Information Processing Exam Questions 1) Outline Whitings model of information processing and explain how the perceptual mechanism

can affect the performance of physical activities. 6 marks Whitings model shows a horse shoe shape emphasising that its a moving circuit not stationary, and as the environment changes, so does components but the basic layout stays the same. The perceptual mechanisms are what decide how we interpret the information form the sensory organs. These mechanisms compare the stimuli to others stored in your memory, once the stimuli are recognised the decision of what to do has to be made. By interpreting the stimuli incorrectly performance can be affected badly through the wrong decisions being made. 2) Fig 2. Below is an information processing model showing the different stages of processing information when performing a movement skill in sport. Input . Sense Organs Perceptual mechanism Effector mechanism Muscular system Response

Intrinsic feedback Extrinsic Feedback

Using a motor skill example from sport, explain each element of the model. 10 marks Motor skill: Pass in football. The input is the surroundings and environment around the player, for the football pass it would include the ball, teammates, opponents and the noise made by them. The sensory organs gather the information from the input through your eyes, ears and touch creating stimuli. Perceptual mechanism is how we recognise the stimuli compared with past experiences, for the pass in football recognising the stimuli will give them a better chance of choosing a successful plan. Effector mechanism is the motor programme put into place, so for the football pass I could be across the ground pass, lobed ball or through ball. Muscular system is the group of muscles used to do the motor programme, in the pass it would involve the quadriceps and gastrocnemius. Response is how the motor programme is performed. Then feedback occurs; Intrinsic is done through an internal sense of how a movement feels, kinesthesis, in the pass it would be if you felt you hit the ball correctly. Extrinsic feedback is received through your teammates or a coach via either visual or verbal guidance, for a football pass the extrinsic feedback is likely to come from verbal guidance from your coach. James Mather