Detection of Ludic Patterns in Two Triadic Motor Games and Differences in Decision Complexity

Abstract

The triad is a particular structure in which an ambivalent social relationship takes place. This work is focused on the search of behavioral regularities in the practice of motor games in triad, which is a little known field. For the detection of behavioral patterns not visible to the naked eye, we use Theme. A chasing games model was followed, with rules, and in two different structures (A↔B↔C↔A and A → B → C → A) on four class groups (two for each structure), for a total of 84, 12, and 13 year old secondary school students, 37 girls (44%) and 47 boys (56%). The aim was to examine if the players' behavior, in relation to the triad structure, matches with any ludic behavior patterns. An observational methodology was applied, with a nomothetic, punctual and multidimensional design. The intra and inter-evaluative correlation coefficients and the generalizability theory ensured the quality of the data. A mixed behavioral role system was used (four criteria and 15 categories), and the pattern detection software Theme was applied to detect temporal regularities in the order of event occurrences. The results show that time location of motor responses in triad games was not random. In the “maze” game we detected more complex ludic patterns than the “three fields” game, which might be explained by means of structural determinants such as circulation. This research points out the decisional complexity in motor games, and it confirms the differences among triads from the point of view of motor communication.

Gender Differences in Strategic Behavior in a Triadic Persecution Motor Game Identified Through an Observational Methodology

“…In Pic et al (2018) the decisional differences between girls and boys in different versions of the paradoxical game balle assise are verified (Guillemard et al, 1988;Parlebas, 1988;Oboeuf et al, 2008), describing game sub-roles (behaviors developed from a role) and the decision tree; the largest gender differences came from decisional efficiency in positive or cooperative (Dyson et al, 2004) and negative (Heider, 1946) valence behaviors in favor of boys (effect sizes, d = 0.46), in line with recent results . This previous research by Oboeuf et al (2008) confirms the specificity and scope of the communication network (Parlebas, 1981) when confronting a duel motor game and in the game balle assise.…”

“…This circumstance brings as a consequence a more solid method when looking for patterns with which to understand the behavior and gender differences when playing; in addition, it is recognized that the gender issue is linked to an empirical pattern and the order of power or forces that develop in the game (Bjerrum and Thorne, 2014). In this sense of motor communication and in its methodological transfer, the role in the game is taken as a decisional criterion of the system of rules, and it is the evidence consistent with the logic of their situations (Pic et al, 2018).…”

“…Specifically, reserving persecution roles for boys versus girls was a way to prioritize participation in motor games. Following the same methodological and theoretical trail, Pic et al (2018) addressed the complexity of two motor games of different triads of the triadic census (Pic and Navarro, 2017;Pic and Navarro-Adelantado, 2019) through T-pattern analysis. A T-pattern is a powerful alternative to the discovery of hidden patterns based on events and temporal parameters in order to find a selfsimilar tree structure (Jonsson et al, 2006;Casarrubea et al, 2013Casarrubea et al, , 2014Pic, 2018b).…”

Estimating motor competence through motor games. [Estimar la competencia motriz mediante juegos motores].

“…It is necessary to address motor competence (Ruiz, 1995) in natural environments, where spontaneity (Cantó & Ruiz, 2005) brings out the true capacity of the player. The observational methodology has provided the opportunity to study the motor action, linked to the objectives of its protagonists in the context of the game (Aguilar, Navarro-Adelantado & Jonsson, 2018;Chow et al, 2016). The PE teacher, motivated by the search for teaching tools, finds in the analysis of motor episodes a mean to evaluate the motor competence and to know the authors better from the dynamic view of the motor game.…”

“…However, although the abuse of 'ad hoc' protocols meant in the past a departure from scientific approaches, it is now possible to carry out studies, such as those based on observational methodology adapted to the usual conditions of the educational practice. This is not a minor advance, since it implies a revaluation of the contextualized practice (Anguera, 2017, Anguera & Hernández-Mendo, 2014Anguera & Hernández-Mendo, 2016;Anguera, Portell, Chacón-Moscoso & Sanduvete-Chaves, 2018) that has been contrasted through football studies (Diana et al, 2017), motor games in triads (Aguilar, Navarro-Adelantado & Jonsson, 2018) or effectiveness in volleyball actions (Palao, Manzanares & Ortega, 2009), among others. Thus, the use of an observational methodology is based on rigor and flexibility to adapt to the spontaneity of the motor situation, which makes it especially suitable.…”