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This chapter is part of a book that is no longer available to purchase from Cambridge Core

29 - Perceptual-Motor Expertise

from PART V.B - ARTS, SPORTS, & MOTOR SKILLS

By
David A. Rosenbaum ,
Jason S. Augustyn ,
Rajal G. Cohen  and
Steven A. Jax
Edited by
K. Anders Ericsson ,
Neil Charness ,
Paul J. Feltovich  and
Robert R. Hoffman
David A. Rosenbaum
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
Jason S. Augustyn
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia
Rajal G. Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
Steven A. Jax
Affiliation:
Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
K. Anders Ericsson
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Neil Charness
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Paul J. Feltovich
Affiliation:
University of West Florida
Robert R. Hoffman
Affiliation:
University of West Florida
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Summary

Introduction

If we consider perceptual-motor expertise as a subset of expertise in general, two questions immediately come to mind: (1) What can a focus on expertise in general contribute to the study of perceptual-motor expertise in particular, and (2) What can a focus on perceptual-motor skill contribute to the study of expertise more broadly? Excellent reviews have already addressed the first question (Starkes & Allard, 1993; Starkes & Ericsson, 2003). Less has been done in connection with the second question, which will be the focus of our presentation. (See also Proctor and Vu, Chapter 15.)

Our primary thesis is that the study of perceptual-motor expertise may have useful lessons for the study of expertise in general. The basis for this suggestion is that the study of perceptual-motor skill acquisition has witnessed rapid advances with different methodologies in the past several years. At the same time, it has seen intense debate about which of these methodologies is most appropriate. Describing this debate may be informative for researchers who study expertise in more complex tasks because it is reasonable to think that the debate will come knocking at their doors before long.

The methods pursued in the study of perceptual-motor expertise are associated with two perspectives: (1) Cognitive science (including cognitive psychology and neuroscience); and (2) Ecological psychology and dynamical systems analysis. Each of these perspectives has characteristic claims and techniques which compete for attention and support.

Type
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Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance , pp. 505 - 520
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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