Lab 2: Perceptual Motor Ability Lab

Name:______________________________ Score:___________
Introduction
Perceptual motor abilities testing is similar to physical fitness testing with one major
difference we are identifying abilities related to motor skill performance proficiency not
physical proficiencies such as strength, cardiovascular ability or flexibility. Perceptual
motor ability testing is used for a variety of reasons. The two most common reasons are:
1) prediction of future performance of a motor skill and 2) evaluation of the clients or
students performance deficiencies. Motor ability testing for predicting future
performance is an aptitude test. Industry uses a test of motor ability to select people to
train for or work in specific jobs. Medical and dental schools often include motor
abilities tests in the selection of students for admission into specific programs.
Professional sports teams typically give motor abilities test as port of test batteries to
select athletes for their team. The second use of motor abilities testing for evaluation is
where one can evaluate a clients motor skill performance deficiencies. Therapists and
athletic trainers use motor abilities tests to assess patients rehabilitation progress and
determine the types of functional activities the patient may be ready to undertake.
The following perceptual batteries of this tests are: 1) absolute haptic perception ability,
2) wrist, arm, and ringer speed ability, 3) response orientation ability, 4) arm-hand
steadiness ability, 5) static & dynamic Balance ability, 6) control precision ability, and 7)
reaction time. Each battery represents a different motor ability that is specifically related
to the performance of motor and/or sport skills. The purpose of this lab is to engage the
student in the testing of motor abilities studied in the class that related to motor skill or
sports skill development.
Once you have completed all the tests (batteries) and have your results, you and other lab
members will calculate the mean and standard deviation of each test battery (need to have
all other members score for each battery). Once the means and standard deviations of
each test battery have been computed, calculate your Tscore for each test battery and
record it in individual composite table. Once you have all your Tscore for each battery
then sum your Tscores to determine your overall Tscore for the perceptual motor ability
test. The overall Tscore represents how well you did on this perceptual motor test. After
computing your overall Tscore complete the associated lab question.
Battery 1: Haptic Perception Ability
Absolute judgments involve the standard stored in memory with the comparison
physically present. For example comparing the different weights of bowling balls to
determine which bowling ball to use is an example of absolute judgment. Absolute
judgment is a common practice since it relies on memory.

The purpose of this lab was to determine ones ability to judge the difference between
weights using the stimulus-held-in-memory (absolute judgment) techniques.
Procedure and Equipment
I only have two set of weighted canisters, a set of weighted canisters that contain a series
of light weights (75 to 125 grams) and heavy weights (175 to 225 grams). You only need
to complete this lab using either the light or heavy set of weighted canisters not both. You
will be blindfolded during the absolute trials.
In the absolute judgment condition, the standard weight (100 grams for the light set and
200 grams for the heavy set) will be placed in the subjects preferred hand. He or she
will memorize how heavy the weight feels, put it aside, then pick up each of the rest of
the weights, at random, and judge whether the compare weight is lighter, heavier, or the
same in weight as the standard held in memory. Place them in order from the lightest to
heaviest with the 100 or 200 gram canister in the middle. There should be 5 canisters
below and above the 100 or 200 gram canister. Once you have determined the order turn
the canisters over and score their order using the Light or Heavy set table below. Place
an X in block where your order corresponds to the Light or Heavy Set. Then score
how well you did using the formula below each table and record percentage of correct
responses. Higher your percentage the better you did on this ability.

75

80

85

90

Light Set
ABSOLUTE JUDGMENT
95
100* 105
110

115

120

125

215

220

225

Number correct X 9 + 1 = ______________% correct

Heavy Set
175

180

185

190

ABSOLUTE JUDGMENT
195
200* 205
210

Number correct X 9 + 1 = ______________% correct

Battery 2: Motor Speed or Wrist, Arm, and Finger Speed Ability
Finger trapping has contributed to the understanding of fine motor development. Finger
tapping is an important index of fine motor coordination. Repetitive tapping is
repetitions of the same movement, such as tapping the thumb and forefinger together as
rapidly as possible.

