Mary Ann Roberton | Bowling Green State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Mary Ann Roberton

Background: Valid motor development sequences show the various behaviors that children display as... more Background: Valid motor development sequences show the various behaviors that children display as they progress toward competence in specific motor skills. Teachers can use these sequences to observe informally or formally assess their students. While longitudinal study is ultimately required to validate developmental sequences, there are earlier, pre-longitudinal steps that can be used to screen hypothesized sequences to see if they are worthy of the time and expense of longitudinal study. These same steps can also provide teachers with preliminary tools for observation/assessment. Purpose: At the request of physical educators in a midwestern suburb in the United States, the investigators screened developmental sequences for the action of arms and legs in self-turned rope jumping. The goal was to create a preliminary assessment tool that could be used in physical education classes. Participants: The physical educators took videos of 216 children attempting to jump rope. The children were 5–10 years of age. Data analysis: The investigators categorized the videos using the hypothesized developmental sequences as a checklist. The incidence of each level in the sequences was then graphed to see if the percentages of occurrence rose and fell across age as would be expected if the levels were developmentally valid. The investigators also looked at whether children who varied their behavior across trials varied only to adjacent levels in the sequences. Results: Results indicated that one hypothesized arm category was not developmental, and two leg categories needed further study in younger children. Based on these results, the investigators modified the proposed sequences and provided decision rules so teachers could use them as preliminary observation/assessment tools.

Quest, 2008

Although significant attention has been paid to promoting the importance of physical activity in ... more Although significant attention has been paid to promoting the importance of physical activity in children, adolescents, and adults, we do not currently understand how to promote sustained physical activity levels throughout the lifespan. We contend that previous research has failed to consider the dynamic and synergistic role that motor skill competence plays in the initiation, maintenance, or decline of physical activity and how this role might change across developmental time. In this article, we present a conceptual model hypothesizing the relationships among physical activity, motor skill competence, perceived motor skill competence, health-related physical fitness, and obesity. We contend that the development of motor skill competence is a primary underlying mechanism that promotes engagement in physical activity.

Sex roles, 1998

Two studies investigated whether undergraduates enrolled in sport m anagem ent classes at a m id ... more Two studies investigated whether undergraduates enrolled in sport m anagem ent classes at a m id western un iversity supported or resisted nonsexist lan guage. Resistive statem ents were classified using argum ents iden tified by Blaubergs (1980). In Stu dy 1, 82 prim arily Cau casian students reacted to a videotape abo u t lan gu age. Half (48 % ) su pported n on sexist la n gu age; 32 % were am bivalent; 21% were opposed to nonsexist lan guage. The negative com m ents fit 7 of Blaubergs' 8 categories after 2 were m odified; 2 additional categories (Sexism is Acceptable an d Hostility toward Propon ents of Change) emerged. In Study 2, 164 prim arily Caucasian undergraduates speculated on why others resisted nonsexist lan guage. Their com m ents led to the addition of 2 m ore new categories: Tradition and Lack of Understanding. The final m odification of Blaubergs' classic argum ents contains 12 categories that shou ld be usefu l in studying resistance to nonsexist lan guage.

Journal of Physical Education Recreation Dance, May 1, 1982

Journal of Motor Behavior

Sex Roles

The article titled "Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Attitudes Toward ... more The article titled "Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language" (Parks & Roberton, 2000) contains an error in the scoring procedures for the 21-item IASNL-G (p. 433). The items that should be reverse-scored are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11. We are grateful to Yvette Alicea-Ruiz, doctoral student at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, for alerting us to this error.

Despite documented, negative effects of sexist language, some people still strongly oppose inclus... more Despite documented, negative effects of sexist language, some people still strongly oppose inclusive language. Their attitudes need study, but existing measures of attitude lack comprehensiveness or validity. This paper reports construction and validation of the 42-item Inventory of Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language (IASNL), which is based on a conceptual framework related to beliefs about language, recognition of sexist language, and willingness to use inclusive language. Four studies tested the IASNL's content validity (9 content experts, 329 other participants), construct validity, and reliability (31 advocates of inclusive language, 298 additional respondents). Cronbach alphas were high and validity measures were strong. Two short forms of the IASNL were also created-the IASNL-General and the IASNL-Sport. The IASNL-General is in the Appendix.

Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 2011

Mally KK, Battista RA, Roberton MA. Distance as a control parameter for place kicking. . Using a ... more Mally KK, Battista RA, Roberton MA. Distance as a control parameter for place kicking. . Using a dynamic systems perspective, this study investigated whether distance functioned as a control parameter that might alter children's place kicking patterns. Nineteen children (mean age = 8.1 years) kicked 3 times at each of 5 randomly ordered distances (1.524, 3.048, 6. 096, 9.144, 12.192 meters). All kicks were videotaped. Results indicated that four movement features changed significantly (p<0.01) as a result of the distance kicked. The features were number/type of forward steps in the approach, distance between the feet in the final foot position during approach, position of the shank in the forward leg swing, and leg action in the follow through. These results suggest that distance (or force) may be a control parameter that teachers could manipulate when helping children learn to place kick.

