Subject-controlled performance feedback and learning of a closed motor skill.

Research on knowledge of results and knowledge of performance has been directed toward identification of the optimal schedule for administering feedback. The purpose of this investigation was to assess whether a schedule based on performance feedback controlled by the learner would be a more effective means of delivering feedback than any predetermined or random schedule. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: (a) control group receiving no performance feedback, (b) 50% relative performance feedback, (c) summary performance feedback, (d) subject-controlled performance feedback, and (e) yoked control group. Data were collected during an acquisition phase (four blocks of 10 trials) and a retention phase (two block of 10 trials) in which subjects performed an underhand ball toss. Repeated-measures analyses indicated significant main effects for the absolute error (AE). Participants in the subject-controlled performance feedback condition performed significantly better on both retention trials than the other groups. Analysis suggests that a feedback schedule which is controlled by the learner may be a more effective means of delivering augmented feedback than other schedules which have been examined.