The purpose of the investigation was to study the joint effects of response probability and task complexity on response latency in simple and choice reaction time tasks. Sixteen, volunteer, University of British Columbia Physical Education students performed all four experimental conditions, one simple reaction time task and three choice reaction time tasks. Response latencies for 800 trials were obtained from each subject. Analysis of variance for a repeated measures design was used to analyse the data, with Harter and Newman-Keuls post-hoc multiple comparisons performed to test for significant differences between conditions. The empirical findings were generally not in agreement with the predicted hypotheses. It was found that very fast response latencies were made to complex tasks combined with low probability of occurrence. Subjects were also better prepared to initiate a response to an easy task with a low response probability than an easy task with a high response probability. It appears that subjects adopted a defensive type of strategy and that low response probability has more effect than high response probability on response latencies of choice reaction time tasks of unequal complexity. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The main purpose of this study was to determine if subjects would employ a defensive type strategy in a two-choice reaction time task using tasks of unequal response complexity. The methodology used to investigate this problem involved examining the joint effects of two levels of task complexity and eight levels of response probability on response latency in one simple and seven choice experimental conditions. The hypothesized effects of response probability on response latency for tasks of unequal complexity are summarized as follows: (1) below a probability level of .50, response latency was expected to decrease as response probability decreased, and (2) above a .50 probability level no significant increase or decrease in response latency relative to the equal probability level was expected. The experimental task was a discrete, two-choice reaction time task, in which subjects were required to depress several response keys in a predetermined order following the onset of one of two possible stimulus lights. Two tasks of varying complexity were used: (1) a simple task involving two response keys only, and" (2) a complex task requiring the depression of five response keys in a specific order. Probability levels of 1.0, .90, .75, .60, .50, .40, .25, .10 provided eight experimental conditions under which the two tasks were performed. Sixteen male students from the University of British Columbia served as subjects. The empirical results did not provide support for the predicted hypotheses. It was found that for tasks of unequal complexity, subjects did not adopt a defensive strategy by preparing for the more difficult or less probable response. Results for both tasks illustrated a classical probability effect, i.e., an increase in probability results in a decrease in response latency, contrary to the predicted results for tasks of unequal complexity. Also, the extreme probability levels of .90 and .10 had a marked effect on the response latency for both tasks with the simple task showing greater variability than the complex task due to these probability levels. Data from this experiment tended to support the premise that response probability is a decreasing function of task complexity, i.e., the more complex the task the less effect response probability has on the resulting response latency. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Ed. (Education) / The teaching of motor skills is to a large extent neglected in early childhood. This conclusion has been drawn from practical experience and observation obtained from teaching at a preparatory school. The research undertaken in this study has focussed on the design of a motor guiding programme in which individual motor skills can effectively be taught. Naturally the first priority has been to establish which motor skills a child must obtain at each developmental stage. Therefore this study analysed different characteristics of the growing child in the three developmental stages - the neonate, the infant and the preschool child. the next step has been to establish which criteria constitute the' basis for the motor guiding programme. The solution to this problem has been obtained from observing small children, ages three to six years as well as from scrutinizing the vast amount of empirical research on motor skills that appear in representative literature. The following criteria which emanated from the research programme, constitute the basis for the proposed motor guiding programme: individual uniqueness, the original situation, estimation of time, content, school readiness, sosializing, norm establishment, human dignitiy, positive selfconcept, realistic aims, aspiration level, stimulation, affective stability, safety and evaluation. The next stage of research was the design of appropriate teaching principles applicable to motor skills by the analysis of the cognitive, affective and motor aspects of the teaching of motor skills for preschool children. These principles appear to be: aims and goals, self actualization, sosialization, motivation, evaluation, structuring and contextualization. Having analysed these principles and criteria, a motor guiding programme has been developed.

