What type of learning is gained by watching others perform a skill?

• A. Blocked practice
• B. Verbal persuasion
• C. Vicarious experience
• D. Physiological state

Answer: (C)

Watching someone else perform a skill provides a model to imitate and analyze, which is vicarious learning. By observing the movement pattern, timing, and sequencing, you gather information about how the skill is performed and the outcomes that result, then you can mentally rehearse and plan your own execution. This type of learning relies on noticing and interpreting others’ actions and consequences, which you later apply in practice. Blocked practice involves repeating the same task, not observation. Verbal persuasion is encouragement or feedback that can influence motivation, not the act of learning by watching. Physiological state refers to mood or arousal affecting performance, not learning from observation. So the best explanation is vicarious experience.