The Effect of Transfer of Learning of Forehand and Backhand Skills between Table Tennis and Lawn Tennis among Students

Abstract

Research Abstract

           The current research aimed to detect the effect of transfer of learning for the forehand and backhand stroke skills between table tennis and lawn tennis among students. The researchers utilized the experimental method using an equivalent groups design consisting of three groups (Experimental1, Experimental 2, and Control). The research sample comprised (30) second-stage students from the Department of Physical Education at the College of Basic Education - University of Garmian who were randomly selected and equally divided with (10) students per group. The groups underwent skill-based pre-tests to evaluate baseline performance levels. Consequently, Experimental Group 1 underwent a program learning table tennis skills first before transferring to lawn tennis; Experimental Group 2 learned lawn tennis first then transferred to table tennis; while the Control Group followed the conventional curriculum. Upon completing the experiment, post-tests were conducted, and the data was statistically analyzed using means, standard deviations, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. Key Findings: The results demonstrated complete equivalence and homogeneity among the three groups in the pre-tests across most studied skills. Experimental Groups 1 and 2 achieved remarkable and statistically significant superiority at the (0.05) level over the Control Group in the post-tests for the table tennis forehand and lawn tennis backhand strokes. The findings confirmed the occurrence of a mutual and symmetric positive transfer of learning in terms of strength and direction between both sports; no statistically significant differences were observed between the two experimental groups post-experiment.