Analysis of Visual Search Patterns of Dance Teachers

Abstract

This investigation analyzed the visual search patterns of novice and expert dance teachers when viewing a live performance of a dance composition. The hypotheses tested were that (a) experts would not differ from novices in the number of eye fixations and duration of each, (b) the number of fixations and duration of each would differ between dances, and (c) expert teachers’ search patterns would differ from those of novice teachers. The subjects were four experts who averaged 25.5 years of teaching, and five novice teachers who averaged 2.4 years. To determine the ocular fixation and scanning patterns of subjects, the NAC Eye Movement Recorder, a corneal reflection technique, was used. The films were analyzed using a computer program designed to collect the data. Two 2 × 2 (expertise and dances) analyses of variance were used to determine the differences in the number of fixations, duration of fixations, and differences of variable between dances. Chi-square was used to determine the location of scan patterns. Results indicated that the level of expertise did not influence the number or duration of each eye fixation, but the task being observed did influence these variables. Individual differences in visual scanning patterns were found among and within both groups.