Prehension is a fundamental skill usually performed as part of a complex action sequence in everyday tasks. Using an information processing framework, these studies examined the effects of task complexity, defined by the number of component movement elements (MEs), on performance of prehension tasks. Of interest was how motor control and organisation might be influenced by age and/or motor competence. Three studies and two longitudinal case studies examined kinematic characteristics of prehension tasks involving one-, two- and three-MEs: reach and grasp (low-complexity); reach, grasp and object placement (moderate-complexity); and reach, grasp and double placement of object (high-complexity). A pilot study established the suitability of tasks and procedures for children aged 5-, 8- and 11-years and showed that responses to task complexity and object size manipulations were sensitive to developmental changes, with increasing age associated with faster movements. Study 2 explored complexity and age effects further for children aged 6- and 11-years and adults. Increasing age was associated with shorter and less variable movement times (MTs) and proportional deceleration phases (%DTs) across all MEs. Task complexity had no effect on simple reaction time (SRT), suggesting that there may be little preprogramming of movements beyond the first ME. In addition, MT was longer and more on-line corrections were evident for the high- compared to the moderate-complexity task for ME1. Task complexity had a greater influence on movements in ME2 and ME3 than ME1. Adults, but not children, showed task specific adaptations in ME2. Study 3 examined performance of children with different levels of motor competence aged between 5- and 10-years. Increasing age was associated with shorter SRTs, and MTs for ME1 only. A decrease in motor competence was associated with greater difficulty in planning and controlling movements as indicated by longer SRTs, higher %DTs and more on-line corrections, especially in ME2. Task complexity affected movements in all MEs, with a greater influence on ME1 compared to Study 2. Findings also indicated that performance in MEs following prehension may be especially sensitive to motor competence effects on movement characteristics. Case studies for two children at risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) revealed two different patterns of performance change over a 16-17 month period, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of DCD. Overall, findings highlighted age-related differences, and the role of motor competence, in the ability to adapt movements to task specific requirements. Results are useful in guiding movement education programmes for children with both age-appropriate and lower levels of motor competence.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-223).

The present diploma thesis "Animated models of heat engines" describes the design of an interactive application. The theoretical part deals with the classification of heat engines and their rotations. The result of the present diploma thesis is the new application "Animation of heat engines" designed in Flash programme. This application is focused on the basic function principle of four demonstrated engines. The present work also deals with assessing and comparison of real engines, their cuts, real models and animated engines.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever o desenvolvimento motor de crianças de 0 a 18 meses de idade, identificando os principais fatores de risco para atraso motor, assim como, analisar a validade da Alberta Infant Motor Scale para avaliação do desenvolvimento motor de crianças gaúchas, verificando a representatividade de seus critérios motores. A amostra deste pesquisa foi de 561 crianças, provenientes de Escolas de Educação Infantil, Creches, Entidades e Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) Questionário estruturado com perguntas sobre características biológicas. Das crianças avaliadas, 63,5% foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor normal para idade, sendo que os bebês com idade entre 3 e 12 meses foram os que demonstraram pior desempenho. Foi observado uma inferioridade nos comportamentos motores referentes as posturas prono e em pé. Entre os fatores biológicos de maior influência, destacaram-se o baixo peso ao nascer, a prematuridade e o tempo de internação na UTI. No que se refere aos fatores sócio-ambientais, destacaram-se a escolaridade dos familiares; o grau de instrução paterna, a renda familiar mensal, o número de adultos e de crianças que vivem na casa, tempo carregado no colo e número de brinquedos para motricidade fina e ampla. Quanto ao processo de Validação da AIMS, as análises de correlação, associação e consistência interna indicaram que a AIMS é válida e fidedigna para população gaúcha. Conclui-se que as crianças apresentaram seqüência progressiva do aparecimento de habilidades motoras nas posturas avaliadas, porém parte destas foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor inferior ao esperado para idade. Sugere-se que os fatores biológicos, contextuais e o instrumento de avaliação influenciaram no desenvolvimento motor das crianças avaliadas, sendo