Comparison Exam of Gallahue’s Hourglass Model and Clark and Metcalfe’s the Mountain of Motor Development Metaphor

Abstract

With regards to the fact that motor development can be conceptualized and analyzed by theoretical view, the authors’ main purpose of this article was to compare Gallahue’s triangulated hourglass model with Clark and Metcalfe’s the mountain of motor development metaphor. These are two common devices for understanding both product and process of motor development. By using the dynamic systems, Gallahue likened the human motor development to a triangulated hourglass. Clark and Metcalfe also have analogy of this process to a mountain that includes six periods in development of motor skills. The current research method was descriptive-analytical, in which by in-depth study and interpretation of available information and analytical review, we evaluated, compared and explained the similarities and differences between two mentioned conceptual views. The results showed, more of the concepts discussed in the mountain of motor development metaphor are adaptable to Gallahue’s hourglass model, with this difference that the formulation, drawing shapes of movements and development conceptualization is more regular and realistic in the hourglass model. Overall, the Gallahue’s hourglass model and Clark and Metcalfe’s conceptual metaphor have a large overlap and are important to facilitate understanding and provide a theoretical framework of the process and product of motor development.