Laboratory Practice and Motor Behaviour

Code:

641

Acronym:

641

Instance: 2019/2020 - 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	52	First Degree in Sports Sciences (2011/2012)	1	-	3	15	81
			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), namely in the study of its intraindividual and interindividual variations.


">- Based on the theoretical reference Behavior Motor to make known methodologies, data collection and analysis procedures and evaluation tools that enable the applied academic research.


">- To familiarize the students with the main laboratories, at national and international level, whose lines of investigation refer to the study of Motor Behavior.


">- Acquire competences in the field of choice and application of test protocols and test batteries that allow to appreciate intraindividual differences and between subjects, particularly in parameters of motor coordination, motor competence, body perception, laterality and functional motor asymmetries.


">- Develop knowledge and skills for the application, in the field, of some tests and Batteries with the consequent collection and processing of the data.


">- To initiate the students in the analysis and discussion of the results comparing them with the theoretical body of knowledge.



">- Understand intraindividual differences and between subjects in different types of practice and in different conditions of practice.


- To stimulate the critical sense of the students in a controversial field such as the evaluation of motor behavior in the various ages and in the populations that the Sports Sciences involve as a subject of study (infantojuvenil, high income, special needs and elderly).

Learning outcomes and competences

- Explain the differences and interactions between the domains of Motor Behavior (motor development, motor learning and motor control).

- Demonstrate knowledge about the main laboratories of Motor Behavior at national and international level.

- Describe methodologies, evaluation instruments, data collection and analysis procedures in the field of Motor Behavior.

- To master the application of methodologies, protocols and instruments of evaluation of Motor Behavior.

- Explain the intraindividual and inter-subject differences in the expression of Motor Behavior parameters.

- To express a critical sense regarding the processes of evaluation of Motor Behavior.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic statistics.

Program

1. Introduction to the study of Motor Behavior. ">The laboratory investigation and some fundamental questions in the evaluation of the Motor Behavior.
2. Experimental methodology: study designs (transversal, longitudinal and mixed longitudinal), variables (biological, biossocial, psychosocial, psychomotor and motor performance, qualitative and quantitative); ">measurement scales and motor performance measurements.
3. Laterality as biossocial variable: preference versus proficiency. ">Assessment of lateral asymmetry behaviors: preference measures and performance measures.
4. Body scale as a psychosocial variable: real body vs. perceived body. ">Accuracy of the body boundary as a requirement for motor behavior appropriate to learning goals.
">5. Affordances and body scale as psychomotor variables: experiences through fundamental motor skills.
6. Variability of motor behavior: intraindividual differences and between subjects in different tasks and practice conditions. ">An experience with balance and speed and accuracy of movement.
7. Fundamental motor skills. ">Brief theoretical-practical basis and laboratory practice.
8. The study of Motor Behavior in the optimization of the teaching / learning process of motor skills.

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 with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho de campo	10,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	15,00
Trabalho de campo	2,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Estudo autónomo	39,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

The evaluation is continuous with 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: exam.
Practical component: presence of at least 75% of given classes;
participation in classroom activities; performance and presentation of works; participation in the online component.

Calculation formula of final grade

Weighted average of components:

1. Exam: 50%

2. Written work: 40% (collection, introduction and analysis of data in SPSS; discussion of results)

3. Fieldwork: Participation in the U.Porto Science Meeting: 10%

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students overed by legislation relating to special frequency regimes who do not ensure the presence of at least 75% (eg, working students, elite athletes) should contact the head of the course within two weeks after the first class in order to have an alternative method of evaluation concerning the objectives and contents of the course. If this occurrence does not happen, after these two weeks student will be considered as regular student.

Students who benefit from special rules of attendanc will be required to carry out special tests to prove the knowledge and skills related to the objectives and contents of the curricular unit.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final classification can be obtained only by repeating the exam.