Abstract
The benefits to learning afforded by observation have been attributed to the extraction of strategic information. However, researchers have shown evidence that the motor system becomes active during observation, suggesting a more implicit type of learning. We sought to examine what information people pick up from watching and how this information informs their perception of motor competence. In a previous experiment, observers believed they were learning from watching a 2-ball juggling action, as reflected by increasing confidence judgements. However, we did not test a control group that never observed the skill. Testing this group would allow us to make conclusions about the efficacy of observation for this skill. Therefore, we report comparison data from two new groups. A Control and Observation group (n=7/group) who watched and reported on perceived ability for 50 trials. The two groups did not differ in immediate retention although the observers were more accurate in delayed retention. Observers confidence increased in a linear fashion while watching (n=5/7). There was also evidence that observers were more likely to adopt the strategy of the model. Consistent with previous work, these data show that observers think they are learning from watching despite only performing better than controls in delayed retention. Further, perceived observational learning appears more linear rather than all-or-none and seems to be driven by acquisition of strategic knowledge.Acknowledgments: This research is supported by NSERC (Hodges)