The Effect of Self - Controlled Feedback Frequency on Acquisition, Retention and Transfer in a Simple Force Production Task

This study aimed at investigating the impact of limitation in self controlled feed back on learning of simple force-production task. Sixty subjects (non athlete, healthy) that participated voluntarily in this study performed the force – production task in order to reach a particular force. Subjects divided in to four groups according to the type of control on feed back (self – controlled / yoked) and frequency of feedback (30% /free). The four groups performed 6 blocks of 10 trials during the practice phase. Retention and transfer tests were conducted twenty four hours after the practice phase. The methods for data analysis were one-way ANOVA, Repeated Measure and Two-way ANOVA. In the acquisition phase only the effect of practice blokes was significant. In the retention phase there was not any significant difference and in the transfer phase it was revealed the main effect of the control feedback and the frequency of feedback were significant but interactional effect was not significant (p > 0.05). Repeating the results of the previous studies on the advantage of self – controlled groups over the yoked group, this study show that limitation of self-controlled feedback up to 30 percent, not only is destructive, but also optimizes self-controlled feedback.