Eric Martin, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, collaborated with Michigan State University on a long-term study examining the development of motor skills. The team’s findings were published in a special issue of the Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science journal, and Martin was an author on five of the articles.
As a doctoral student at Michigan State, Martin learned of the Motor Performance Study (MPS) project, which began nearly 40 years ago but had become inactive at that time. Martin and fellow kinesiology student Larissa True used the data for a class project, and that project eventually turned into two presentations intended for a national conference by the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. Martin and True, along with several faculty, later hosted a symposium presentation on MPS.
Up until that point, there was a lack of data published on MPS research. Martin and True were encouraged to pursue publication opportunities after presenting on the topic.