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.23 Ehrlich, Gerald, 1911-
1942 The relation between the learning
.E4 of a motor sh ill and measures of
strength, motor ability, motor educa
b ility and motor capacity... New
York, 1942.
viii,155 typewritten leaves, illu s .,
tab les,diagrs. , forms . 29cm.
Thesis (Ph.D.) - New York university,
School of education, 1942.
Bibliography: p .111-117.
A34331
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Xerox University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED.
Thesis accepted
APR 111942
n.,„
THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LEARNING OF A MOTOR SKILL
AND MEASURES OF STRENGTH, MOTOR ABILITY, MOTOR EDUCABILITY
AND MOTOR CAPACITY
GERALD EHRLICH
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in the School of Education of
New York University
PLEASE NOTE:
Some pages may have
ind i st i net print.
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University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company
Acknowledgment
Many friends have contributed to the formulation, progress and comple
tion of this study. In particular, may I express my sincere gratitude to
Professor F. S. Lloyd, who has Inculcated in me the desire for research; to
Professor P. V. West, to whom I owe such knowledge and appreciation of sta
tistical method as I now possess, and to Doctor E. L> Antz, who has given
me the courage to destroy hypotheses as well as formulate them.
It is also a pleasure to mention the generous technical assistance of
Peter Lee; the interest displayed by Professor C. H. McCloy of the Univer
sity of Iowa; the many valuable suggestions offered by Professor S. A. Cour
tis of the University of Michigan, and the unselfish attitude of members of
the Department of Hygiene of the City College of New York.
Acknowledgment of indebtedness would be incomplete without mentioning
both Professor John J. Dailey and my wife, Sophia. Words can never adequate
ly express the role that Professor Dailey's influence played in the origin
ation of my graduate work. My wife, too, knows how grateful I am to her for
her unselfish contributions in every conceivable way.
A 8 4 3 9 2
ii
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Chapter Topic Page
I. The Problem and its Setting . . . . . . .............................. 1
Statement of the Problem - The Need for the Study -
Definition of Terms - Specific Problems Involved -
Delimitations - Summary.
II. Historical Background................................................................. 11
Summary of Research on Motor Learning - Principles of
Learning - Types of Motor Skills - Curves of Motor
Skills - Characteristics of Learning Curves - Related
Studies on Motor Learning - Summary of Research on
Motor Ability - Summary of Research on Motor Educa
bility - Summary of Research on Motor Capacity -
Summary.
III. Theoretical Aspects' of the Problem......................................... 35
Formulation of the Hypothesis - Theoretical Relation
between Strength and Learning - Theoretical Relation
between Motor Ability and Learning - Theoretical
Relation between Motor Educability and Learning -
Theoretical Relation between Motor Capacity and
Learning - Theoretical Relation between the four
Variables and Learning - Statement of the Hypothesis *
Summary.
IV. Procedure in Organizing and Collecting the D ata......................47
Selection of the Subjects - Appraisal of Physical
Status - Selection and Description of the Test Batter
ies - Administration of the Test Batteries - Measure
ment of the Learning Process • Selection of the Motor
Skill - Accuracy Speed Apparatus - Reliability of the
Apparatus - Administration of the Accuracy Speed Test -
Collection of Data - Summary.
V. Treatment and Analysis of D ata................................................. 61
Construction of Learning Curves - Reasoning Under
lying the Technique employed in this Study - Applica
tion of the Method of Least Squares for Constructing
Learning Curves - The Relation between Components of
the Learning Curve for Accuracy and Measures of
iii
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Chapter Topic Page
V* Treatment and Analysis of Data (co n t.)................................. 61
Physical Status - The Relation between Components
of the Learning Curve for Speed and Measures of
Physical Status > Partial and Multiple Correlation
Analysis of the Learning Curves - Analysis of Ter
minal Accuracy and the Tests - Analysis of Initial
Status and the Tests - Analysis of Maximum Accuracy
and the Tests • Analysis of Initial Status and
Maximum Accuracy in Terms of the Four Tests.
VI. General Summary and Conclusions ..................................... 95
Chapter Summaries - Digest of Findings.
VII. Discussion of the R esults............................................................ 105
Recommendations for Educational Procedures - Topics
for Further Study.
VIII. Bibliography..........................................................................................Ill
IX* Appendices.............................................................................................119
A. Courtis Technique for the Measurement of
Growth.
B. Data Sheets used in the Collection of Data.
C. The Accuracy-Speed Apparatus.
iv
LIST OF TABLES
Table Number Title Pag?
I. Factors that have been Isolated in Motor Ability,
Motor Educability and Motor Capacity........................ 33
II. The Probabilities that the Differences existing
among the Two Sub-Groups are due to Fluctuations
of Random Sampling................................ 48
III. Validity and Reliability Coefficients of the
Four Tests of Physical S tatus.................................... 52
IV. Measures of Central Tendency, Variability and
Successive Correlations between Weekly Periods
for Accuracy Scores........................................................ 64
V. Measures of Central Tendency. Variability and
Successive Correlations between Weekly Periods
for Speed Scores................................................................ 71
VI. Accuracy Scores Achieved by Subject Number 1
during the Experimental Period.................................... 78
VII. The Relation between Measures of Physical Status
and Components of the Learning Curve determined
on the Basis of Accuracy Scores................................... 81
VIII. The Relation between Measures of Physical Status
and Components of the Learning Curve determined
on the Basis of Speed Scores....................................... 83
IX* Measures of Central Tendency and Variability for
Components of the Learning Curves and Tests of
Physical S tatu s................................................................ 85
X. Test Battery Intercorrelations ..................... 86
v
LIST OF TABLES
Table Number Title Page
XI. Partial and Multiple Correlation Coefficients
for the Accuracy Learning Curve and the Four
Test B atteries..................................................................... 88
XII. Partial and Multiple Correlation Coefficients
for the Speed Learning Curve and the Four
Test B atteries..................................................................... 91
XIII. Partial and Multiple Correlations for Speed and
Accuracy with the Four Test B atteries.................... 93
vi
LIST OP DIAGRAMS
Diagram Number Title Page
1. Mean Scores In the Accuracy T est................................. 67
2* Sigma Values for the Accuracy Test . ......................... 69
3. Correlation Coefficients for the Accuracy Scores . 70
4. Mean Scores for the Speed Test . . ......................... 72
5. Sigma Values for the Speed T est................................. 73
6* Correlation Coefficients for the Speed Scores . . 75
7. Least Squares Fit to Obtained D ata......................... 80
8* A Mathematically Perfect Growth Curve..................... 126
9. Individual Isochronic Growth Curve for
Subject No. 1 ..................................................................... 132
10. Individual Isochronic Growth Curve for
Subject No. 2 ..................................................................... 133
11. Individual Isochronic Growth Curve for
Subject No. 3 ..................................................................... 134
•»
vii
