How does a performer move through the stages of learning and process information to act?
Fitts and Posner's three stages of learning, the shape of learning curves and the plateau, and the information-processing model from input to output including reaction, response and movement time.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on the stages of learning and information processing: Fitts and Posner's cognitive, associative and autonomous stages, the shapes of learning curves and the performance plateau, the information-processing model (input, decision making, output, feedback), and reaction, movement and response time including Hick's law.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
OCR wants you to describe Fitts and Posner's three stages of learning, interpret learning curves and the plateau, explain the information-processing model from input to output, and define reaction, movement and response time, including Hick's law.
Fitts and Posner's stages of learning
Learning curves and the plateau
The information-processing model
Reaction, movement and response time
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20194 marksDescribe the characteristics of a performer in the cognitive stage of learning and explain how a coach should support them.Show worked answer →
A Component 02 Section A application question. Marks for the characteristics and the coaching support.
Award marks for: in the cognitive (first) stage the performer is forming a mental picture of the skill, makes many errors, is inconsistent, and relies heavily on conscious thought and external feedback; movements are jerky and uncoordinated. The coach should keep instructions simple and clear, demonstrate the whole skill (a clear visual model), use plenty of positive extrinsic feedback and manual or verbal guidance, break the skill into manageable parts if it is complex, and allow trial and error to build the basic motor programme.
Markers reward the error-filled, conscious nature of the cognitive stage and coaching that uses demonstration, simple instruction and positive feedback.
OCR 20226 marksUsing the information-processing model, explain what happens between a goalkeeper seeing a penalty taker's run-up and saving the shot, and explain how Hick's law relates to their reaction time.Show worked answer →
A Component 02 Section A extended-response question. Markers reward the stages of the model and the correct statement of Hick's law.
Award marks for: input arrives through the senses (the keeper sees the run-up, the planted foot, the body shape). Selective attention filters the relevant cues from the irrelevant. The information passes to decision making, where it is compared with experiences in the long-term memory to select a response (dive left). The output is the motor programme sent to the muscles to execute the dive. Feedback (intrinsic from the body, extrinsic from the result) informs the next action. Hick's law states that reaction time increases as the number of possible responses (choices) increases, and the relationship is roughly linear; so a penalty taker who could go to many locations lengthens the keeper's reaction time, which is why disguise and a late decision by the taker are effective.
A top answer sequences input, selective attention, decision making, output and feedback, and states Hick's law as reaction time rising with the number of choices.
Related dot points
- The characteristics of skill and the classification of skills on continua (open-closed, gross-fine, discrete-serial-continuous, self-paced-externally paced), and how classification informs practice.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on the classification of skills: the characteristics of a skilled performance, the main classification continua (open-closed, gross-fine, discrete-serial-continuous, self-paced-externally paced, simple-complex), and how a coach uses classification to choose practice.
- The learning theories (operant conditioning, observational learning and cognitive learning), the types of transfer of learning, and how a coach maximises positive transfer and limits negative transfer.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on transfer and learning theories: operant conditioning (Thorndike and Skinner), Bandura's observational learning, the cognitive (insight) theory, the types of transfer (positive, negative, zero, proactive, retroactive, bilateral), and how a coach uses them to develop skill.
- The types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical), the types of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, knowledge of results and performance), and matching each to the stage of learning.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on guidance and feedback: the four types of guidance (visual, verbal, manual, mechanical) and their strengths and limits, the types of feedback (intrinsic, extrinsic, positive, negative, knowledge of results and knowledge of performance), and how a coach matches each to the stage of learning.
- The multi-store memory model (short-term sensory store, short-term memory, long-term memory), selective attention, and the strategies that improve the storage and retrieval of motor information.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on memory models: the multi-store memory model with the short-term sensory store, short-term memory and long-term memory, their capacity and duration, the role of selective attention and rehearsal, and the strategies (chunking, imagery, association) that improve storage and retrieval.
- The motor unit and the all-or-none law, the recruitment of motor units and wave summation to grade force, and the proprioceptors and reflexes that control movement and protect muscle.
A focused answer to OCR A-Level PE on the neuromuscular system: the structure of a motor unit, the all-or-none law, the recruitment of motor units and wave (spatial and temporal) summation to grade force, and the muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs and the stretch reflex used in PNF stretching.
Sources & how we know this
- OCR A Level Physical Education (H555) specification — OCR (2016)