The effect of observing relative and absolute information on learning a novel skill

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of observing relative and absolute information on learning a novel skill. The population for this research was male students of Shahid Beheshti University. 14 participants were selected by available sampling; they were right handed and did not have any physical problem. In this study information were provided in Point Light Displays. The first group observed the information of all body parts (RELATIVE group) and the other one just observed the information of throwing wrist (ABSOLUTE group). In acquisition they performed 20 trials and 24 hours later they performed 5 trials as retention test. After retention، all groups observed the full body film (relative information)، this period was called as re-acquisition. The results showed that ABSOLUTE group performed more like the model in relation to RELATIVE group. This effect was observed in all periods. There was no difference between two groups in control related parameters (all P>0. 05). Also observing the relative information in re-acquisition had no effect on intra limb coordination and accuracy، but it had a meaningful effect on control related parameter (maximum wrist velocity) made it more like the model. Relative motion information was not always the most important information for acquisition of coordination، in some cases like this the end point information play a more important role.