Applying an Expert–Novice Research Method as an Expertise-Based Training Method

• In Event: 66.079 - Roundtable Session 25
  In Roundtable Session: 66.079-5 - Reasoning, Modeling, Embodied Pedagogy, Expertise, and Self-Regulation

Abstract

This case study investigates whether the expert-novice research method of temporal occlusion could be used as a training method to improve the batting performance of college baseball players. Baseball batting was studied because it requires rapid decision-making. Occlusion involved batters viewing videos of pitchers that were cut off at various points in the pitcher’s delivery, with batters then identifying the type of pitch. Research shows that expert batters excel at occlusion tasks by picking up early cues. In this study, occlusion training led to the cooperating team scoring 41 percent more runs and significantly improving other batting statistics. The study supports exploratory implementation of occlusion training in areas of high-speed decision-making such as aviation, emergency response, and classroom teaching.

Author

• Peter Fadde, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale