Effects of massed versus distributed practice on gross and fine motor proficiency of educable mentally handicapped adolescents.

Gross and fine motor proficiency were studied in a sample of 52 educable mentally handicapped students (M = 15.8 yr.), half of whom were assigned to 15 30-sec. trials, a relatively massed practice schedule with 5 sec. between trials, and half to a distributed practice schedule with 30-sec. rests. 5 trials were given 24 hr. later. All subjects performed the stabilometer balance task to measure gross motor proficiency and a 45-rpm pursuit rotor task to measure fine motor proficiency. No significant differences with regard to the practice schedule used early in learning were found, however, boys scored significantly higher on the pursuit rotor than girls.