Date of Award

Spring 2020

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology; College of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Steve Robbins

Second Advisor

Dr. Katherine Moore

Abstract

Across two studies a total of 88 participants (40 in study 1, 48 in study 2), we investigated the effects of motivational priming and imagery direction (facilitative: 'try to hit the target' versus debilitative: 'try not to miss' imagery) on accuracy motor tasks. The first experiment consisted of a motivational paragraph as the prime and a fine motor tracing task as the dependent measure. In the second experiment, motivational imagery, as well as an image at the top of the instructions handed out, were used as the primes for effect on performance in a dart-throwing task. There were no significant differences between the experimental groups in the first study. In the second study there was a significant interaction effect between group and time in which over time, facilitative imagery improved the group’s overall performance while within the debilitative imagery group, we found that imagery hindered performance improvement. Implications of this study for future experiments include creating a stronger motivational prime, use of different prime delivery methods, continuing to apply the concept of facilitative vs. debilitative priming in more real-world studies. Additionally, applying the concept in different coaching methods could be used to improve an athlete’s overall performance in their respective sports.

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Effect of Motivational and Imagery priming on accuracy motor performance

Across two studies a total of 88 participants (40 in study 1, 48 in study 2), we investigated the effects of motivational priming and imagery direction (facilitative: 'try to hit the target' versus debilitative: 'try not to miss' imagery) on accuracy motor tasks. The first experiment consisted of a motivational paragraph as the prime and a fine motor tracing task as the dependent measure. In the second experiment, motivational imagery, as well as an image at the top of the instructions handed out, were used as the primes for effect on performance in a dart-throwing task. There were no significant differences between the experimental groups in the first study. In the second study there was a significant interaction effect between group and time in which over time, facilitative imagery improved the group’s overall performance while within the debilitative imagery group, we found that imagery hindered performance improvement. Implications of this study for future experiments include creating a stronger motivational prime, use of different prime delivery methods, continuing to apply the concept of facilitative vs. debilitative priming in more real-world studies. Additionally, applying the concept in different coaching methods could be used to improve an athlete’s overall performance in their respective sports.