Laboratory Practice in the Study of Motor Behavior

Code:

627

Acronym:

627

Instance: 2014/2015 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Sports Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCD	41	First Degree in Sports Sciences (2011/2012)	1	-	3	-
			2

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main purpose of the course Laboratory Practice in the Study of Motor Behavior is to provide any help to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical applicability as regards the area of evaluation of motor behavior (in its subareas motor development, motor learning and motor control).

This course also aims to:
- From a theoretical framework, poster methods, procedures for collecting and analyzing data and assessment tools in the field of motor behavior.
- Familiarization with the tests and batteries of tests commonly used in the evaluation of motor behavior, particularly those dedicated to the investigation of motor coordination, laterality, and functional motor asymmetries.
- Develop knowledge and skills for implementation, on the field, of some of these tests and batteries with the consequent collection, data processing, data analysis and discussion of the results by comparing them with the theoretical knowledge.
- Consider the variability of performance under the influence of some complex parameters of learning and motor control.
- Stimulate the student’s critical sense face a controversial field such as the evaluation of motor behavior in the various ages and populations involved in Sport Sciences as a subject of study (high performance athletes, subjects with special needs, elderly, children and adolescents).

Learning outcomes and competences

From a theoretical framework, we intend that students have experiences and a practical involvement in the way of knowing methodologies, instruments, and procedures for collecting and analyzing data that allow to make comparisons between a range of studies and with the body of knowledge from which they departed.
Students should experience a process of exploration and self-discovery through some laboratory activities and stimulate their critical sense facing a controversial field that involves the evaluation of motor behavior in its three parameters (motor control, motor learning and motor development), and in different populations (high performance athletes, subjects with special needs, elderly, children and adolescents).

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction to the study of motor behavior in its areas: motor development, motor learning and motor control.
2. Measures of motor performance and experimental methodology.
3. Motor abilities: intra individual differences and differences between subjects in different practice conditions.
4. Motor skills tests and batteries of tests: gold standard batteries to the evaluation of motor coordination: MABC-2 and KTK.
5. Evaluation of lateral asymmetry behaviors: measures of preference and performance.
6. Fundamental questions and critical considerations about the motor competence assessment.

Mandatory literature

Baumgartner Ted A. 070; Measurement for evaluation in physical education and exercise science. ISBN: 978-0-07-304526-9
Fairbrother Jeffrey T.; Fundamentals of motor behaviour. ISBN: 978-0-7360-7714-9
Piek Jan P. 340; Motor behavior and human skill. ISBN: 0-88011-675-7

Complementary Bibliography

Haywood Kathleen M.; Life span motor development. ISBN: 0-87322-483-3
Burton Allen W.; Movement skill assessment. ISBN: 0-87322-975-4
Haywood Kathleen M.; Laboratory activities for life span motor development. ISBN: 0-87322-134-6
Gallahue David L.; Compreendendo o desenvolvimento motor. ISBN: 85-7655-016-4
Vasconcelos Olga; Assessment of manual asymmetry

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expository method and stimulator of critical thinking.
Research on the Web.
Practical sessions comprising individual or group tasks involving the application of methodologies and instruments of motor behavior parameters assessment.
Fieldworks.

keywords

Health sciences > Neuroscience

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

The evaluation is continuous without final exam and consists of a theoretical and a practical component. To accomplish this course the student must obtain a rating ≥ 10 values in each one of these components.
Theoretical component: written works.
Practical component:
Presence of at least 75% of given classes.
Participation in class activities.
Works performing and / or works presentations.
Participations in the fieldworks.
Participation in the on-line component.

Calculation formula of final grade

Average of written works (70%); participation in fieldworks (20%); presence in the classroom (10%).