Other evidence suggests that even watching a skilled performer from multiple angles and in slow motion is not enough to master a skill from sight alone, as “no matter how many times people watch a performance, they never gain one critical piece: the feeling of doing”. Research does suggest that observing others is better than doing nothing, but to really develop talents and expertise requires many hours of deliberate practice.
A recent survey asked students which of the following five options would they first seek and then use most to help them learn new material. The options were a) watching others perform the task, b) reading about it or c) hearing the instructions. Overall, watching others perform was reported as the go to strategy, the easiest to process and the most effective. The results from this study suggest that this may not be a wise choice. As the researchers of the study conclude, “while people may feel they are acquiring the skills that athletes, artists and technicians perform in front of their eyes, often these skills may be easier seen than done”.