Question

How can we test Motor Educability? Explain in detail.

Answer 1

Motor educability refers to the ease and thoroughness with which an individual learns new motor skills. It is measured by the Johnson-Metheny Motor Educability Test, also called the Metheny-Johnson Motor Educability Test.

History: In 1932, Granville B. Johnson presented a test for grouping students into homogeneous units. In 1938, Eleanor Metheny revised it and selected four stunts that correlated highly with the total Johnson score. This revision became the Johnson-Metheny Test.

Test Items: The test battery consists of four motor stunts:

1. Front roll
2. Back roll
3. Jumping half turns
4. Jumping full turns

For boys, all four items are used. For girls, front roll, back roll, and jumping half turns are used.

Mat Area: The mat is 15 × 2 feet. A lane 24 inches wide is marked in the centre and divided into two equal narrow lanes by a centre line. The lane is divided into ten equal parts lengthwise by lines placed every 18 inches. The lines are alternately 3/4 inch wide and 3 inches wide, measured to the middle of the line.

Warm-up: Subjects perform a 5-minute warm-up before the specific test to promote physiologic and motor adaptation.

Detailed Procedure and Scoring:

1. Front Roll (Forward Roll)

• Performed in the entire 24-inch lane. Start with feet outside the chart.
• Perform two front rolls: the first within the limits of the first half of the lane, and the second within the limits of the second half, without touching or overreaching the side lines.
• Scoring: Each correct roll gets 5 points; maximum score is 10 points. Two points are deducted for overreaching a side line on each roll. One point is deducted for overreaching an end limit on each roll. Five points are deducted if the subject fails to perform a true front roll.

2. Back Roll (Backward Roll)

• The procedure is similar to the front roll, performed in the entire 24-inch lane.
• Start with feet outside the chart and perform two back rolls, one in each half of the lane.
• Scoring: Same as the front roll: maximum 10 points; deductions of 2 points for side-line overreach, 1 point for end-limit overreach, and 5 points for failure to perform a true back roll.

3. Jumping Half Turns

• Performed in either the right or left half of the lane. The heavy three-inch lines serve as targets.
• The subject starts with feet on the first three-inch line, then jumps with both feet to the second three-inch line while executing a half turn either right or left. Next, he jumps to the third three-inch line while executing a half turn in the opposite direction. This continues along the length of the mat, alternating the direction of rotation.
• Scoring: Perfect execution is worth 10 points. Two points are deducted for each wrong jump when the subject does not land with both feet on the three-inch line, turns the wrong way, or both.

4. Jumping Full Turns

• The subject starts with feet outside the chart at about the centre of the lane.
• He jumps to the second rectangular space, executing a full turn either right or left. He continues across the mat, executing full turns in the same direction, landing on both feet in every second rectangular space.
• Scoring: Perfect execution of five jumps is worth 10 points. Two points are deducted if the subject fails to keep balance on landing, turns too far, or oversteps the squares.