Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1967

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Physical Education

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of mental practice, mental-physical practice, and physical practice on the acquisition and development of the motor skill of triple jumping for novice performers. The following procedure was employed: Thirty-six male volunteer freshman students at South Dakota State University were placed into three groups equated by their ability to perform the running long jump. The subjects in the three groups participated in a six-week training program, during which they met three times a week. A training session consisted of 10 triple jumps physically. The mental group performed all their jumps mentally. The mental-physical group alternated mental performances with physical performances. A test of triple jumping ability was administered to the experimental groups at the beginning and at the termination of the training program. The test consisted of performing the triple jump six times for maximum distance. All jumps were measured and recorded. The data were analyzed to determine the effect of physical, mental-physical, and mental training programs upon the triple jumping ability of the subjects. The findings of this study would appear to warrant the conclusion that physical, mental-physical, and mental practice is effective in increasing the performance of the motor skill of triple jumping for novice performers. The investigation also indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in mean gains between the physical and mental-physical practice group, but that there was a statistically significant difference between the physical and mental practice groups.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Physical education and training
Jumping

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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