Prior Processing Effects on Gymnastic Judging

Three experiments examined the influence of prior judgments on direct and indirect memory tests in gymnastic judging. Results for both perceptual and recognition judgments depended on an item's relationship between study and test. For perceptual judgments, moves performed the same resulted in the highest level of accuracy, new moves were less accurate, and the lowest level of accuracy occurred for items where the performance was altered between study and the perceptual test. Novice and expert judges revealed similar memory influences (Experiment 1). Memory influences were reduced but not eliminated when subjects were given prior knowledge of these effects (Experiment 2). Spacing of repetitions did not enhance these prior processing effects (Experiment 3). The findings are discussed in terms of perceptual biases and the practical implications of judges' exposure to an athlete's performance before competition.