Feedback
A patient with depression is told: “You kept your back straighter during today’s walk than yesterday.”
What type of feedback is being used?
Knowledge of Performance (KP)
A patient asks many questions and needs step-by-step verbal instructions to complete a simple task. Movements are slow and inconsistent.
Which stage is this?
Cognitive stage
The therapist physically moves the patient’s arm to show how the exercise should be performed.
Which form of teaching is used?
Guidance
A patient repeats the same grounding exercise continuously without breaks.
What form of practice is this?
Massed practice
Standing still while throwing a ball during group therapy.
How would this task be classified in Gentile’s taxonomy?
Body stability + object manipulation
A patient with anxiety is told: “You completed 10 minutes of exposure without leaving the room.”
What type of feedback is being used?
Knowledge of Result (KR)
The patient performs the movement smoothly while talking to the therapist at the same time, without needing cues or corrections.
Which stage is this?
Autonomous stage
The therapist gives clear, step-by-step instructions while the patient performs the task.
Which form of teaching is used?
Guidance
The exercise is practiced with frequent rest periods.
What form of practice is this?
Distributed practice
Walking while carrying groceries during rehabilitation.
How would this task be classified in Gentile’s taxonomy?
Body transport + object manipulation
A patient notices their breathing feels calmer during grounding exercises.
What type of feedback is being used?
Intrinsic feedback
The patient can perform the task with fewer mistakes but still needs occasional feedback from the therapist. Performance is improving but not yet automatic.
Which stage is this?
Associative stage
The therapist sets a task and says: “Try different ways until you find what helps you stay calm.”
Which form of teaching is used?
Discovery
The patient practices only one coping strategy repeatedly.
What form of practice is this?
Blocked practice
Practicing a task in the same therapy room every time.
How would this task be classified in Gentile’s taxonomy?
Stationary environment without intertrial variability
A patient with bipolar disorder practices a sequencing task during a therapy session.
After completing three trials, the therapist says:
“Across the last few attempts, you started the task more calmly and made fewer pauses, and you completed the sequence correctly twice.”
What type of feedback is being used?
Delayed feedback combining Knowledge of Performance (KP) and Knowledge of Result (KR)
The patient completes the task correctly most of the time but occasionally slows down to consciously adjust their movement after noticing small errors. They still benefit from brief feedback.
Which stage is this?
Associative stage
The therapist demonstrates the task once and then allows the patient to practice, only asking reflective questions when the patient struggles.
Which form of teaching is used?
Discovery
Several different coping strategies are practiced in random order.
What form of practice is this?
Randomised practice
Practicing tasks in different settings with changing conditions.
How would this task be classified in Gentile’s taxonomy?
In-motion environment with intertrial variability
During a rehabilitation session, a patient with anxiety completes a balance task.
After finishing, the therapist says:
“You managed to stay within the marked area for the entire task, and you also noticed yourself that your weight shifted more evenly this time.”
What type of feedback is being used?
Both Knowledge of Result (KR) and intrinsic feedback
The patient knows the goal of the task and can describe how to perform it, but execution is inconsistent and requires strong concentration, especially under stress.
Which stage is this?
Cognitive stage
The therapist initially provides physical assistance, then gradually reduces help and encourages the patient to adjust their strategy independently as the task becomes more challenging.
Which form of teaching is used?
Guidance transitioning into Discovery
The routine is broken into smaller steps (getting up, dressing, breakfast).
What form of practice is this?
Part practice
A patient in psychiatric rehabilitation walks through the hospital hallway while carrying a cup of coffee. Other patients occasionally pass by, and the situation is similar each session, although the timing of passersby changes.
How would this task be classified?
Action function: Body transport with object manipulation
Environmental context: In-motion environment with intertrial variability