PAPER #15 - ANALOGICAL TRANSFER CAPACITY AND THE DISCRIMINATION REACTION TIME IN ELITE FEMALE TENNIS PLAYERS.

Problem Statement: Analogical transfer involves three components: retrieving a prior exemplar, creating a mapping between it and the current problem or situation, and then using that mapping to draw an inference relevant to the application context. The discrimination reaction time measures the basic time (the speed of the nervous influx) combined with the identification time - the decision time concerning the significance of the stimulus (capable or not to generate a motor response). Purpose of Study: The aim of our research was to investigate the analogical transfer capacity, the simple reaction time (measures the speed of the nervous influx), the discrimination reaction time (measures the speed of the nervous influx combined with the identification time) and the sports performance of elite junior female tennis players. Research Methods: Observation, conversation, test - ANALOGIE Test, TR and TRD Tests, within PSISELTEVA tests, elaborated by RQ Plus, statistical processing methods - SPSS and data interpreting. Findings: The result analysis for female athletes shows that: - There is a negatively significant correlation (-0,719) between the operativity coefficient (the athletes give faster answers during tasks demanding analogical transfer capacity) and the results registered by the tennis players, expressed through the official ranking system (p < 0,05); - There is a positively significant correlation (0,714) between the discrimination reaction time and the performance obtained by the athletes, expressed through the ranking position (p < 0,05); Conclusions: If the junior female tennis players give faster answers during tasks demanding analogical reasoning ability, this aspect is related to a better performance of the players on the tennis court (expressed through the official ranking system). Also, if the female tennis players register less time in order to identify the correct stimuli during tasks that supose reaction to a certain event, this aspect is associated with a better performance in competitions. The research data will be used by the coach and by the sport psychologist, who will conceive stimulation programs for the characteristics - analogical reasoning ability and discrimination reaction time, related with sports performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]