The Effect of Instructor-Set Goals upon Skill Acquisition and Retention of a Selected Shooting Task

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of instructor-set performance goals on skill acquisition and retention of a selected shooting task. Utilizing a modified two-stage sampling technique, six classes (90 potential subjects) were assigned to one of two conditions: with instructor-set performance goals or without instructor-set performance goals. Subjects received a pretest trial, five skill acquisition trials, and a retention trial on a selected shooting task (kneeling). The results indicated that the performance-goal group was significantly more effective than the non-performance-goal group. There was a significant difference across trials. Further, there was a significant interaction effect, and when follow-up tests were applied the results indicated that the group who received the instructor-stated performance goals was significantly better than the non-performance-goal group during Trials 2-5 and the retention trials. The findings are related to how performance goals affect skill acquisition and retention.