Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the characteristics of discrimination of force in grip for preschool children. Examination of the new method (NM) designed by Murase Asami (1991) based on discrimination of force was also made by comparing the results of 2 methods (modified constant method (CM) and NM). A total of 12 healthy Japanese preschool children (5.4+-0.4 yr) were subjects for the two methods. The subjects engaged in CM measurements for about 28 d and in NM measurements for 18-24 d. The standard stimuli were 3 forces of 1.0 kgf (9.8 N), 2.0 kgf (19.6 N) and 3.0 kgf (29.4 N), and the comparison stimulus was changed at intervals of 0.1 kgf. Lower threshold (LT), upper threshold (UT), interval of uncertainty (IU) and percentage of response appearance were selected as variables to represent the characteristics of discrimination of force. Results were also analyzed from the viewpoint of measurement and assessment. The relationships between the percentage of response appearance and each comparison stimulus for 3 standard stimuli matched the cumulative normal distribution functions. It was suggested that a subjective scale of force in grip was established at the age of 5 to 6 years. LT, UT and IU in the grip increased with a gain in the standard stimulus. Data for the NM were approximately 1.3-1.8 times larger than those estimated by the CM, and the two observations roughly paired with each other. For the two methods, the tendency of changes in LT, UT and IU, and relative sizes between LT and UT showed similar patterns. Verf.-Ref.