Kinesthetic ability as related to a ball catching task with dominant and non-dominant hands

Purpose: This study was designed in an attempt to investigate a specific skill pattern as it relates to kinesthetic and hand dominance. The specific skill pattern under investigation was the ability of subjects, using either their dominant or non-dominant hand, to catch a ball when they were unable to see their arm and hand. Method: The tool developed for this study was an “L� shaped curtain. The front of the curtain contained a circular target hole allowing a thrown ball to pass though. The side of the curtain contained an arm sleeve which allowed the subject to see the ball in it’s parabolic flight pattern but did not allow the subject to see either her arm or hand. One hundred and sixty high school girls were randomly chosen and assigned to one of the following four experimental treatment variables: (1) dominant hand kinesthetic catching ability (2) dominant hand visual catching ability (3) non-dominant hand kinesthetic catching ability and (4) non-dominant hand visual catching ability. Data was recorded on their ability to catch the ball and on their ability to hit or touch the ball. Summary and Evaluation: By the use of the F statistic it was found that there was a significant difference between vision and kinesthesis in the ball catching task. A significant difference was also found between dominant and non-dominant hands in the catching task. A further analysis of the data through the use of the t statistic revealed no significant difference between dominant and non-dominant hand catching ability in the visual catching task. The F statistic was also used to evaluate the data collected on the subject’s ability to touch or hit the ball. The results indicated no significant differences between the four experimental treatment variables. Based on these findings, it appears that subjects do not differ in the spatial orientation of the hand and arm in the visual or kinesthetic ball catching task. However, observing the ball until it hits the hand does seem to be necessary for the temporal orientation of the hand in the catching task. When vision was present, subjects could catch equally well with their dominant or their non-dominant hand. But, it did not appear to be the hitting of the ball on the hand that was the signal for the grasping action.