Modeling Motor Abilities as Theoretical Concepts in Kinanthropology

1. On kinesiology / kinanthropology as a science: modeling motor abilities as theoretical concepts and components of performance Petr Blahuš Charles University Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Department of Kinanthropology Division of Methodology Prague, The Czech Republic

4. A - Why “kinanthropology”in the Czech academe - part 1 B - Some signs of a well-founded behavioral science about motor activity - needs for its recognition C - Weak associative measurement - latent variable modeling of motor abilities as concept formation D - Latent variable models for athletic performance E - More on why “kinanthropology” - part 2 Option after , for the interested: Video about Prague and the country

5. Why not „physical education“ : teaching subject vs. scientific and academic branch In the Czech Republic and Central-Europe, especially German speaking: „Kinesiology“ understood as branch that is:   - medical, - physiotherapeutical, - chiropractic nature, or sometimes as a part of - functional anatomy. So, as an area of rather medical ! expertise. Further history and comments at the end

6. Some signs of a “well-founded” science - needs for its recognition - standardized empirical-observable variables, motor tests, indicators of training, ... - theory with explanatory laws working with theoretical concepts - fitness, motor coordination, endurance, power, ... and most motor abilities Formal recognition by the Czech Academy of Sciences mostly due to monographs by Professor Stanislav Celikovsky on motor abilities as scientific concepts Motor abilities often conceptualized asquantitative theoretical attributes: ‘level’ of motor coordination, ‘amount’ of endurance capacity, ...

7. Temperature Tis indirectly observed through associative measurement by variables of different content : T1 - liquid non-metal extendability (spirit), T2 - solid metal differential extension (bimetalic), T3 - electrical current (el. resistance thermometer), T4 - change of color (colorimetric thermometer),   it is “believed” that specificity of each of different thermometers is zero (???) making their mutual differences random( !!!) Different observed Ti= Common true T + Errors GAUSSIAN MODEL of random measurement errors

8. If T1, T2, T3, T4 motor tests with different ‘movement content’, of the sameconcept of ‘motor coordination’: Different Ti = Common T + Specific Si + Errors. weaker models than the GAUSSIAN: latent variables “weak associative measurement” by - common factor model, covariance structures / SEM - latent trait models (including Rasch), etc. Concept formation by latent variable modeling “in principle” not inferior.

9. Structural Equation Models (SEM) with latent variables and theories of athletic performance 1. Static simultaneous combination of manifest indicators of training: multiple regression model 2. Static simultaneous combination of motor abilities and concepts: common latent factor model 3. Static but sequential combination ordering of motor abilities and concepts: path analysis with latent variables 4. Dynamic sequence and combination: VARMA for longitudinal analysis of longitudinal training documentation

10. Practice / training indicator 1 Composite manifest prediction multiple regression Training indicator 1 Practice / training indicator 2 Practice / training indicator 3 Performance Control test 1 Control test 2 This composition of training should produce That performance

11. Combination of theoretical concepts / abilities latent common factors model Test 1 Endurance F1 Test 2 Test 3 Performance Y Power F2 Test 4 Test 5 Speed ability F3 Test 6 w1 F1 + w2 F2 + w3 F3 = Y Weighted combination Performance of abilities / concepts produces

12. Sequential ordering and combination Test 4,1 Test 4,2 path analysis Level of ability F4 Practice method 2 Practice method 4 Test 2,1 Test 2,2 Level of ability F2 Starting level of ability F1 Test 1,1 Test 1,2 Level of ability F3 Performance Practice method 3 Test 3,1 Test 3,2 Level of ability F5 Practice method 5 Test 5,2 Test 5,1

13. Test 1 Vector Autoregressive Moving Averages VARMA model F1 Test 2 Test 1 Test 2 Practice method 1 F1 F2 Test 3 Test 1 Test 4 F2 Practice method 2 F1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 F2 Practice method 3 Performance F1 Test 3 Test 4 T I M E F2 Final performance Performance

14. The Czech departure from ”Physical Education” : • - 60’s: effort of Prof. Celikovsky, Belgian ”Kinanthropologie” • -1967 an attempt to separate formally from the “educations”, • teaching subjects as “music education”, “art education”, ... • -1970 “Anthropomotorics” - PhDs in the frame of ”Pedagogy”. • Recently still a sub-discipline of Kinanthropology. • Compare: ”Antropomotoryka” in Poland • -1989 Department of Kinanthropology at Charles University • -1990 name “Kinanthropology” supported by: • - Dept. of Social Anthropology, Charles University • - Dept. of Anthropology, Charles University • - Anthropological Society, Academy of Sciences

15. - 1991 Departments of Kinanthropology at • - Palacký University, Olomouc • - Comenius University, Bratislava • -1992 Kinanthropology accredited for • PhD, and Professorship • -1993 Scientific Society for Kinanthropology, • under Academy of Sciences • JOURNALS: • -1993 Acta Universitatis Carolinae Kinanthropologica, in English • -1997 Ceská kinantropologie- under Academy of Sciences • - 2000 Studia Kinanthropologica - of South-Czech University

16. Some names in Europe and elsewhere • - The ”SPORT” family of names: • Sport Science, • Exercise Science, • Sportwissenschaft • sounds non-academic, narrow, specific, applied only • - In Germany and Austria also • -“Bewegungslehre” in Germany (Meinel) • - ”Motologie” at present as a Department at the • Universitat Marburg, • too in Austria, • as a part of • ”Psychomotorik”

17. “Kinanthropology”(e.g. Renson 1990) • in Canada: - University of Sherbrooke • - University of Quebec • in Belgium : - University of Leuven • - Department of Kinanthropology • - Department of Clinical Kinanthropology • Also (cf. Brasier-Razor 1989) : • - Human Kinetics, • - Physical Activity Science, • - Human Movement Science, • - Anthropokinetics, . . . • “ Kinesiology” in 80´s recommended by that time • American Academy of Physical Education, • but some still find • “this term too narrow a connotation” • (Schutz, early 90’s - UBC, Vancouver)