Effect of Goal-Setting and Visual Feedback on Rower Performance on a Rowing Machine
Abstract
In the sport of rowing, the rowing machine is often used as training tool for
exercise on land. This study seeks to assess how the commonly used rowing
machine in the sport of rowing be used in the best way to mimic on-water visual
stimuli in relation to performance (speed) for the rower. Twenty adolescent women
from a youth rowing club in the Southeast, USA participated in a study meant to
determine how the pace boat feature on Concept2 rowing machines affects their
performance. Using a multiple baseline across-groups treatment design,
participants were divided into two groups based on the amount of experience with
using a Concept2 rowing machine. During the baseline condition, participants
received performance feedback textually from the rowing machine’s display
screen. The treatment condition provided athletes with visual performance
feedback on the rowing machine’s display screen. The results highlighted how
participant performance is affected by exclusive visual performance feedback as
opposed to the conventional textual performance feedback that is common when
using a rowing machine.