Applied understanding of information processing terms within a sporting…

The idea

Information processing describes how a performer takes in, interprets and acts on cues from a game. The main terms are input, decision making, output and feedback. Input is the sensory information detected, such as the flight of a ball or the position of an opponent. Decision making selects the appropriate response from memory, comparing the current situation with stored experiences. Output is the movement produced, for example a pass or a shot. Feedback is information about the outcome or the movement itself, which loops back to refine later decisions. In a sporting context, a netball centre receives input from the movement of team-mates, decides whether to pass or drive, outputs the chosen action, then uses feedback from the pass to adjust the next one. Efficiency depends on how quickly and accurately each stage is completed.

What earns the marks

• Input is the detection of relevant sensory information from the sporting environment, such as the position of opponents or the flight of a ball.
• Decision making is the selection of an appropriate response from stored memory, based on the interpreted input.
• Output is the motor response produced, for example a pass, shot or change of direction.
• Feedback is information about the movement or its outcome that is used to refine future performance.
• The stages operate as a linked sequence, so a weakness at one stage affects the efficiency of the whole process.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing input with decision making.

  Put it right: Input is the detection of information, while decision making is the selection of a response.

• Treating output as the decision itself.

  Put it right: Output is the observable movement produced, not the choice made beforehand.

• Ignoring feedback as a separate stage.

  Put it right: Feedback is information about the outcome or the movement, and it influences later input and decisions.

Exam tips

• Read the sporting scenario carefully and identify which stage of the process the question is describing.
• Use the correct term rather than a general word such as thinking or reacting, because the mark depends on precise terminology.
• Check whether the question asks about the movement produced or the information received, as these are different stages.