Tapping speed is usually measured every 10 seconds for a total of 30 consecutive

seconds. The total number of taps across the three 10-second trials is then reported. A
higher number of taps indicates a better motor speed in the individual.
You will be seated in front of the Moart front panel. The Moart multi operational
apparatus has been developed for tapping and reaction time tests. In the repetitive tapping
movement condition, you are to rapidly tap the button corresponding to your forefinger
found in the middle of the Moart panel with your left forefinger for five 10-second trials.
Record the number of taps for each 10 second trial. Then complete this same tapping
exercise with the forefinger of the right hand using the button on the upper right side of
the panel with your forefinger for another. The light above the button will appear which
indicates when to start tapping. The Moart Apparatus has been preprogrammed for 10second trials and has recorded the number of taps. Overall motor speed ability is
determined by adding both the left and right forefinger tapping totals. A higher number
of total taps indicate a faster motor speed in the individual.
Repetitive Tapping
Trial 1

Trial 1

Grand Total:__________

Trial 2

Right Fore finger

Trial 3
Trial 4

Trial 5

Total

Trial 2

Left Fore finger

Trial 3
Trial 4

Trial 5

Total

Battery 3: Response Orientation (Card Sorting Task)

Response orientation is the ability to make a rapid selection of control to be moved or the
direction to move them in. Successful completion of this task relies upon a number of
intact cognitive functions including attention, working memory, and visual processing, it
is loosely termed a frontal lobe test on the basis that patients with any sort of frontal lobe
lesion generally do poorly at the test.
Experimenter shuffles one deck of card several times. Subject sits or stands in front of
the card-sorting box. Experimenter instructs the subject, On the signal, Ready? Go!
The cards are individually turn over so your can see their faces and sort them into there
proper compartments as fast as possible. Do not attempt to correct any errors you may
make.
Experimenter uses a stopwatch or clock to time the subject. After each trial has been
timed & the number of errors counted, score each trial using the following formula:
Trial score = Total number of errors + total time in seconds divided by 1000
The experimenter shuffles the card for trial and changes the board for the 2nd trial.

The subject attempts to sort the cards as fast as possible. Record each trial score on the
table below then calculate the mean. The higher ones mean score the better ones
response orientation perceptual ability.
Score Trial 1

Score Trial 2

Score Trial 3

Mean

Battery 4: Arm-Hand Steadiness Ability

Hand steadiness is a very important ability in performing fine motor skills. One needs a
steady hand to sew a button, write neatly, pick up small objects, or paint a picture. In
shooting a pistol, one need a steady hand to accurately hit a target. This ability is also
important in industry, especially when one is required to assemble the parts of a clock.
Hold the stylist in your non-dominate hand and attempt to move the end of the stylist left
to right and right to left three times through the hand steadiness task without touching
either side. Attempt to move the stylists as fast as possible and record the time it takes
you in nearest second and the number of times you touched the sides (errors). Score each
trial using the following formula:
Trial score = Total number of touches + total time in seconds divided by 1000
Record the trial score on the table below and calculate the mean for arm-hand steadiness
perceptual ability.
Trials

Score

1
2
3
Mean
Battery 5: Static & Dynamic Balance
Researchers have studied static balance by using a stabilometer. With a stabilometer, the
subject must balance on a platform suspended on a single axis across its midline. The
subject places one foot one each side of this axis, similar to attempting to balance on the
center of seesaw. You will attempt to balance for 45 seconds. The number of seconds
that you are in balance will be your score. You will be given to two attempts with eyes
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open. The highest or best score is considered to be your static balance score for this
perceptual ability. The longer one can stay in balance the better ones static balance
ability.
Researchers have studied dynamic balance using the Bass Stepping Stone Test. The
subject stands on the right foot on the starting taped square, and then leaps to a series of
taped squares located in front of the subject, alternating left and right feet. At each
square, the subject must maintain balance for 5 sec before leaping to the next square. The
squares are numbered 1-10. Once the subject reaches 5 they turn and leap back to the
start or 10. The score (0 10) is the last square the subject could hold their balance for 5
seconds. Each subject will before 2 attempts unless they score a 10 on their first attempt,
the highest score is considered to be a better dynamic balance score for this perceptual
ability.
Static & Dynamic Balance
Static

