Decision making in sports: Influence of complexity on implicit and explicit learning

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the implicit and explicit learning distinction of tactical decision making in ball games. It is argued that implicitly learned decisions are advantageous in low‐complexity situations and explicitly learned decisions are advantageous in high‐complexity situations. Four experiments were carried out in low‐complexity and high‐complexity situations in handball, basketball, and volleyball. The results suggest that in low‐complexity situations implicit learners are superior to explicit learners, and in high‐complexity situations the opposite is true. These results, in sports‐specific situations, are consistent with recent research that shows the ecological rationality of human behavior. Practical applications are drawn from the results for training in ball games.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Volume1
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)406 - 433
Number of pages28
ISSN1612-197X
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Citation