Development and Validation of the Combined Action Observation and Motor Imagery Ability Questionnaire

Scott, Matthew W ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1062-3490, Esselaar, Maaike ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8358-7213, Dagnall, Neil ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0657-7604, Denovan, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9082-7225, Marshall, Ben ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2557-5399, Deacon, Aimee S, Holmes, Paul S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0821-3580 and Wright, David J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-0237 (2024) Development and Validation of the Combined Action Observation and Motor Imagery Ability Questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. pp. 1-14. ISSN 0895-2779

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Abstract

Combined use of action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) is an increasingly popular motor-simulation intervention, which involves observing movements on video while simultaneously imagining the feeling of movement execution. Measuring and reporting participant imagery-ability characteristics are essential in motor-simulation research, but no measure of AOMI ability currently exists. Accordingly, the AOMI Ability Questionnaire (AOMI-AQ) was developed to address this gap in the literature. In Study 1, two hundred eleven participants completed the AOMI-AQ and the kinesthetic imagery subscales of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 and Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire-2. Following exploratory factor analysis, an 8-item AOMI-AQ was found to correlate positively with existing motor-imagery measures. In Study 2, one hundred seventy-four participants completed the AOMI-AQ for a second time after a period of 7-10 days. Results indicate a good test-retest reliability for the AOMI-AQ. The new AOMI-AQ measure provides a valid and reliable tool for researchers and practitioners wishing to assess AOMI ability.