Dynamic

Trial 1
Trial 2
Best Score
Battery 6: Control Precision Ability
Control precision is the ability to make rapid and precise movement adjustments of
control devices involving single arm-hand or leg movements to visual stimuli. Subject
keeps a hand-held stylus in the non-dominate hand and tracks the lighted disk embedded
in a phonograph-like turntable (pursuit rotor) as it rotates at 60 rpm in counter clockwise
direction. The subject is give 2 trials that each last 45 seconds. The total time they are on
the lighted disk is recorded on the table below. A higher mean represents a better
control precision ability.
Trial
1
2
Mean

Score

Battery 7: Reaction Time Ability

Reaction time is the ability to respond rapidly to a signal when it appears. Reaction time
is really how fast one can make a fast and accurate decision. Obviously, reaction time is
key ability to avoid or make contact with an oncoming object, such as avoid hitting
another car or hitting a baseball. Situations in sport require the player to make fast
decisions in order to performing successfully. The subject will be presented a visual
stimuli (e.g., light) signal then upon seeing he stimuli tap the small disk on the reaction
time apparatus as quick as possible. The experimenter will set the reaction time so the

foreperiod prior to the presentation of the visual stimuli is random. The subject will be
given 4 trials or responses. Each trial or response will be recorded in Msec (e.g. 340 or
15 ms). A lower mean reaction time represents a better reaction time ability on this test.
Record the reaction time scores in the table below:
Reaction Time Trials
1
2
3
4
Mean

Score (Msec)

How Well Did You Do On This Test??

One cannot compute an overall score for this test by just adding up the means or total
score for each test. The reason is there are some tests where the high score is the best
score and other where the lowest score is best score. One needs to convert their means or
total scores on all the test to a standard score. Once a standard score has been compiled
then they can add all their score together to determine how well they did overall on this
test.
T-scores is one popular standard score that can be calculated so one can combine the
different batteries together to determine the overall composite Tscore. Tscores are used
when tests or batteries have different units of measure. It enables the teacher, physical
therapist, or exercise specialist, to determine what client or student scored the best and
worst on the test.
Converting your mean or total scores to a standard score (Tscore):
In order to calculate a Tscore, one needs to know and/or calculate the following:
1) The scale of measurement associated with each test (+ or -).
2) The standard deviation (s) derived from the distribution of scores from the
members of the each test.
3) The mean (m) derived from all the other members scores for each test.
4) Your raw score (x) of that test.
The professor will give you a ID number and once you have completed each test, you
will record your scores in a excel spreadsheet. Once all the member of the lab have
recorded their scores in excel then one easily calculate the standard deviation and mean
for each test using the Stat Function found under Tools.
The formula used to calculate Tscores for a test that has a (+) scale of measurement is: T=
((10(X-M)/s)+50). The formula used to calculate Tscore for a test that has a (-) is: T=

((10(M-X)/s)+50). Use these formulas to calculate your Tscore for each battery in this
test.

Battery

1)Haptic
Perception
2)Motor Speed
3)Response
Orientation
4)Arm-Hand
Steadiness
5)Static
Balance
6)Dynamic
Balance
7)Control
Precision
8)Reaction
time

Individual Composite Tscore

Mean
Scale* Overall
or
Mean of
Total
Test (m)
Score
+

Standard Your
Deviation Tscore
of the
Test (s)

+
+
+
+
Overall Tscore

*Scales: Negative scale of measure is where the best score is a low score where as a
positive scale of measure is where the best score is the highest score.
Once all the Tscores have been calculated then all one needs to do is to sum their Tscore
to determine their overall Tscore. Tscores fall from 0 to 100 and represent ones overall
percent rank on the test as compared to other who have taken it. For example, your
overall Tscore was 80 then this represents 80% on the test or overall, which means that
79% of the other class members fell below you on this test or overall. If an employer
was attempting to determine what applicant was better on any test or overall all they need
to do look at their Tscores on the test of interest or overall. Same thing goes for a teacher
who want to determine where any student performance was on a test or overall.
Lab Question:
Write a two page single spaced profile about your perceptual motor abilities strengths and
weaknesses? How did your overall results ( overall Tscores) compare to your peers. If
your Tscores revealed differences across these abilities, why were some batteries better
than others? Develop a graph (maximum size of 3 X 5) of the Tscores across the 8
abilities and insert this graph into your text where you are describing your strengths and
weaknesses. Assess the tests value in predicting future performances in industry and/or
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sport. Discuss how the results of this test might be used to assess the client or students
deficiencies. How could this test be modified to better understand the clients or
students general motor ability?