The Comparison of Gross Motor Skills Development of Preschool Children with and without Motor Experiences
Volume 3, Issue 2, Autumn 2012, Pages 29-43
Alireza Farsi, Behrooz Abdoli, Narges Fa’al, Maryam Kavyiani
Abstract The aim of this study was to compare gross motor skills development in two subtests (locomotors and object control) in preschool children in the deprived and rich environments. Participants in this study were 39 children (mean age: 5 yr). 19 children were selected from deprived environments without extensive motor experiences, and 20 children from a preschool with extensive motor experiences. Ulrich (2000) gross motor development test was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by independent t test. Results showed that there was a significant difference between two groups of rich and deprived in percentage score of locomotors (P=0.001), percentage score of object control (P=0.004), motor development quotient scores (P=0.001). The findings also showed that children with varied motor experiences and education compared with deprived children had higher qualified function in gross motor skills.
The Comparison of the Effects of Attentional-Cognitive Load and Motor-Cognitive Load on Bimanual Coordination Performance
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring 2011, Pages 43-55
Alireza Farsi, Behrooz Abdoli, Maryam Kaviyani
Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cognitive-attentional and cognitive-motor load on the performance of bimanual coordination skill. 31 female students (mean age 25+2 years) from Shahid Beheshti University attending were selected voluntarily and divided randomly into three groups: single group (N=11), cognitive group (N=10) and cognitive-motor group (N=10). Single group participants performed bimanual coordination single task. Cognitive group participants performed bimanual coordination task simultaneously with number countdown task, and cognitive – motor participants performed bimanual coordination task simultaneously with feet reaction time task. Two hand coordination of Vienna test system was used to assess the performance of bimanual coordination task. One – way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used to analyze data. Statistical significance level was p<0.05. Results showed that there were no significant differences in the performance of bimanual coordination task between single and cognitive groups, cognitive and cognitive – motor groups. Also results showed a significant difference in the performance of bimanual coordination task between single and motor groups. Generally, results showed that interference of two tasks with motor nature is more than interference of two tasks with motor and cognitive nature.
The Effect of Perceptual – Motor Experience on Motor Development Quotient of Fine and Gross Motor Skills in 5-8-Month-Old Infants
Volume 2, Issue 2, Summer 2010
Alireza Farsi, Behroz Abdoli, Maryam Kaviani, Akram Kaviani
Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of perceptual – motor experience on motor development quotient of fine and gross motor skills in infants. Fifteen 5-8-month-old healthy infants participated randomly in this study and were divided homogenously into two groups (experimental and control) according to their age. Experimental group had 36 training sessions, each session an hour at a perceptual – motor enriched environment. Peabody motor development scale was used to evaluate fine and gross motor skills. Data were analyzed by independent t test. Results indicated a significant difference in mean score of motor development quotient between fine motor skills (p=0.004) and gross motor skills (p=0.02). These findings showed that training and experience had a positive effect on motor development generally and on motor development quotient of fine and gross motor skills specifically. In other words, training and experience were positive factors of fundamental and basic motor skills development of the infants in both groups. These results are in line with the perspective of dynamic systems of motor development.