An external focus of attention, enhanced expectancies, and autonomy support (i.e., OPTIMAL factors) are key factors to optimise motor performance and uncover latent movement capabilities. However, research on the combination of OPTIMAL factors, particularly in children's dynamic movement settings is limited. Therefore, this study examined the combined effects of OPTIMAL factors on children's performance on a dynamic movement assessment battery, hypothesising higher performance scores in the optimised version of the assessment battery versus standardised version of the assessment. Forty-nine children (15 boys, 34 girls; mean age 10.61 ± 1.38 years) completed the Dragon Challenge (DC) dynamic movement assessment battery. Performance was measured via a summation of movement process (technique), outcome, and time-to-completion scores (max score N = 54) with higher scores representing better performance. Participants completed a standardised and an optimised version of the DC in a counterbalanced fashion. For the latter, DC protocols were optimised via the provision of choice (autonomy support); external focus instructions augmented by simple knowledge statement, positive feedback and promotion of a growth mindset (Enhanced expectancies). Results indicate that motor performance (DC score) was better in the optimised (M = 31.08 ± 6.66) vs. standardised (M = 29.04 ± 5.88). The findings indicate that the combination of OPTIMAL factors can improve children's motor performance in dynamic movement settings and that standardised motor assessment may not reveal children's true movement capabilities.

Thomas Simpson

Richard Tyler

Victoria Simpson

Paul Ellison

Evelyn Carnegie

David Marchant

Human Movement Science

人体运动科学为发表有关人体运动的学科和多学科研究提供了一种媒介。它汇集了关于人类运动控制、组织和学习的心理学、生物力学和神经生理学研究，包括运动的感知支持。该杂志的首要目标是发表文章，帮助推进对人类运动的控制和组织的理论理解，以及作为发展、学习和康复功能的变化。报告的研究性质可能从基础理论或实证研究到运动、舞蹈和康复等领域的更多应用研究，但前提是所有研究都具有独特的理论意义。此外，欢迎评论和元研究促进对人体运动的理解。这些目标和范围意味着纯粹的描述性研究是不可接受的，而方法论文章只有在所讨论的方法论为理解控制和组织开辟新的前景时才可接受的人类运动。关于运动生理学的文章也是如此，一般不支持这些文章，除非它们涉及人体运动的控制和组织。总的来说，要求在《人体运动科学》上发表的文章的理论信息在一定程度上具有创新性，不能仅仅因为“大同小异”而被忽视。

The journal "Human Movement Science" is dedicated to publishing disciplinary and multidisciplinary research related to human movement. It brings together studies from psychology, biomechanics, and neurophysiology concerning human movement control, organization, and learning, including support for the perception of movement. The primary goal of the journal is to publish articles that advance theoretical understanding of human movement control and organization, as well as changes related to development, learning, and rehabilitation functions. Reported research may range from basic theoretical or empirical studies to more applied research in fields such as movement, dance, and rehabilitation, provided that all research has unique theoretical significance. Additionally, we welcome commentaries and meta-research that promote understanding of human movement. These goals and scopes imply that purely descriptive research is not acceptable, and methodological articles are only acceptable if the discussed methodology opens new perspectives for understanding control and organization. Articles on exercise physiology are generally not supported unless they relate to the control and organization of human movement. Overall, articles submitted to "Human Movement Science" must possess a certain degree of theoretical innovation and cannot be overlooked merely due to similarity in content.

《Human Movement Science》期刊致力于发表与人体运动相关的学科及多学科研究。它汇集了关于人类运动控制、组织和学习的心理学、生物力学和神经生理学研究，包括运动感知的支持。该期刊的主要目标是发表有助于推进对人类运动控制和组织理论理解的文章，同时关注发展、学习和康复功能的变化。所报告的研究可以是基础理论或实证研究，也可以是运动、舞蹈和康复等领域的应用研究，但所有研究必须具有独特的理论意义。此外，我们欢迎评论和元研究，以促进对人体运动的理解。这些目标和范围意味着纯粹的描述性研究是不被接受的，而方法论文章只有在所讨论的方法论为理解控制和组织开辟新的前景时才可接受。关于运动生理学的文章通常不被支持，除非它们涉及人体运动的控制和组织。总体而言，要求在《Human Movement Science》上发表的文章必须在理论信息上具有一定的创新性，不能仅仅因为内容相似而被忽视。

Category	Quartile
心理学	3
心理学, 神经科学	3
心理学, 心理学	3
心理学, 运动科学	3
心理学, 心理学实验	4

Optimising children's movement assessment batteries through application of motivational and attentional manipulations

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
SPORT SCIENCES	3