  • Serial Learning*
  • Video Games
  • Young Adult