Abstract
The present field study examined the effects of mental training in terms of modeling on both imaging and performing a back skill stroke in early learning phase, from the view point of Bandura's Modeling Theory. Adult subjects, 9 males and 12 females, were randomly divided into two groups, a film modeling group (FMG) and a non film modeling group (NFMG). The subjects of the two groups were required to participate in a 1 week swimming training (two hours a day) and to take several tests, while to the control group (N=18) employed for the image tests only the image tests were administered. The subjects of FMG and NFMG were trained in a back stroke skill under the condition of physical practice with and without modeling film respectively. The tests of controllability and vividness concerning imagery of the back stroke skill and a Swimming Image Test (SIT) were administered twice to all the subjects an pre- and post- tests. The performance of the back stroke skill was measured three times for FMG and NFMG, on the 1st, 4th, and 7th training day in regard to swimming form and distance. As to the results, it was revealed that during the training period, the scores of the vividness of imagery for NFMG significantly increased but not for FMG, while on the scores of the SIT for both groups; the relation reversed. Any individual differences were not detected in the test of controllability of imagery. Concerning the back Stroke skill, no significant difference of distance between FMG and NFMG was detected in all sessions, but the mean score of form for NFMG was significantly greater than that for FMG at the final stage of training. Futhermore, the Speaman's Rank Correlation between form and distance was singificant (p<.05) only for NFMG in the middle and final test session. Considering the findings in the present study, it appears that the condition of FMG affects differentially on changing the imagery and the motor performance, which is assumed in Bandura's theory.
