Variable-interval schedule of conditioned reinforcement and practising behavior of two rugby kicking skills

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dc.contributor.authorHoko, Brendan Jamesen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T17:18:23Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T17:18:23Z
dc.date.copyright1995en_US
dc.date.issued1995
dc.degree.departmentSchool of Physical Education
dc.degree.departmentSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a variable-interval schedule of conditioned reinforcement (VI) on the level of practice behavior of two rugby skills: the place kick for goal and the dropkick restart. A multiple-baseline across-behaviors design was employed. Subjects were four intermediate level kickers who were asked to attempt: (a) goal kicks within an eight station kicking routine and (b) a dropkick task which involved landing balls within a target area. Success criteria for the two skills were based upon the successful performance of the skill within the game situation. Subjects practised kicking both skills twice a week for six weeks. Baseline data were taken for goal kicking until the number of attempted kicks per session became stable. Treatment was then introduced in which subjects were reinforced for the first successful behavior occurring after an interval varying around a mean of three minutes. Once it was apparent that treatment was effective, subject's VI was increased. Following four weeks of data collection, treatment was introduced to the dropkick practising behavior. Initially reward was based upon a VI four minute schedule, but the interval was increased to five minutes after it appeared that practice behavior had increased. Numerical results demonstrate that following the introduction of treatment all four subjects' total practice behavior and successful practice behavior per session increased for both skills. A qualitative analysis of findings demonstrates a similar result. It was hoped that an increase in practising behavior would lead to an increase in kicking performance. All subjects' percentage of successful dropkicks increased after intervention and all but one subject's goal kick success rate improved, although not to a degree which would clearly suggest that increases in repetitive practice improved performance.
dc.format.extent75 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18199
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleVariable-interval schedule of conditioned reinforcement and practising behavior of two rugby kicking skillsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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