Effects of Attentional Focus on Motor Performance: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: Current Research on Sport and Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis on the effect of external attentional focus versus internal attentional focus on motor performance. Experimental studies used in this meta-analysis were obtained from 34 different peer-reviewed journals. One hundred eleven experiments and 3,301 participants were included in this meta-analysis. It was concluded that a medium effect size (Hedge’s g) was an important indicator that instructing motor skill students/clients to focus their attention on the effect of the movements (external attentional focus) induces a more automatic control of the motor control system and was more beneficial to motor performance relative to an internal attentional focus. It was determined that there was no publication bias.

Author

• Colleen Pinar, Independent Researcher