Abstract
The imagination effect occurs when participants learn better from imagining procedures or concepts rather than from studying them. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of imagination and level of expertise on memorization of a tactical basketball system. Thirty-six expert and thirty-six novice learners were asked to imagine the functioning of a tactical scene in basketball (imagination condition) or simply study the scene (study condition). Results showed that novice learners benefited more from the study condition as they achieved better recall and recognition performances, invested less cognitive load (i.e., mental effort and perceived difficulty) and had higher levels of motivational aspects (i.e., self-efficacy and perceived competence). However, this effect was totally reversed for expert learners who, benefited more from the imagination condition, indicating therefore an expertise reversal effect. The results suggest that the effectiveness of the imagination technique depends on level of expertise of the learners.
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Data availability
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by HM, BZ and AK. The first draft of the manuscript was written by HM and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Appendices
Appendix A
Transcribed script outlining the instructions for each experimental condition and the evolution of the tactical scene
Introduction
Hello, today we are going to learn a game system called (SHORT) for attacking a man-to-man defense. This system consists of 4 successive steps, which start with player 1’s dribble and end with the same player's shot.
Imagination instruction
Dear participant! You must listen, imagine, and memorize the evolution of the game system as quickly and accurately as possible.
Study instruction
Dear participant! You must listen and memorize the evolution of the game system as quickly and accurately as possible.
Step 1
The action begins when point guard#1 at the left end of the racquet head quickly makes shift dribbles to the right. He stops at the right end of the racquet head. At the same time, small forward #3, located at 3 points 0° to the left, takes two successive screens diagonally upwards from power forward #4 (located at the low post on the left) and center #5 (located at the high post on the left). He then moves to the low post on the right to shift the defence and prepare for the next move. Shooting guard #2 takes up a 3-point position at 0° to the right.
Step 2
The center #5, positioned at the imaginary extension of the free-throw line on the left, sets a screen for power forward #4, located at mid-range at 0° to the left. Power forward #4 takes the screen and moves to the three-point line at a 45° angle to the left. Point guard#1 at the right end of the basket, passes the ball to power forward #4 in an attempt to take a three-point shot. At the same time, shooting guard #2, positioned at the three-point line at 0° to the right, moves up towards the 45° angle on the same side to provide defensive coverage with point guard #1. Small forward #3 maintains their position in the low post on the right.
Step 3
The center #5, positioned at the midpoint, 0° to the left, sets a side screen for the small forward #3 in order to receive the ball under the basket for a 1-on-0 score. The small forward #3, positioned at the low post on the right, takes the screen and moves to the low post on the left. After setting the screen, the center #5 moves towards the middle of the paint to request the ball from the power forward #4, who is positioned at the three-point line at a 45° angle to the left. At the same time, the point guard #1, positioned at the far-right end of the paint, repositions himself at the top of the paint to create better spacing between himself, the power forward #4, and the shooting guard #2. The shooting guard #2 maintains his position at the three-point line at a 45° angle to the right.
Step 4
At the end of the action, the preparation for the shot begins when the power forward #4 positioned at the 3-point line at the 45° angle on the left, passes the ball to the point guard #1 who is located at the head of the racket. At the same time, center #5 positioned in the middle of the racquet quickly screens point guard #1. Point guard #1 takes the screen and dribbles towards the basket to complete the action with a jump shot or double step. Shooting guard #2 maintains their position at the three-point line at a 45° angle to the right, and small forward #3 remains in their low post position on the left side.
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Mguidich, H., Zoudji, B. & Khacharem, A. An expertise reversal effect of imagination in learning from basketball tactics. Psychological Research (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-024-01954-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-024-01954-9