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2001

This study examined the movement process-product relationship from a developmental perspective. T... more This study examined the movement process-product relationship from a developmental perspective. The authors used multiple regression to investigate the changing relationship between qualitative movement descriptions of the overarm throw and the throwing outcome, horizontal ball velocity. Seventeen girls and 22 boys were filmed longitudinally at ages 6, 7, 8, and 13 years. Their movements were assessed using Roberton's (Roberton & Halverson, 1984) developmental sequences for action of the humerus, forearm, trunk, stepping, and stride length. The sequences accounted for 69-85% (adjusted) of the total velocity variance each year. The components that best predicted ball velocity changed over time, although humerus or forearm action always accounted for considerable variance. Gender was a good predictor of ball velocity, but if the developmental descriptions were entered first in a stepwise regression, gender then explained no more than 2% additional variance.

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2003

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2005

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1982

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2009

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2002

Halverson, Roberton, and Langendorfer (1982) reported the development of children ages 6-13 years... more Halverson, Roberton, and Langendorfer (1982) reported the development of children ages 6-13 years filmed longitudinally performing the forceful overarm throw. These authors described the children&amp;amp;amp;#39;s progress through developmental sequences for trunk, humerus, and forearm actions; however, they did not study developmental relationships (&amp;amp;amp;quot;profiles&amp;amp;amp;quot;) across these components. This paper reports how the profiles changed in the same children across trials within filming sessions and over time. The data revealed both common and individual developmental pathways. The frequencies of some pathways were not chance occurrences (p &amp;amp;amp;lt; or = .01), suggesting that within-person constraints eliminated certain movement relationships while encouraging others. The authors hypothesize that the kinematics of trunk rotation may serve as a control parameter for pattern change.

Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2004

Studies of attitudes toward sexist language have consistently revealed a gender gap, with women c... more Studies of attitudes toward sexist language have consistently revealed a gender gap, with women considerably more supportive of inclusive language than men. The present study investigated this gender gap in the presence of "attitudes toward women," a potential mediator variable. Participants were a convenience sample of 18-to 20-year-old college students (N = 278). Most were European American/White (87%) women (60%). Data were collected using the Modern Sexism Scale, Neosexism Scale, Attitudes Toward Women Scale, and Inventory of Attitudes Toward Sexist/Nonsexist Language-General. The customary gender gap in attitudes toward sexist language was found in this sample. Regression tests of mediation, however, revealed that when measures of attitudes toward women were included in the analysis, the gender effect diminished by as much as 61% (p < .01). These findings provide empirical evidence of a link between attitudes toward sexist language and the cultural construct, attitudes toward women.

Journal of Motor Behavior, 1988

ABSTRACT Developmental sequence, relative timing, center of gravity, and phase-plane analyses wer... more ABSTRACT Developmental sequence, relative timing, center of gravity, and phase-plane analyses were used to study a minimum of 15 years of longitudinal, filmed data on the development of hopping in 7 children. The developmental sequences revealed common, qualitative changes in the movement of the children, although each child progressed through the changes at his/her own rate. The timing analyses showed that, in the advanced hop, the tightest limb relationships were found within the hopping leg, then between contralateral limbs of the same girdle, and then between legs and arms. Relative-timing calculations revealed (a) intra-limb, timing invariances that were present in first attempts to perform the skill at age 3 and remained for 15 years across all developmental levels; (b) emergent, interlimb timings that gradually became invariant; and (c) intra- and interlimb timing showing gradual development over the 15 years. One invariant, the time between landing and deepest knee flexion, is also invariant in the walk and the run (Shapiro, Zernicke, Gregor, & Diestel, 1981). Phase plane analyses indicated that the timing of peak and zero velocities may be the coordinative constant accounting for a relative timing invariance between the two legs. Position of the body’s center of gravity may explain the invariant relative time between landing and deepest knee flexion, or the explanation could lie in the “equation of constraint” regulating joint equilibrium points. The data suggest that modeling the developing hop as the evolving interaction of four vibratory systems would be promising.

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2005

This study examined perspective taking, empathic concern, and attitude toward women as potential ... more This study examined perspective taking, empathic concern, and attitude toward women as potential mediators of age and gender effects on college students' attitudes toward sexist language. Perspective taking fully mediated the small age effect found in men. Attitude toward women partially mediated the gender effect, reducing it by 51%. Empathic concern mediated neither age nor gender effects.

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2008

This study of attitudes toward sexist/nonsexist language reveals generation gaps in a sample of 1... more This study of attitudes toward sexist/nonsexist language reveals generation gaps in a sample of 18- to 87-year-olds (N = 370). On average, participants are undecided about the merits of inclusive language, but older participants are more supportive than 18- to 22-year-olds. Attitudes toward women are a significant predictor of attitudes toward sexist/nonsexist language in all age—gender groups. Education is a