Research

The doctoral project on the topic of visual perception in dance began in October 2021. It aims to be a publication-based work with three articles in English. The goal of the doctoral project is to determine which movements in dance formations (group arrangements) are perceived as beautiful. The influence of design criteria according to Rosenberg (1998), namely space (dance direction) and time (movement speed), is examined.

For the three investigations, a dancer was captured using a motion capture system, based on which all dance movements are manipulated (e.g., duplicated). The first investigation focuses on the perception of dance groups in specific formations. It aims to investigate which arrangements are perceived as aesthetically pleasing by dancers and non-dancers. The perceptual study of four formations initially takes place without the group changing its position (group stationary), followed by the group performing dance movements from the styles of hip-hop and modern dance.

The second investigation focuses on the role of design criteria in dance and their influence on the perception of dance movements in a formation. The manipulation of dance direction is planned using the design criterion of space, while the design criterion of time is incorporated through variation in movement speed. All manipulated movement sequences are danced in four formations.

The third investigation explores the question of which group sizes are most liked in a formation. The investigation focuses on groups larger than 6 individuals and aims to determine which group sizes are perceived as beautiful by observers.

The work aims to investigate what people perceive as aesthetically pleasing in dance. The results of the doctoral project can support the future work of choreographers and contribute to the advancement of current research in dance and aesthetics.

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The doctoral project, which began in March 2018, focuses on the auditory and visual perception of complex movements. A publication-based work is aimed for in order to approach the processes involved in movement perception. The project specifically focuses on the perception of visual and auditory information. Four different studies are planned within the project. At the current stage, two articles have been published, and a third one is in the process of publication. The first two studies compare experts and novices regarding the quality of movement perception in artistic gymnastics under three different conditions (audio-visual, visual, auditory). A three-element sequence on the floor apparatus was chosen as the subject of investigation

Based on the results of the first study, the subsequent second investigation revisits the three-part movement sequence. The focus is shifted to the auditory perception of natural movement sounds through manipulations. The results of the second study provide the foundation for the third investigation, which examines the influence of music on movement perception in women's artistic gymnastics. Furthermore, the three-part sequence on the floor is the subject of the investigation.

In the fourth study, the transfer of the results from the first study to another discipline of gymnastics (trampoline) will be carried out to examine the interaction of visual and auditory information more intensively. Additionally, the influence of auditory and visual information on movement regulation for movement evaluation will be emphasized.

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The relationship between quantifiable movement execution and the observation and assessment of movement quality plays an integral role in technically acrobatic sports such as artistic gymnastics for coaches, judges, and athletes themselves. The objective of this project is threefold: in the first step, prototypical gymnastic exercises will be kinematically examined. Building upon that, the relationship between kinematic characteristics and qualitative evaluation will be analyzed. In the third step, the influence of expertise and other perception-related and cognitive variables and processes in the evaluation process will be explored. Methodologically, this will be implemented using motion analysis software, eye tracking, multivariate data analysis, and experimental designs. The project is funded through a scholarship (doctoral fellowship) and includes collaborations with the Institute of Computer Science at Leipzig University.

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One of the central topics in sports psychology is Mental Training (MT). Psychologists, coaches, and athletes use MT techniques as a tool for optimizing their mental states and improving learning and performance in sports. In particular, it is suitable for supporting the learning and stabilization of movement skills in sports with high technical demands.

Based on this, it can be assumed that the performance of sports students in gymnastics can also be significantly improved through the use of MT. Building on this assumption, a psychologically oriented skill training (POFT) is designed to enhance movement visualization in sports students. The Impact of Combined POFT and Motor Training on Gymnastic Skills, Mental Visualization Ability, and Muscle Relaxation in Sports Students (Pre- to Post-Phase)