Dr Zahra Pooraghaei Ardakani,
Volume 100, Issue 100 (10-2020)
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction : The present study aims to analyze research articles from the past decade in the field of attentional focus among children and adolescents using a scientometric approach.
Methods: This descriptive and review-based study utilized a specific search strategy in the Web of Science (WoS) citation database. A total of 29 relevant articles on attentional focus published between 2013 and 2023 were selected and analyzed using HistCite and VOSviewer software.
Resultss: The findings revealed that the main research topics included motor performance, motor learning, and motor control, with a predominant emphasis on external focus of attention. Moreover, research attention toward adolescents was found to be lower compared to children. The most active journals in this field were Human Movement Science and Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Prominent authors such as Wulf, Abdollahipour, and Pesta received the highest number of scientific citations. In terms of international collaboration, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia were leading, with the U.S. showing strong connections with Iran and the Czech Republic, playing a key role in scientific networks.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the role of attentional focus instructions in motor learning and performance particularly in children and adolescents is an emerging and evolving area. However, attentional instructions in these age groups, who possess developing cognitive characteristics, have been understudied so far. This analysis emphasizes that enhancing international collaboration and focusing on existing research gaps can pave the way for future investigations.
Keywords: Sports performance, children and adolescents, cognitive development, attentional strategies, scientometric study
Abstract
Introduction : The present study aims to analyze research articles from the past decade in the field of attentional focus among children and adolescents using a scientometric approach.
Methods: This descriptive and review-based study utilized a specific search strategy in the Web of Science (WoS) citation database. A total of 29 relevant articles on attentional focus published between 2013 and 2023 were selected and analyzed using HistCite and VOSviewer software.
Resultss: The findings revealed that the main research topics included motor performance, motor learning, and motor control, with a predominant emphasis on external focus of attention. Moreover, research attention toward adolescents was found to be lower compared to children. The most active journals in this field were Human Movement Science and Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Prominent authors such as Wulf, Abdollahipour, and Pesta received the highest number of scientific citations. In terms of international collaboration, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia were leading, with the U.S. showing strong connections with Iran and the Czech Republic, playing a key role in scientific networks.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the role of attentional focus instructions in motor learning and performance particularly in children and adolescents is an emerging and evolving area. However, attentional instructions in these age groups, who possess developing cognitive characteristics, have been understudied so far. This analysis emphasizes that enhancing international collaboration and focusing on existing research gaps can pave the way for future investigations.
Keywords: Sports performance, children and adolescents, cognitive development, attentional strategies, scientometric study
Ayoub Asadi, Sori Heydari, Fatemeh Shirmehenji, Fatemeh Kochakpour,
Volume 100, Issue 100 (10-2020)
Abstract
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of verbal instructions and observational training on the improvement of children’s motor skills; however, there is not enough information about the simultaneous effects of these two variables. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of attention instructions during observation of the model on gaze behavior and accuracy of overarm throwing in children. 24 children 7 to 10 years of age with normal growth selected purposefully and randomly divided into two internal and external attentions during modeling groups. Training in both groups included observation 10 times skilled model overarm throwing’s film with eye movement recording, with the difference that before it each group received its own instruction. The results of mix-ANOVA and paired and independent t-tests showed that both groups showed a significant increase from the pre-test to post-test in the accuracy (p=0.001; p=0.001) and duration of the quiet eye (p=0.005; p=0.001) of overarm throwing. In the post-test, the external attention during modeling group compared to the internal attention during modeling had significantly higher accuracy (p=0.01) and longer quiet eye duration (p=0.001). Also, the external attention during modeling had more percentage viewing time to relevant external cues (ball and trajectory). Therefore, directing visual attention to movement effect of observed pattern cause improvement in motor performance and visual-motor expertise in children.
