Citation

Perrin FAC. J. Exp. Psychol. 1921; 4(1): 24-56.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1921, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0070011

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze motor ability. Three complex motor tests and fourteen elementary motor tests were given to 51 university juniors and seniors, their intelligence was measured by the Army Alpha scale, their university grades were computed, and their characters estimated by several judges. In the discussion of his results the author states that motor ability is not general but is somewhat highly specialized. A factor of general motor ability may exist, but if it does, it is lost in combination with other, non-motor factors as the subject proceeds from one motor test to another. The data seem to negate the theory that a complex motor performance can be explained in terms of a number of unit motor functions. Intelligence, as measured by psychological tests and college grades, seems to have little connection with motor performance. There was some correspondence between the ratings on the character chart and the scores in the motor tests, but not enough to enable one to indicate traits of character from motor scores. On the whole it seems clear that even the simplest motor adjustment involves a play of factors not isolated through standard experimental precautions. The most important of these factors are transfer, learning, and emotional or temperamental attitudes. From Psych Bulletin 18:12:00663. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)