a AIMS um instrumento significativamente útil e confiável para utilização em várias áreas da pesquisa científica e clínica. / The purpose of the present study was describe the motor development of infants aging from 0 to 18 months and verify the influence of the biological and socio-environmental risk factors and analyze the validation of Alberta Infant Motor Scale to evaluate the motor development of southern children, analyzing the representativeness of the instrument´s items. The sample was composed of 561 children, coming from Kinder gardens, Children Education schools, Health Basic Units of Rio Grande do Sul. The instruments used were: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) biological factors through structured questionnaire. From the evaluated infants, 63, 5% were considered with a regular motor development for their age, and the babies aging from 3 to 12 months were the ones with the worst development. It was found inferiority in the motor behaviors regarding the prono and standing postures. Among the biological factors with a major influence, the low weight when they are born, the prematureness and the time they spend in the intensive treatment unit (ITU) are prominent. In relation to the socioenvironmental factors, the parents’ schoolarity; the father’s instruction, the family’s income, the number of adults and children that live in the house, the time being hold and the number of toys for fine and global motricity. On the Validation process, the analysis of correlation, association and internal consistency indicate that the AIMS is valid and trustworthy in the evaluation of infants motor acquisitions of southern children. Conclused that the infants from this study presented a progressive sequence of appearance of motor abilities in the evaluated postures, however parts of these were considered with an inferior motor development according to what was expected by their age. It is suggested that, either the socio-environment risk factor as well as the biological and evaluation instrument influenced in the motor development of the infants, being the AIMS a significatively useful and reliable instrument to several areas of clinic and scientific research.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever o desenvolvimento motor de crianças de 0 a 18 meses de idade, identificando os principais fatores de risco para atraso motor, assim como, analisar a validade da Alberta Infant Motor Scale para avaliação do desenvolvimento motor de crianças gaúchas, verificando a representatividade de seus critérios motores. A amostra deste pesquisa foi de 561 crianças, provenientes de Escolas de Educação Infantil, Creches, Entidades e Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) Questionário estruturado com perguntas sobre características biológicas. Das crianças avaliadas, 63,5% foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor normal para idade, sendo que os bebês com idade entre 3 e 12 meses foram os que demonstraram pior desempenho. Foi observado uma inferioridade nos comportamentos motores referentes as posturas prono e em pé. Entre os fatores biológicos de maior influência, destacaram-se o baixo peso ao nascer, a prematuridade e o tempo de internação na UTI. No que se refere aos fatores sócio-ambientais, destacaram-se a escolaridade dos familiares; o grau de instrução paterna, a renda familiar mensal, o número de adultos e de crianças que vivem na casa, tempo carregado no colo e número de brinquedos para motricidade fina e ampla. Quanto ao processo de Validação da AIMS, as análises de correlação, associação e consistência interna indicaram que a AIMS é válida e fidedigna para população gaúcha. Conclui-se que as crianças apresentaram seqüência progressiva do aparecimento de habilidades motoras nas posturas avaliadas, porém parte destas foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor inferior ao esperado para idade. Sugere-se que os fatores biológicos, contextuais e o instrumento de avaliação influenciaram no desenvolvimento motor das crianças avaliadas, sendo a AIMS um instrumento significativamente útil e confiável para utilização em várias áreas da pesquisa científica e clínica. / The purpose of the present study was describe the motor development of infants aging from 0 to 18 months and verify the influence of the biological and socio-environmental risk factors and analyze the validation of Alberta Infant Motor Scale to evaluate the motor development of southern children, analyzing the representativeness of the instrument´s items. The sample was composed of 561 children, coming from Kinder gardens, Children Education schools, Health Basic Units of Rio Grande do Sul. The instruments used were: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) biological factors through structured questionnaire. From the evaluated infants, 63, 5% were considered with a regular motor development for their age, and the babies aging from 3 to 12 months were the ones with the worst development. It was found inferiority in the motor behaviors regarding the prono and standing postures. Among the biological factors with a major influence, the low weight when they are born, the prematureness and the time they spend in the