Two groups of right-handed young adults with and without Down Syndrome (N=24) performed a rapid unimanual finger-tapping task under two conditions: alone and while sound-shadowing (repeating) single-syllable, high frequency words. Results provided no evidence for reverse (right hemisphere) lateralization of speech in individuals with Down…

Directional preference for horizontal hand movements was investigated in 49 right- and 49 left-handed four-year-olds using three drawing tests. Directionality for more complex perceptual-motor tasks has a different basis than directionality for simple tasks; such directionality is established at a later age but only for the right hand. (Author/CM)

A study compared the motor coordination of 26 Japanese children (ages 6-15) with Asperger syndrome and 14 with learning disabilities using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Although no relationship was found between intellectual and motor function, both groups demonstrated motor delay. Children with autism had poorer ball skills. (CR)

This project developed a motor performance instrument for a motor performance award scheme for kindergartners to be used by the Hong Kong Childhealth Foundation. Findings indicated that boys outperformed girls on agility and throwing. Girls performed better than boys on static balance. A marked improvement in agility was noted at age 5.5 years,…

A group of 116 Finnish fifth- through ninth-graders used a problem-solving technology and crafts curriculum with computers; a control group (n=151) used traditional crafts curriculum and instruction. Results for motor skill development, technical knowledge, and emotional engagement suggest that all students should receive a balanced curriculum of…

An extensive descriptive study of high school physical education programs in 15 urban Canadian high schools collected and analyzed data to provide insight into student (N=225) activity as an indication of physical education quality. Motor skill and cognitive development activities were observed and analyzed. (IAH)

Examines the effects of differential contextualization on girls' and boys' performance on a computer-based perceptual-motor skills task involving tracking a moving line. Reveals that generally the boys' performance is little affected by the context of the task, while the girls' performance was affected by the context. (CMK)

This paper addresses an increasing concern within physical education and sports research to engage with young people to find out more about their experiences of physical education and school sport. In particular, I centre my concerns on the experiences of five young disabled pupils. I use the conceptual tools offered by Bourdieu to extend…

The present study investigates the contribution of general processing resources as well as other more specific factors to the life-span development of sensorimotor synchronization and its component processes. Within a synchronization tapping paradigm, a group of 286 participants, 6 to 88 years of age, were asked to synchronize finger taps with…

This study, conducted in Ankara, Turkey, compared motor development in 48 normal children (ages 3 to 6), 12 children (ages 5 to 7) with Down syndrome, and 33 children (ages 3 to 7) with hearing impairments. The Motor Development Section of the Portage Early Childhood Educational Program checklist was administered to all the children. Results…

Chapter 1 of this monograph provides an overview of student evaluation in physical education. A discussion is presented on the purposes of evaluation: diagnosing, grouping, motivating, grading, and programing. Included in the overview are sample forms for evaluation breakdown for seven units of a physical education course and a student cumulative…

Examines whether young children, aged four to nine years old, are satisfied with their own method of drawing a familiar object, or whether they would ideally like to draw in a more advanced way but are hampered by production differences from achieving this aim. (HOD)

Reports a study of 5- to 12-year-old children and adults regarding the role of perceptual motor factors in copying an equilateral four-sided "square" or "diamond" figure under five conditions. Developmental trends were found for copying both figures; the diamond was less well performed than the square at all ages tested.…

Nineteen children with motor problems were selected from a sample of 331 third-graders taking Gubbay's Test of Motor Proficiency and a battery of achievement tests. Teachers' ratings of clumsiness had low correlation with criteria of clumsiness derived from performance tests. Frequency of learning disabilities was high. (Author/LMO)

While only minor differences in behavioral organization and efficiency were found between males and females, girls with lower neurological status showed more signs of lack of motor inhibition. No effect was found for time-pressure for groups with a different neurological status. (MP)