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Optimism bias in children’s motor performance expectations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Katherine Coote  and
David Livesey
Katherine Coote
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
David Livesey*
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
*
Department of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Ph: + 61 (02) 9926 8281, Fax: + 61 (02) 9351 2603, E-mail: davidl@psych.usyd.edu.au
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Abstract

Drawing on Plumert’s (1995) findings that children exhibit an optimism bios in their gross motor performance expectations compored with adults, this study tested the hypothesis that younger children are more likely to overestimate their gross motor performance compared with older children. Participants were 6-year-old and 11-year-old children. The accuracy of children’s estimates of their motor performance was assessed using four tasks (horizontal reach, vertical reach, clearance, and stepping), which were adjusted to either well-within, just-within, just-beyond, or well-beyond each child’s individual abilities. Results confirmed that the 6-year-olds significantly overestimated their motor performance compared with 11-year-olds. The discussion focuses upon the ecological validity of these findings, as well as the implications for children’s motor confidence and motor development.

Keywords

Expectationsgross motor developmentmotor performanceoptimism bias
Type
Research Article
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , November 1999 , pp. 52 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 1999

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