Stoddard, G. D., & Wellman, B. L. (1934). Motor development. In G. D. Stoddard & B. L. Wellman, Experimental education series. Child psychology (pp. 35-52). New York, NY, US: MacMillan Co.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/13311-003
This chapter focuses on the examination of motor development and aspects of motor coordination. After discussing the difficulty in separating motor ability from intellectual and personality factors, the authors describe the motor accomplishments to be expected by ages, including infancy, preschool ages, and school age. It is not at all clear that there is such a thing as a generalized motor ability that will function in every situation in which control of movement is involved. While physical achievement test batteries seem to be fairly successful for diagnosis and prediction of the area of motor abilities that makes use of these complex functions, attempts to determine basic motor equipment by means of tests of the finer eye-hand adjustments have not been fruitful. Other topics discussed include (1) the influence of training and environment; (2) handedness; (3) sex differences; (4) relation of motor development to mental ability; (5) relation to physical size; and (6) diagnostic value. Deficiency in motor development does not seem so serious in the life of the individual as deficiency in mental development. However, motor deficiency probably does place an additional burden or strain upon the individual. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)