The Role of Expertise on Visual Search Strategies and Action anticipation in Female Field Hockey Players

Previous researches have demonstrated the role of experience in improvement of the quality of decision making and its components. The aim of present investigation is assessing the role of experience in visual search strategies and action anticipation as two phases of cognitive process involve in decision making in female field hockey players. For the purpose of this study fifty female field hockey players divided into two different experience levels (≥10 yrs. and < 10 yrs.). General information questionnaire and decision-making quality questionnaire have been used for the purpose of gathering related information. Findings of the present study revealed that, athletes with high playing experience scored higher in compare with low playing experience in relation to visual search strategies and action anticipation process, and significant correlation was found between visual search strategies and action anticipation in lower experience level group but not in higher experience group. From the results of the study we concluded that other cognitive factors may cause better anticipation with increasing level of expertise which needs further researches.