The effect of practice variability in the acquisition, retention and transfer of learning of motor skills in individuals with intellectual disabilities

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of practice variability in the acquisition, retention and transfer of learning of motor skills in individuals with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities. Another objective of this study was to determine the relationship between motor skills and physical fitness levels in children with intellectual disabilities.Methods; the population of the study was forty-two, 10-15 years old mentally retarded boys and girls who were educated in two schools in Antalya. They were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was, "Random Educable Mentally Diasabled", the second group was, "Random Trainable Mentally Disabled", the third group was, "Block Educable Mentally Disabled", the fourth group was, "Block Trainable Mentally Disabled". Block were evaluted as a control, random groups were eveluated as a experimental group. Basketball Pass, shoot and dribbling skills was given to the all groups one hour in three times a week for 8 weeks. The skills were same for all groups during the program, but the design was changed for each group. individuals? height, weight, Brockport physical fitness levels and basketball skills acquisition ( pass, shoot, dribbling) were measured before and after the study. Also the basketball skill tests were repeated in regular intervals during the program. The basketball skills transfer test was applied at the end of the study. Retention tests were applied after 1 month and 3 months the study.Variance analyses of the repeated measures were used for determining the effect of block and random methods on motor skills. 2 x 4 (Group x Measurement) design was used because of the participants tested 4 times throughout the study. The significance test of the difference between two means in independent variables was used for compare the differences between the groups. The relationship between motor skills and physical fitness components were evaluated by the Spearman's rho correlation coefficient.Results; Although the significant improvement was determined at time dependent different values in educable childrens with intellectual disabled, no difference was found between the groups and there was no support for the contextual interference effect. Similar results were observed in trainable children with intellectual disability. The contextual interference effect was only seemed and the random group was significantly better than the block group in transfers of the shoot skill.At the other purpose of the study, the measurements which were done for determining the relationship between physical fitness levels and motor skills of children with intellectual disabled. there were relationships between pre tests of target pass and right hand grip, left hand grip,body mass index, also between dribbling and right hand grip, left hand grip, body mass index, modified curl up also between shoot and left hand grip, right hand grip and modified url up. The other relationships were determined between post tests of target pass and right hand grip, left hand grip body mass index, modified curl up and also between dribling and right hand grip, left hand grip, modified curl up, sit and rich, and also between shoot and right hand grip, left hand grip, body mass index.