1. Introduction to Motor Development
Chapter 1

2. Learning Objectives
• Define human development and human motor development
• Explain why the study of human motor development is important
• Describe the four domains of human development and explain how they interact
• Explain the concepts of development, maturation, and growth, and describe the elements of developmental change
• Define common terms in the study of human motor development
• Define the terms gross and fine movement, and explain how they are important in human motor development
• Describe the process–product controversy and how it relates to human motor development
• Define various terms for age periods throughout the lifespan
• Define various stages of human development
• List the periods and describe the history of the field of motor development
• Explain the phrase interdisciplinary approach to motor development

3. compartmentalized; there is a complex system of
Human behavior is not
compartmentalized; there
is a complex system of
constant, reciprocal exchanges
among an individual’s cognitive,
affective, motor, and physical
being

4. What is Motor Development?
Human Motor development is. . .
Process through which we pass during the course of our life
Change that occurs in our ability to move
A field of study

5. Various Definitions
“changes in motor behavior which reflect the interaction of the maturing organism and its environment” (Notes from Scholarly Directions Committee, 1974)
“changes in movement competencies from infancy to adulthood and involves many aspects of human behavior, both as they affect movement development and as movement development affects them” (Keogh, 1977)

6. Various Definitions
“the change in motor behavior across the lifespan” (Clark & Whitehall, 1989)
“the sequential, continuous age-related process whereby an individual progresses from simple, unorganized, and unskilled movement to the achievement of highly organized, complex motor skills and finally to the adjustment of skills that accompanies aging” (Haywood & Getchell, 2005)

7. Working Definition for this text
“Motor development is the study of changes in human motor behavior over the lifespan, the processes that underlie these changes, and the factors that affect them.”
(Payne & Isaacs, 2007)

8. Why is the study of motor development important?
Understand present motor behavior
What is happening and why it is happening
Understand what this behavior was like in the past and why
Understand what the behavior will be like in the future and why

9. Why is the study of motor development important? Because……
Human development is multifaceted. As movement changes, so do the intellectual, social, and emotional domains
Understanding the process of motor development allows us to diagnose cases of abnormal development and to provide intervention and remediation
Developmentally appropriate activities can be selected for an optimal teaching/learning environment
Ask CPS Questions 1-2 to check students’ comprehension

10. Domains of Human Development
The four domains are useful for categorizing the study of human and motor development
Domains are not discrete

11. Domains Cognitive domain Affective domain Motor domain Physical domain
Concerns human intellectual development
Affective domain
Concerned with the social and emotional aspects of human development
Motor domain
Development of human movement and factors that affect that development
Physical domain
All types of physical/bodily change

12. A Definition of the term Human Development
“…changes that all human beings face across their lifespan. Such changes result from increasing age as well as one’s experiences in life, one’s genetic potential, and the interactions of all three factors at any given time. Therefore, development is an interactional process that leads to changes in behavior over the lifespan.”
(Motor Development Task Force, 1995)

13. Elements of Developmental Change
Six components of developmental change
Qualitative
Sequential
Cumulative
Directional
Multifactorial
Individual

14. Elements of Developmental Change
Qualitative
Not “just more of something”
Sequential
Certain motor patterns precede others
Cumulative
Behaviors are additive
Directional
Development has an ultimate goal
Multifactorial
No single factor directs change
Individual
Rate of change varies for all people
Ask CPS Questions 3-6 to check students’ comprehension

15. Definitions of Development, Maturation, and Growth
Development includes both growth and maturation
Development is a term referring to the progressions and regressions that occur throughout the lifespan
Growth is the structural aspect of development
Maturation deals with the functional changes in human development.

16. Maturation and Growth Growth is quantitative – increase in size
Maturation is qualitative – functions of organs and tissues
Growth and maturation are interrelated
As the body grows, functions improve
As we age, growth slows, but maturation continues throughout the lifespan
Ask CPS Questions 7-8 to check students’ comprehension

17. Terms Developmental directions Cephalocaudal Proximodistal
From head to tail
Can be applied developmentally through the study of walking
Proximodistal
From those points close to the body’s center to those points close to the periphery
Prenatal growth and acquisition of motor skill

18. Terms Differentiation Integration
Progression from gross, immature movement to precise, well-controlled, intentional movement
Integration
Motor systems are able to function together as ability progresses

19. Ask CPS Questions 9-11 to check students’ comprehension
How does the child in this picture demonstrate the concept of integration?

