title: Task characteristics and the contextual interference effect.
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.
authors: School of Recreation Management & Kinesiology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada. darren.kruisselbrink@acadiau.ca
authors: L Darren
authors: LD
authors: Kruisselbrink
authors: Geraldine H
authors: GH
authors: Van Gyn
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult