The impact of success criteria in high-error practice conditions on motor learning, self-efficacy, and mood states: A challenge to the optimal theory

Identifying the practice conditions that optimize the learning of motor skills is one of the main objectives in the area of human motor learning research.
The present study aims to explore the effect of success criteria in high-error practice conditions on motor learning, self-efficacy, and mood states among female students.
This practical quasi-experimental study was conducted in a field setting. The participants were 30 female students from Yazd University, selected through convenience sampling. Completing the consent form, the selected participants were randomly divided into three groups: high-error practice with a large target (n= 10), high-error practice with a small target (n= 10), and a high-error control group (n= 10). Then, mixed ANOVA was applied in order to test the hypotheses.
The results revealed that both of the large and small target groups significantly outperformed the control group regarding the difference in performance accuracy. Moreover, considering mood states, in the small target group, significant differences were observed in the calmness, happiness, and total mood state subscales, while in the large target group, significant differences were found in the vigor, happiness, depression, and total mood state subscales. In terms of self-efficacy, significant differences were observed in the level and power dimensions in small target group; however, the power dimension was the mere aspect revealing significant difference in the large target group.
The use of success criteria in high-error practice methods is beneficial, and it is recommended to adopt this approach to improve accuracy and stability in the practice sessions.