Espoused Strategy versus Theory-in-Use in Young A1 Riders: Video and Eye-Tracking Evidence of Learning Gaps

Young riders of light motorcycles (A1) are exposed to a markedly higher crash risk than car drivers, with rates of serious injury and fatality reported to exceed those of car drivers by more than fiftyfold. Severe crashes involving this group are consistently associated with limited riding experience, inadequate speed adaptation, and insufficient hazard anticipation. Despite comprehensive formal training, young A1 riders remain disproportionately represented in both loss-of-control and interaction-related crashes. This study examines young motorcyclists stated strategies, their actual on-road behaviour and their own self-assessment after viewing themselves.
Eighteen A1 licence holders (16-18 years) participated in a mixed-method field study combining on-road riding with video-assisted interviews afterwards. Participants completed a ride along a given route wearing mobile eyetracking glasses. Along this route four Areas of interests (AOIs) representing normal but demanding traffic contexts was selected for summative video analysis. This analysis focused on observable factors such as speed, positioning, riding line, technical handling of the motorbike, and behaviour in relation to hazards. Post-ride, semi-structured interviews were conducted, where each participant also viewed recordings of their own rides. After an interview analysis the results of the video analysis was compared to both the espoused strategies of the participants and their own reflections on their theory-in-use.
The findings show that young riders articulated curriculum-consistent strategies before riding and were satisfied with their own performance, while video analysis revealed a mismatch between their espoused strategies and their theory-in-use. Against this background, the research question was formulated as; How do discrepancies between young A1 riders' espoused theories and their theories-in-use illustrate limitations in their development of double-loop learning?

Keywords: Motorbike, youth, reflection, video, interview, espoused strategy, theory-in-use, double loop learning, wicked competence.