Abstract
The end-state comfort (ESC) effect is an indicator of second-order planning related to object-manipulation, and is influenced by a number of factors, including hand preference and the properties of the object (e.g., size, orientation). The current research represents a preliminary data set which seeks to explore the occurrence of ESC planning in children when there is choice in preferred cup size. Children (N = 16; ages 9-10) performed a unimanual overturned cup task, first with a standard cup size (7.2 cm diameter), and then with a cup the size of their choosing (4.7-8.4cm diameter). Poisson regression were run for both standard cup size and student choice to assess predictors of ESC across the two tasks. Despite hypotheses and previous research, no predictors of ESC were found: hand size (standard: CI: .824-1.732, p = .349; choice: CI: .862-1.802, p = .243), and choice of cup (in the second condition; model effects p =.896) were not found to be significant predictors of ESC. Further exploration is needed to determine if change in hand size as a result of growth has an effect on predicting ESC in children
Keywords: End-State Comfort; Second-Order Planning; Motor Planning; Grasp Selection
Funding: NSERC Discovery Grant
