Information Processing
What are the three main stages of the simple information processing model?
Input, Decision-Making (Central), and Output.
What is perception in the context of sports performance?
Perception is the ability to interpret sensory information to understand the environment and make decisions during sports performance.
What is Hicks Law and how does it relate to reaction time?
Hicks Law states that the more stimulus-response options available, the longer the reaction time due to increased decision-making demands.
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic feedback?
Intrinsic: Feedback from within the performer (e.g., how the movement felt).
Extrinsic: Feedback from external sources (e.g., coach, video analysis).
Why is it important for coaches to understand information processing models?
It helps coaches understand how decisions are made during skill execution, allowing for targeted training and performance improvement.
In the expanded model, what are the three sub-stages within the central decision-making stage?
Stimulus Identification / Response Selection / Response Programming
Name the three main stimulus features that affect perception.
Familiarity of stimulus / Speed of stimulus / Loudness and colour brightness
How does stimulus-response compatibility affect decision-making speed?
If the stimulus is familiar or expected, reaction time is quicker. Unfamiliar stimuli require more cognitive processing, slowing decision-making.
Define knowledge of performance and knowledge of results.
Knowledge of Performance (KP): Feedback on how the skill was executed.
Knowledge of Results (KR): Feedback on the outcome of the action.
How does perception link to decision-making in sport?
Perception allows athletes to interpret sensory cues, which informs decision-making. Accurate perception leads to quicker, more effective decisions.
Give a sporting example that demonstrates each stage of the expanded model.
Input - Stimulus Identification - Response Selection - Response Programming - Output
How does selective attention improve decision-making in sport?
Selective attention helps athletes focus on relevant cues whilst ignoring distractions, leading to quicker and more accurate decisions.
Describe the psychological refractory period and give a sporting example.
The Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) is a delay in responding to a second stimulus while still processing the first.
Why is positive feedback important for motivation in beginner athletes?
Positive feedback boosts confidence, reinforces effort, and encourages continued improvement — especially important for beginners.
What role does feedback play in improving skill acquisition?
Feedback helps performers understand what they did well and what needs improvement, reinforcing learning and enhancing motivation.
How can sensory overload impact the input stage of information processing?
Can limit the performer’s ability to focus on relevant cues, reducing the effectiveness of the input stage and increasing decision-making errors.
Explain how arousal level and attention capacity interact to influence perception.
High arousal can heighten perception and focus, improving attention capacity. However, too much arousal may cause tunnel vision or panic, while low arousal may reduce awareness and reaction speed.
How can practice and anticipation improve decision-making under pressure?
Practice builds automatic responses and improves anticipation, allowing performers to predict actions and respond faster under pressure.
Compare terminal and continuous feedback in terms of their impact on skill development.
Terminal: Given after performance; useful for reflection.
Continuous: Given during performance; helps immediate correction and learning.
Critically evaluate how the interaction between perception, decision-making, and feedback contributes to elite performance in high-pressure sporting environments.
Elite performers rely on accurate perception to identify cues, fast decision-making to choose appropriate actions, and effective feedback to refine performance — especially under pressure.
Evaluate how understanding the expanded model can help a coach identify and improve a performer’s weaknesses.
Allows coaches to pinpoint which stage a performer struggles with. This enables targeted interventions like drills to improve specific cognitive or motor skills.
Analyse how perception differences between beginners and experts affect reaction time in fast-paced sports.
Experts process stimuli faster due to experience and refined attention capacity. Beginners may struggle to filter relevant cues, leading to slower reaction times in fast-paced sports like tennis or rugby.
Evaluate how multiple cognitive factors interact to influence decision-making in competitive sport.
Fatigue slows cognitive and motor responses; poor environmental conditions disrupt perception; experience improves anticipation; anxiety can either sharpen or hinder decision-making depending on arousal levels.
Analyse how different types of feedback can be used strategically during a team sport to improve performance and communication.
Different feedback types can be used strategically during team sports to improve individual and collective performance, confidence, and communication.
Using the expanded information processing model, analyse how cognitive overload might disrupt performance in a fast-paced team sport.
Cognitive overload can disrupt stimulus identification and response selection. Strategies like simplifying cues, improving selective attention, and using clear feedback can help mitigate these effects.