The Perception & Action Podcast 522 – Variability of Practice – A Deeper Dive
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Jan 7, 2025 Discover the fascinating world of motor learning through the lens of practice variability. Explore how varying situations and scheduling can significantly enhance skill acquisition, with practical examples like tennis serving. Learn why beginners benefit from lower variability, emphasizing structured approaches to boost their learning effectiveness. Dive deep into the impact of initial learner variability and when to introduce practice changes for optimal skill development.
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Types of Variability
- Raviv et al. identify four types of practice variability: numerosity, heterogeneity, situational/contextual, and scheduling.
- Scheduling variability, like blocked vs. random practice, is the most studied.
Tennis Serve Example
- Imagine teaching a novice tennis player to serve, starting with repetitions from the center mark.
- Adding variability could involve serving from different locations (center mark, 6, 7, 8, and 9 inches from center).
Heterogeneity vs. Numerosity
- Studies often confound numerosity and heterogeneity, but heterogeneity is more crucial.
- Serving from varied locations with larger differences (heterogeneity) is more effective than slight variations.