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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 12, No. 2
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
DOI:10.14738/assrj.122.18315.
Shanti, A. M., Abdellaoui, S., Tijani, M. J., & Ben Abderrahman, A. (2025). The Effect of Using Five Different Moscow-Muston
Methods in Developing Some Basic Skills in Basketball Among Students of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the Arab American
University. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 12(2). 102-125.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The Effect of Using Five Different Moscow-Muston Methods in
Developing Some Basic Skills in Basketball Among Students of the
Faculty of Sports Sciences at the Arab American University
Ali Maher Shanti
ORCID: 0009-0005-3590-3861
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Said,
Université de la Manouba: UMA, Tunisia
Saber Abdellaoui
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Said,
University of Manouba, Tunisia
Med Jed Tijani
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Said,
University of Manouba, Tunisia
Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman
ORCID: 0000-0003-1351-8717
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Said,
Université de la Manouba: UMA, Tunisia
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the impact of different teaching methods on
learning basketball skills among students at the Faculty of Sports Science at the
Arab American University. An experimental approach was utilized, incorporating
pre- and post-assessments for both the control group and the experimental groups
of basketball course sections. The sample consisted of 112 male and female
students from the Faculty of Sports Science. The findings revealed that students
preferred the reciprocal teaching method for learning basketball skills, followed by
the practicing method. Additionally, the command method proved to be effective in
improving basic basketball skills. Statistically significant differences were found in
the post-test measurements between the control group and the four experimental
groups, with the experimental groups showing superior performance. Based on
these results, the study recommended emphasizing reciprocal and practicing
methods, reducing reliance on the command method, training instructors to apply
interactive methods, and adopting modern teaching strategies such as training,
reciprocal, divergent thinking, and guided discovery to improve sports skills. It also
suggested providing training courses for coaches and teachers to effectively
implement these methods, as they were found to enhance athletic performance
more effectively than the command method.
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Shanti, A. M., Abdellaoui, S., Tijani, M. J., & Ben Abderrahman, A. (2025). The Effect of Using Five Different Moscow-Muston Methods in Developing
Some Basic Skills in Basketball Among Students of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the Arab American University. Advances in Social Sciences
Research Journal, 12(2). 102-125.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.122.18315
Keywords: Teaching methods, Interactive Teaching, Command Style, Practice Style,
Reciprocal Style, Divergent Style, Guided Discovery Style, Physical Education, Sport
Sciences, Basketball.
INTRODUCTION
Basketball is one of the most popular sports globally, combining high physical performance
with the ability to make decisions quickly and accurately (Smith & Johnson, 2020). It is a team
sport that requires coordination among players and the development of a variety of
fundamental skills, such as passing, dribbling, shooting, and the ability to move swiftly in
confined spaces (Williams, 2019). While fundamental skills in basketball are usually acquired
through continuous training, the method used to teach these skills significantly affects the
effectiveness and success of the training (Brown, 2018).
In this context, many specialists in physical education and sports coaching seek to improve the
teaching methods and approaches used to develop players' skills, particularly in academic
institutions that include students interested in learning this sport (Davis & Thomas, 2017).
There is no doubt that sports education in universities should be flexible and aligned with the
diverse learning styles of students (Miller & Walker, 2021). Therefore, the importance of
diverse teaching methods that contribute to the development of athletic skills, especially in
team sports like basketball, is evident (Olsen, 2022).
One of the modern methods that has emerged in sports research is the Moscow-Muston
methods, which include: the American method, the training method, the reciprocal method, the
divergent thinking method, and the guided discovery method (Moscow & Muston, 2016). Each
of these methods relies on specific learning strategies aimed at achieving the highest degree of
effectiveness in developing players' fundamental skills (Moscow, 2018). The American method
focuses on teaching skills through repetition and continuous practice, while the training
method emphasizes enhancing players' physical and technical abilities through guided
exercises (Grant & Peterson, 2020). The reciprocal method is based on role exchange between
the coach and the player, which enhances communication skills and decision-making (James &
Carter, 2017). The divergent thinking method addresses athletic skills by focusing on critical
and creative thinking in players, while the guided discovery method directs players to discover
solutions to sports problems on their own, thus enhancing their independence in making
decisions on the court (Harper, 2019).
Collectively, these methods represent effective tools that can contribute to improving
basketball coaching and teaching methods, particularly in educational environments like
universities (Foster & Green, 2021). In this regard, the current study aims to analyze the impact
of using these methods on the development of fundamental basketball skills among students of
the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the Arab American University (Al-Masri, 2022). The study will
specifically address basic skills such as passing, dribbling, and shooting, and will examine how
each method affects the development of these skills, as well as the differences in results
between the various methods (Ahmed & Zaki, 2023). This study is distinctive in that it aims to
provide new insights into how modern teaching methods can be applied in university-level
sports education, especially in light of the challenges that coaches and instructors face in
effectively developing players (Johnson & Lee, 2019). While there are previous studies that
have addressed similar educational methods, studies examining the impact of Moscow-Muston
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 12, Issue 02, February-2025
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methods on learning basketball skills in academic contexts remain rare (Robinson, 2018).
Therefore, this study holds particular importance in enriching the academic literature in this
field (White & Brown, 2021).
The study aims to answer multiple questions about how to improve sports training and
teaching programs at universities by focusing on methods that may contribute to increasing the
effectiveness of learning basic basketball skills (Chavez, 2022). The study also hopes to provide
valuable information to academic coaches and instructors regarding the most appropriate
methods for application in university training and teaching, thereby improving the athletic
performance of students (Jones & Anderson, 2020).
Through this study, it is also possible to highlight the potential to tailor teaching methods to
suit the different learning styles of students, in line with individual differences in learning
abilities (Taylor, 2021). This will provide practical guidance for coaches on how to use these
methods in a way that aligns with the educational and technical needs of each student (Clark,
2022).
Problem of the Study
The problem of this study lies in the relative scarcity of research examining the impact of the
Moscow-Muston methods on the development of fundamental basketball skills within
academic contexts, particularly in universities. Despite basketball being one of the team sports
practiced by students at many universities, traditional training methods have not always
yielded the desired outcomes in terms of improving fundamental skills such as passing
accuracy, dribbling, shooting, and the ability to make quick decisions during a game.
Training and teaching programs in universities face several challenges, including learning
methods that do not align with the diverse learning styles of students, as well as a lack of
diversity and innovation in teaching techniques. Moreover, the use of limited teaching methods
may restrict the development of athletes and students on various levels, making the exploration
of new educational approaches crucial. While traditional methods provide some results, relying
solely on them may not meet all the needs of athletes and students, especially in academic
environments where students’ learning abilities differ. Thus, the problem of the study revolves
around how to enhance the effectiveness of basketball training and teaching by utilizing the
various Moscow-Muston methods. Do these methods positively impact the development of
basic skills in university players? And can these methods be successfully applied in academic
training environments? The study aims to answer these questions by testing the effect of each
Moscow-Muston method on fundamental basketball skills and examining potential differences
in results between these methods.
The study focuses on understanding the educational impact of these methods on skill
acquisition and the ability of players and students to improve their abilities across various
aspects of the game. Additionally, the study aims to compare these methods to determine which
one is most effective in enhancing student performance in basketball.
Importance of Study
The importance of this study lies in the fact that basketball is one of the core sports taught in
universities, colleges, and schools, and learning is considered a fundamental pillar of physical