Thesis (PhD) -- AUT University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (17, 77, 46 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.) in the Archive at the City Campus (T 617.10276333 QUA)

Thesis (M. in Technology: Chiropractic)--Technikon Witwatersrand, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-74). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M. Tech.(Chiropractic))--Technikon Witwatersrand, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-74).

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the gaze behaviour patterns of expert and near expert under 19 level rugby union players during one-on-one defensive play. Gaze characteristics such as the areas of interest visited, the number of fixations, the duration of each fixation, the starting and last fixations; and the order of fixations adopted were used to achieve the aim of the study. In addition, biographical data, including sporting and vision history, were collected. Data of the two groups were described and compared with statistically and practically significant differences been highlighted. Inferential statistics were used and the following significant levels set: p<.05 for t-tests and Chi-sq'ared - tests while Cohen's d (absolute value) ≥0.20 and Cramér‟s V ≥0.10 were used to determine the practical significance for statistically significant results, respectively. An exploratory and quasi-experimental design was used, in which 81 participants (16 – 19 years of age) were sampled for differences between experts' and near experts' visual-search strategies and gaze behaviour patterns when anticipating the direction of deceptive running skills in rugby union, however, only 68 participants had eye tracker data analyzed due to the strict calibration criteria. The expert players correctly anticipated significantly (t-stat = -3.16, p = .002, d = 0.71) more than the near expert players on average (75.76% compared to 66.46%), and therefore, were less susceptible to deceptive running skills. The near expert players were, however, more aware of their fixation location than expert players. Both expert and near expert players fixated considerably more on the knees and hips than any other area of interest, however expert players had fewer, but longer fixations than near expert players per run with 4.29 ± 1.89 fixations (χ2 = 3.90, p = .048, V = 0.24) of 0.420 ± 0.140 seconds (χ2 = 3.97, p = .046, V = 0.24) compared to 5.34 ± 2.39 fixations of 0.350 ± 0.150 seconds. Both the expert and near expert groups fixated more on the lower body than the upper body on average, however, the near expert players fixated significantly more off the body for all correct runs than the expert players (t-stat = 2.17, p = .034, d = 0.53). The expert players start fixating more on the knees at the start of each trial, whereas the near expert players start fixating more on the knees and hips, and considerably off-target. The expert players fixate significantly more on the knees (t-stat = -2.56, p = .013, d = 0.63) at the end of each trial than the near expert players on average, whereas the near expert players fixate more on the hips. The orders of fixation did not yield any discernable patterns between expert and near expert players for correctly anticipated runs. Experts exhibit superior visual-search strategies and gaze behaviour control, presumably using the top-down approach, to successfully anticipate an opponent's intended direction. This information could help coaches teach perceptual tackling skills to enhance motor learning and performance.

Thesis (M.S)--Texas State University, San Marcos, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-166). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S)--Texas State University, San Marcos, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-166).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 266-274).

Thesis (MAppSc in Physiotherapy)--University of South Australia, 1996

Thesis (M. in Technology: Chiropractic)--Technikon Witwatersrand, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-91). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 266-274).