intensive treatment unit (ITU) are prominent. In relation to the socioenvironmental factors, the parents’ schoolarity; the father’s instruction, the family’s income, the number of adults and children that live in the house, the time being hold and the number of toys for fine and global motricity. On the Validation process, the analysis of correlation, association and internal consistency indicate that the AIMS is valid and trustworthy in the evaluation of infants motor acquisitions of southern children. Conclused that the infants from this study presented a progressive sequence of appearance of motor abilities in the evaluated postures, however parts of these were considered with an inferior motor development according to what was expected by their age. It is suggested that, either the socio-environment risk factor as well as the biological and evaluation instrument influenced in the motor development of the infants, being the AIMS a significatively useful and reliable instrument to several areas of clinic and scientific research.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever o desenvolvimento motor de crianças de 0 a 18 meses de idade, identificando os principais fatores de risco para atraso motor, assim como, analisar a validade da Alberta Infant Motor Scale para avaliação do desenvolvimento motor de crianças gaúchas, verificando a representatividade de seus critérios motores. A amostra deste pesquisa foi de 561 crianças, provenientes de Escolas de Educação Infantil, Creches, Entidades e Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de dados foram: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) Questionário estruturado com perguntas sobre características biológicas. Das crianças avaliadas, 63,5% foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor normal para idade, sendo que os bebês com idade entre 3 e 12 meses foram os que demonstraram pior desempenho. Foi observado uma inferioridade nos comportamentos motores referentes as posturas prono e em pé. Entre os fatores biológicos de maior influência, destacaram-se o baixo peso ao nascer, a prematuridade e o tempo de internação na UTI. No que se refere aos fatores sócio-ambientais, destacaram-se a escolaridade dos familiares; o grau de instrução paterna, a renda familiar mensal, o número de adultos e de crianças que vivem na casa, tempo carregado no colo e número de brinquedos para motricidade fina e ampla. Quanto ao processo de Validação da AIMS, as análises de correlação, associação e consistência interna indicaram que a AIMS é válida e fidedigna para população gaúcha. Conclui-se que as crianças apresentaram seqüência progressiva do aparecimento de habilidades motoras nas posturas avaliadas, porém parte destas foram consideradas com desenvolvimento motor inferior ao esperado para idade. Sugere-se que os fatores biológicos, contextuais e o instrumento de avaliação influenciaram no desenvolvimento motor das crianças avaliadas, sendo a AIMS um instrumento significativamente útil e confiável para utilização em várias áreas da pesquisa científica e clínica. / The purpose of the present study was describe the motor development of infants aging from 0 to 18 months and verify the influence of the biological and socio-environmental risk factors and analyze the validation of Alberta Infant Motor Scale to evaluate the motor development of southern children, analyzing the representativeness of the instrument´s items. The sample was composed of 561 children, coming from Kinder gardens, Children Education schools, Health Basic Units of Rio Grande do Sul. The instruments used were: 1) Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); 2) Affordance in the Home Environment Motor Development (AHEMD); 3) biological factors through structured questionnaire. From the evaluated infants, 63, 5% were considered with a regular motor development for their age, and the babies aging from 3 to 12 months were the ones with the worst development. It was found inferiority in the motor behaviors regarding the prono and standing postures. Among the biological factors with a major influence, the low weight when they are born, the prematureness and the time they spend in the intensive treatment unit (ITU) are prominent. In relation to the socioenvironmental factors, the parents’ schoolarity; the father’s instruction, the family’s income, the number of adults and children that live in the house, the time being hold and the number of toys for fine and global motricity. On the Validation process, the analysis of correlation, association and internal consistency indicate that the AIMS is valid and trustworthy in the evaluation of infants motor acquisitions of southern children. Conclused that the infants from this study presented a progressive sequence of appearance of motor abilities in the evaluated postures, however parts of these were considered with an inferior motor development according to what was expected by their age. It is suggested that, either the socio-environment risk factor as well as the biological and evaluation instrument influenced in the motor development of the infants, being the AIMS a significatively useful and reliable instrument to several areas of clinic and scientific research.