AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT SEQUENCING OF THE STANDING LONG JUMP USING MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALING

Abstract

Research in the area of motor development has traditionally focused on the qualitative parameters of performance that may be defined in terms of observable mechanical characteristics. This research has lead to the qualitative 'stages' of fundamental motor sequences. The purposes of the purposed research is to (1) quantitatively identify anthropometric, strength, and biomechanical parameters that contribute to the performance of the standing long jump, and (2) define maturational profiles, consisting of various combinations of these parameters, through the statistical technique of multidimensional scaling. In addition, maturational profiles would be compared to the qualitative stages of development of the standing long jump currently being used by motor development specialists in an attempt to verify or refute this theory.