ABSTRACT
Research on adult populations has shown individuals are faster at processing information, i.e., have faster reaction times, from compatible as compared to incompatible assignments. Additionally, research has shown that reaction times decrease when advanced information, i.e., a precue, is provided to the subject. The present study examined whether children would exhibit results similar to those of adults. Subjects were 18 fourth graders (M age 9 yr.) who responded to compatible and incompatible assignments across four precue intervals (0-no precue, 1500, 3000, and 4500 msec.) Analysis of the data indicated that similar to adults, children had faster reaction times to compatible (667 msec., SD=176) than to incompatible assignments (798 msec., SD=218). Results also indicated that as the precue interval increased, reaction times decreased (885, 711, 679, and 660 msec. for the 0-no precue, 1500-, 3000-, and 4500-msec intervals, respectively). These findings suggest that children exhibit typical compatibility effects and are capable of processing advanced information to enhance motor performance.
Subject(s)
Cues , Reaction Time , Space Perception , Spatial Behavior , Child , Humans , SemanticsABSTRACT
This investigation was designed to assess sex-role stereotyping across age groups. Participants (N=668) were girls and boys, students from Grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 at local public schools. All participants completed the Sport and Physical Activities Questionnaire on which were displayed pictures of 31 sport and physical activities. Participants were instructed to designate each activity as a boys' activity, a girls' activity, or a boys' and girls' activity. Chi-square analysis showed age-related differences in distribution of stereotyping of the activities. Over age groups there were more discrepancies between boys' and girls' ratings of activities as sex-specific. These findings suggest that sex-role stereotyping of sports and physical activities becomes more predominant across age groups.