20. Terms Gross movement Fine movement
Movement controlled by the large muscles or muscle groups
Legs
Fine movement
Movement controlled by the small muscles or muscle groups
Hands
Ask CPS Question 12 to check students’ comprehension

21. Two controversial views on measurement in
Terms
Two controversial views on measurement in
motor development
Process Approach
Emphasizes the movement without consideration for the outcome
How a child catches a ball
Product Approach
Emphasizes the outcome of a movement
How much control did the child have while catching the ball?

22. Terms Age periods throughout the lifespan
Accepted age periods are helpful in discussions concerning development throughout the lifespan
The term “stages” is often substituted for the term “age periods”

23. More on Age Periods (Stages)
Significant Events
Prenatal
-Embryonic
-Fetal
Conception to birth
Very important period
Embryo
Fetus - at eight weeks post-gestation
Organogenesis
Infancy
-Neonatal
-Toddlerhood
Birth to year 1
0-22 days after birth
Walking alone
Early Childhood
Ages 4-7 yr
Middle Childhood
Ages 7-9 yr
Late Childhood
Lasts 3 years
Adolescence
Landmark period
Puberty
Girls - 11 yr
Boys - 13 yr

24. More on Age Periods (Stages)
Significant Events
Early Adulthood
Begins when adolescence reaches maximum height
Girls –age 20 yr
Boys – age 22 yr
Lasts until age 40 yr
Middle Adulthood
Ages yrs
Late Adulthood
Age 60 until death
Ask CPS Question 13 to check students’ comprehension

25. Stages of Development Stages of development
Phase, time, levels, periods
Provides manageable portions of behavior
Controversy over whether the stages of development actually exist
Does life proceed smoothly and continuously?
Is life discontinuous with abrupt behavior changes?

26. Periods in the History of Motor Development
Precursor Period ( )
Descriptive observation of human movement
Maturational Period ( )
Biological processes shape human development
Bayle’s scale of motor development

27. Periods in the History of Motor Development
Normative/Descriptive Period ( )
Dormant period ( )
Norm referenced standards for motor performance measurement (1960’s)
Kephart’s Slow Learner in the Classroom
Kephart maintained that certain movement activities enhanced academic performance
Not supported by research, still influences professional practice today
Biomechanical analysis
Process-Oriented Period (1970-present)
Describe the process, not just the change in movement
Dynamical systems theory
Psychologist return to the study of motor behavior via processing information
Ask CPS Question 14 to check students’ comprehension

28. Interdisciplinary Approach in the Study of Motor Development
Today, there is interaction among the 3 subareas of motor behavior (motor learning, motor control, motor development), with biomechanics and exercise physiology
Working together, experts are able to discern more accurately subtle movement changes and differences
Ask CPS Question 15 to check students’ comprehension

29. Research Designs Cross-sectional Longitudinal Time-lag
Comparison of two or more persons or groups at one point in time
Longitudinal
A study over a long period of time
Time-lag
Different cohorts are compared at different times
Sequential-Cohort
Integrates the cross-sectional, longitudinal, and time-lag designs within one study

30. Research Designs ~ Pros
Cross-sectional
Administratively efficient
Quickly completed
Age differences can be observed
Longitudinal
Change can be observed across ages
Sequential-Cohort
Accounts for generational (cohort) effect

31. Research Designs - Cons
Cross-sectional
Cannot observe change
Cannot determine accurate age of groups
Age and cohort are confounded
Longitudinal
Administratively inefficient
Age and time of measurements are confounded
Subjects may be influenced by repeated testing
Subjects may drop out
Sequential-Cohort
Costly
Difficult to analyze statistically

32. Research
Ask CPS Question 16 to check students’ comprehension

33. The End