In the Associative stage of skill acquisition, how does performance typically change?

In the Associative stage of skill acquisition, performance typically shows increased consistency as learners refine their skills. During this stage, individuals have moved beyond the initial understanding and cognitive effort of learning the skill and are starting to associate movements with the desired outcomes. This leads to more reliable responses as they practice and begin to develop muscle memory.

As players practice, they are able to identify errors more easily and make adjustments, which contributes to improved performance consistency. The refinement of techniques and reduction of variability are characteristics of this stage, as learners transition from broad cognitive understanding to more controlled and deliberate movements.

In contrast, other stages either reflect earlier phases of skill acquisition, where variability and inconsistency are more common, or later stages that are more advanced and focus on automaticity or retention, neither of which accurately represent the associative phase.