| Backward mastery chaining and modeling are two methods of learning that have been shown to increase performance in sports. Much evidence can be found supporting the efficacy of each, yet no studies had been conducted to compare the two methods. The current study was an investigation of the effects of chaining and modeling on dart throwing skill acquisition. Ninety-three psychology undergraduate students at Hofstra University were recruited. Subjects were divided into three groups: chaining, modeling, and control. Subjects in the chaining group were required to meet a performance criterion in the chaining hierarchy in order to have progressed to the next step. Subjects in the modeling group watched a video of an expert dart thrower, and subjects in the control group read information about dart rules and different games.;It was predicted that subjects in all groups would improve dart-throwing average scores due to practice effects. Results indicated that practice did significantly improve dart-throwing accuracy in all groups. In addition, a main effect of treatment condition was expected, as measured by the difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment dart-throwing scores. Pre to post increase in dart throwing scores was expected to be highest in the chaining group, followed, in order, by the modeling group and the control group. However, results were non-significant between groups indicating that practice, alone, was the only intervention necessary to significantly improve dart-throwing accuracy, regardless of treatment condition. Lastly, a main effect of treatment condition was expected, as measured by self-confidence tests. Subjects in the mastery-chaining group were expected to show a higher level of confidence in dart throwing than those in the modeling or control groups. Results indicated that the control group actually had the most consistent improvement in self-confidence as measured by self-report and monetary bets. Future research examining the effects of chaining and modeling on performance improvement would benefit by considering a more difficult performance measure, as dart throwing may have proven to be too simple a task. |
