NCJ Number
168256
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (1996) Pages: 19-43
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study of handgun marksmanship in recruit police officer basic training at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute revealed differences in gain scores between treatment and control groups with respect to the effectiveness of mental practice.
Abstract
Study participants included 72 student volunteers enrolled in basic law enforcement courses. The experimental treatment consisted of one 2-hour imagery training session, ten 5-minute guided holistic imagery mental practice sessions, 20 hours of live fire practice, and a request for at least 5 minutes of individual mental practice each night during the approximately 3 weeks of firearms training. Experimental subjects were closely monitored, and a post-treatment interview was conducted to determine differences in performance between treatment and control groups. Results clearly showed both practical and statistically significant differences in gain scores between treatment and control groups, and these differences extended into the subgroups of high and low marksmanship ability. The study also demonstrated that participants were interested and believed in the imagery technique and that the imagery technique was a viable instructional adjunct. Recommendations for practice and future research on the use of mental practice to enhance physical training regimens are offered. 49 references, 1 table, and 4 figures