The Role of Similarity Analysis in Understanding Movement.
| Number | 522 |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Drawer | 9 |
| Entry Date | 11/18/1999 |
| Authors | Munhall, K. G.& Kelso, J. A. S. |
| Contact | |
| Publication | Journal of Motor Behavior, Vol. 17, No. 4, 493-498. |
| url | http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL0522.pdf |
| Abstract | [Introduction] In “Accepting the Null Hypothesis..” Corcos, Gottlieb, and Agarwal (1985) present an analysis of the conduct and interpretation of some recent motor control research (e.g., Brown and Cooke, 1981; Kelso and Holt, 1980). We find ourselves at odds with their presentation on several grounds. First, the review of the literature and statistical analysis is both inaccurate and incomplete. When one admonishes the field about its carefulness in hypothesis testing and data presentation, it behooves one to be both correct and comprehensive. Second, Crocos et al. (1985) advocate a research approach that may not be the most profitable one at this stage of our understanding of motor systems. Most problems in movement science, unlike those in a mechanics textbook, are not well posed. Discovery and understanding rest less on distinguishing hypotheses on some statistical basis as formulating the right questions to being with. Finally and relatedly, we believe that determining the kind and degree of similarity that exists between conditions, individuals, and organisms is indeed a problem confronting movement science but it is not one that will be solved by setting arbitrary guidelines for statistical power. In fact, much larger questions are at issue than statistical procedures. We will address these points briefly in turn. |
| Notes |
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