The effect of self-modeling on the performance of beginning swimmers

The present study compared the effects of two types of modeling, self- and other-modeling, on learning elementary swimming skills. Specifically, poten tial differences between the two modeling conditions in swimming performanc e, swimming self-efficacy, and state anxiety were investigated. Participant s were adult volunteers from a college community. Ages ranged from 20 to 58 . Each participant took five individual swimming lessons. Results indicated that participants in the self-modeling condition demonstrated better swimm ing performance by the fourth swim session than participants in the other m odeling condition. No differences were found between modeling conditions on either swimming self-efficacy or state anxiety. Potential reasons for the difference in performance are identified and discussed.