OBSERVING THE OBSERVER - SELF-REGULATION IN THE OBSERVATIONAL-LEARNING OF MOTOR-SKILLS

Motor skills are among the most basic and prevalent types of knowledge that individuals must acquire over the life span, and observational l earning is one of the primary ways in which individuals acquire new kn owledge and skills. Observational learning of a motor skill involves: (1) observation of the model, which allows one to imitate and understa nd a modeled demonstration, and (2) self-observation, which allows one to actively regulate one's own learning and performance of a motor sk ill. Few, if any, theoretical treatments of observational learning exa mine how self-regulation influences observational learning of motor sk ill. The text examines observation of the modeled performance, includi ng three moderators of observational learning: The properties of the m odel, the nature of the task, and observer determinants. Observer dete rminants are examined at length, especially self-regulation of learnin g (including the effects of perceived self-efficacy, goal setting, and expertise). (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.