Teaching action sequences after brain injury: a comparison of modelling and moulding techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the relative effectiveness of a modelling and a moulding instructional technique for teaching action sequences to participants with brain injury in rehabilitation settings.


METHODS
Randomized crossover design.


METHODS
Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit.


METHODS
Sixteen participants with an acquired brain injury undergoing early inpatient rehabilitation.


METHODS
Participants were instructed to recall two different sequences of seven hand movements after a short (5 minutes) and longer delay (30 minutes). Participants were taught the sequences using moulding and modelling techniques.


METHODS
Participants' recall of the sequence measured after the short and longer delay for each instructional technique.


RESULTS
Participants recalled the sequence after the longer delay (30 minutes) significantly more accurately (Z = 1.91, P =0.028) when taught using the modelling instructional technique (mean 2.63, SD 1.55) compared to the moulding technique (mean 1.56, SD 1.63). There were no significant differences between the participants' recall scores after a short delay. Participants who scored lower on a delayed memory subtest of a neuropsychological test benefitted more from the modelling technique.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a modelling instructional technique to teach brain-injured participants an action sequence during their rehabilitation may be more effective for their longer term performance than a moulding instructional technique.
Research Department of Clinical Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. s.zlotowitz@ucl.ac.uk
Sally
S
Zlotowitz
Kirsty
K
Fallow
Victoria
V
Illingworth
Clarence
C
Liu
Richard
R
Greenwood
Ben
B
Papps
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult