Studying Environmental Effects on Motor Development

1. Studying Environmental Effects onMotor Development Carl Gabbard Texas A&M University

2. Comparatively little research has addressed one of the primary determinants of MD -Environment

3. Intent: to highlight the role of the environment in the study of MD describe a contemporary model for research consider examples of (for) research…

4. Developmental Systems Perspective Human Development is the product of changingrelations between the developing person and his or her changingmulti-level environmental contexts (Lerner, 2002)

5. What is Motor Development? Study of changein motor behavior [and underlying processes] as influenced by biological and environmental factors environmental contexts biological systems

6. The first assumption of the dynamic approach is that developing organisms are complex (self-organizing) systems ……the coherence is generated solely in the relationships between the organic components and the constraints and opportunities of the environment. Smith & Thelen (2003) Trends in Cognitive Sciences

7. Environmental Effects An optimal level of development occurs only with a stimulating environmentand strong contextual support (e.g. Diamond & Hopson, 1998; Fischer & Rose, 1998; Ramey & Ramey, 1998). The National Academies(January, 2000) “ Research indicates that early relationships are especially critical, and thatcultural values and practicesprovide the context for these bonds.”

8. Newell’s Constraints Model

9. Gibson’s Ecological Perspective Infants directly perceive and act on information via affordances in environment

10. Affordance(Gibson, 1979) Theory explores the potential relationships between person-environment Properties of the environment that offer the individual the opportunity to learn or utilize a skill or develop a part of the biological system Affordances are opportunities that offer the individual potential for action, and consequently to learn and develop a skill or a part of the biological system (Heft, 1997; Hirose, 2002; Stoffregen, 2000).

11. Affordancesinclude: toys, materials, apparatus, availability of space, stimulation and nurturing by parents and others Events offer the child opportunities for action. Hirose states, “Affordances are opportunities for action that objects, events, or places in the environment provide for the animal,” (p. 104).

12. Affordances Action depends on(task): developmental level experience present need cognitive awareness= Ecological Fit Studies, e.g., Adolph, 1993, 1995, 2007

13. Urie Bronfenbrenner Ecological Systems Theory • The varied systems of the environment and the interrelationships among the systems shape a child's development. • Both the environment and biology influence the child's development. • The environment affects the child and the child influences the environment. Bronfenbrenner U. (1979, 1989. 2005)

14. Ecological Systems Model • the person interacts with ecological contexts as part of a system. That is, the person acts on the context while the context acts on the person. To some extent, all the contexts interact with one another • the world of the child (and indeed all of us) consists of five systems of interaction • each system depends on the contextual nature of the person’s life and offers an evergrowing diversity of options and sources of growth

15. Systems Model • Microsystem • Mesosystem • Exosystem • Macrosystem • Chronosystem person Bronfenbrenner U. (1979, 1989. 2005)

16. * * * * * increasing focus on the child (bio)

17. microsystem-- the most immediate and earliest influences is the family, along with local neighborhood or community institutions such as the school, religious institutions and peer groups as well as the specific culture with which the family identifies. macrosystem-- society and global influence Huitt (2003)

18. Swick & Williams, 2006, use of model • Harney, 2007, use of model • Liles & Juhnke, 2008,adolesc. diabetes • (Process-Person-Context-Time Model) • Yu & Stiffman, 2007, alcohol abuse • (family, social, cultural) • Garcia & Saewyc, 2007, mental health • (cultural, community services) • Schwebel & Brezausek, 2007, pediatric injury • (family [home], and child care environment) Research 23 dissertations in 2007 (ProQuest)

19. Movement Science Bronfenbrenner’s model provides a comprehensive and dynamic conceptual framework for understanding human development (Bengoechea, Quest, 2002) Salmon & Timperio, 2007, Med Sport Sci, physical activity(neighborhood social and physical environment)Gilmer et al., 2003, J Pediatric Nurs, physical activity(peers, family, & community)

20. Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) ecological model Bronfenbrenner, 2005

21. (PPCT) Process: fused and dynamic relation of the person and context Person: biological, cognitive, and emotional characteristics Context: nested levels or systems of the ecology Time: multiple dimensions of temporality

22. (PPCT) example A Environmental influence on physical activity / fundamental motor skills Person(fitness, FMS characteristics) Process (play / sport, physical education, recess - time / freq) Context(SES, family [father, mother…] community [facilities, access, safety, crime, urban design]) Time(K > 2, childhood > adolescence)

23. (PPCT) example B The relation between early motor development and early cognitive ability Person(birth status, fine- and gross motor ability, cognitive..) Process (play time / type, physical education, sport) Context(SES, family [father, mother…{education, alcohol, pa level…],home environ.,community [facilities, access, urban design]) Time(early childhood > school age years)

24. MD in context neighborhood SYSTEM school family behavior behavior child Time 1TIMETime 2 PROCESS

25. The AHEMD-SR Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development (AHEMD-SR) A unique observational research instrument to assess the quality and quantity of motor development affordances in the home for children 3- to 42 months Rodrigues et al., 2005, 2008)

27. Thank you!