Use of guidance and feedback: Knowledge of results.

The idea

Knowledge of results (KR) is information about the outcome of a movement, rather than the quality of the technique used. It tells the performer what happened as a result of the action: for example, a sprinter's time, a basketball player's shot going in or missing, or a long jumper's measured distance. KR can come from the performer's own senses, such as seeing where a ball landed, or from an external source such as a coach, stopwatch or scoreboard. It is important for learning because it confirms whether the goal was achieved and can motivate the performer, but on its own it does not explain how to change technique.

What earns the marks

• Knowledge of results is information about the outcome of a movement, not the quality of the technique.
• On its own it does not explain how to change technique.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing knowledge of results with knowledge of performance.

  Put it right: KR describes the outcome such as time, distance or score, while KP describes how the movement was performed.

• Assuming KR must come from an external source.

  Put it right: The performer's own senses can also provide KR.

• Thinking KR is always enough to improve technique.

  Put it right: It confirms the result but does not explain how to change the movement.

• Believing KR is only useful for beginners.

  Put it right: Performers at all levels use outcome information to monitor progress.

Exam tips

• Read the feedback description carefully and ask whether it tells the performer about the result or about the movement itself.
• Look for words such as time, distance, score, goal, win or miss, which point to knowledge of results.
• Eliminate options that describe technique, body position or limb action, because these are knowledge of performance.