Decision
Making
INPUT
OUTPUT
STIMULUS
IDENTIFICATION
RESPONSE
SELECTION
RESPONSE
PROGRAMMING
Schmidt’s simple
information processing
model
Having used memory to identify a stimulus that comes from our senses, the
next stage in the information processing model is to make a decision about
how to respond to the information that has been received.
This is called the RESPONSE SELECTION STAGE
RESPONSE SELECTION DEFINITION
Deciding how to respond, deciding what to do.
EXAMPLE: In Basketball, should I catch the ball and if so how?...
DECISION MAKING is sometimes called ‘THE TRANSLATION PROCESS’ and can
be thought of as taking place in a tube.
Once entered the tube it cannot leave the tube until it has been completed
This is known as THE SINGLE CHANNEL HYPOTHESIS. It explains that until one
stimulus has had a decision made about it, another cannot be acted upon
STUDENT TASK
Draw a bottle with a neck and label the diagram. Use the bottle neck to explain the
single channel hypothesis
Complete the following exam questions
WE ARE LEARNING TO...
Understand
the
different
methods of improving reaction
time
Understand
the
different
factors that can affect reaction
time
Understand the difference
between temporal and spatial
anticipation
Present these factors as a mind map
Our reaction
time gets
quicker until we
reach the age of
20. it then
progressively
gets slower
Males
generally
have
quicker
reactions
than
females
The further
away from
the brain the
slower the
reaction
time. Feet are
slower to
react than
hands
Reaction time
varies
depending on
what sense is
receiving the
stimulus
If you are
expecting a
stimulus then
reaction time is
reduced.
Eg. The sprinter is
expecting the gun
after they hear
“set”
If the
stimulus is
load or bright
then reaction
time is
shortened
Extroverts
usually have
quicker
reactions than
introverts
Optimal
arousal
leads to
the
quickest
reaction
times
Our Reactions
are slowest
when we are
cold
Skilled performers use past experiences to anticipate what is going to
happen and actually processes information before the event
Spatial Anticipation
Is guessing a movement that will be needed.
Temporal Anticipation
Is when a performer predicts what is about to happen
The value of anticipation is that it gives the performer more time
to complete a skill, but can be less helpful if the performer
anticipates a move and then the opposition sell a dummy
Using two examples from sport, explain how our
reaction time can be improved (4 marks)
Using two different examples from sport, explain
how our reaction time can be improved (4 marks)
Do you....
Understand
the
different
methods of improving reaction
time
Understand
the
different
factors that can affect reaction
time
Understand the difference
between temporal and spatial
anticipation
Decision
Making
WE ARE LEARNING TO...
Understand Hicks Law, and the
single channel Hypothesis
Understand how the Psychological
Refractory Period can affect our
performance
Complete the following worksheet. You
must attempt to match up the correct
definitions with the correct key words
• When responding to a stimulus there is a short delay until the performer
decides how to respond and then initiate an appropriate response.
• During this time, the brain cannot produce a response to any other
stimulus. If a second stimulus is given, the reaction time is much slower
than normal. This is called the PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD.
This serves to illustrate the single channel hypothesis.
EXAMPLE
The PRP process is used by performers to dummy or fake their opponents. The
performer pretends to move one way, your opponent perceives these signals and
decides to block your move. Meanwhile the performer starts to move the other way.
Your opponent cannot immediately respond to your change in movement due to the
single channel hypothesis. If they try to respond it id slower due to the PRP
We are only able to process one piece of information at a time
Any additional stimuli can not be processed until
the initial one has been dealt with
The Psychological Refractory Period lengthens our reaction time
Knowledge of the PRP is useful
in sport as we can confuse our
opponents by giving them lots
of stimuli to deal with
Eg: selling the dummy
Copy figure 8.6 on
page 97
1. In games, performers will try to create a 2v1 situation.
Explain in terms of information processing, why a 2v1 should
cause a defenders response time to be slower (6 marks)
Decision
Making
Whiting’s Model
Display
Refers to the range of actions and things that are happening in
the surrounding environment of the performer
Input data from display
Involves information from the environment which enters the
brain via the sense organs.
E.g. Before catching a ball, the catcher sees the ball and is
aware of the throwers movement, or another player shouts
to warn of an impending tackle and the player is then aware
of this other player
Whiting’s Model
Receptor Systems
Refers to the sense organs which receive information
Perceptual Mechanism
Is the part of the brain which perceives the surroundings and gives them
meaning
Translatory Mechanism
The part of the brain which makes decisions and sorts out and processes the
few relevant bits of information from the many inputs from the
surroundings
Whiting’s Model
Effector Mechanism
Is the part of the brain which carries out the decisions and sends messages
to the limbs and parts of the body via the nervous system
Output
Involves the effector mechanism and muscle movement. The nerves send
messages to the muscles which move in order for the ball to be caught
Feedback Data
Is information which is used during and after an action or movement which
enables a performer to adjust or change performance according to this
new information
WE ARE LEARNING TO...
Understand the importance of
motor programmes and sub
routines
Understand the factors that affect
the efficiency of the information
processing model
Motor Programme Definition
• A generalised series of movements stored in the long term memory.
Motor programmes are developed through well informed practice over a
long period of time
Part of the decision making process is the selection of the motor
programme that is to be used for a movement. Motor programmes govern
which muscles contract , in what order and with what timing
Practice helps to develop new, effective, stable motor programmes. Practice
makes complex motor programmes simpler to use and reduces information
processing needed to run them.
Highly skilled performers can learn motor programmes as sub routines
(smaller parts)
Example: A Tennis serve is an example of a motor programme.
Tennis Serve
Feet Position Body Position
Racket
Swing
Follow
Through
Recovery
You learn a motor programme as a response to a situation. You remember that motor
programme and if the situation arises you repeat the motor programme. The LTM
has a store of muscle commands. Once a programme is run muscles receive impulses
in a predetermined sequence, at predetermined intervals.
Think of another example of where a performer can learn a
motor programme in sub routines. Record your answers
• We will now read and highlight the following
information under the following headings
• Selective Attention
• Retention in memory
• Improving reaction time
• Why skills break down
When analysing movements, what do you understand
by the terms motor programme and sub routines?
(2 marks)
Do you...
Understand Hicks Law, and the
single channel Hypothesis
Understand the importance of
motor programmes and sub
routines
Understand
Psychological
Period
can
performance
how
the
Refractory
affect
our
Understand the factors that
affect the efficiency of the
information processing model